The Academy of Western Artists awarded the prestigious Will Rogers award recently to their top Western Artists and Entertainers. Dave Alexander received top honors by being named "Entertainer of the Year" for 1999 . Dave is a featured artist at many festivals and rodeos throughout the southwest. His big band western swing style is unsurpassed. He is the current leader in today's trend of western swing style, combining both a bit of yesterdays' music along with his own compositions of today. When he is not touring or in the recording studio Dave finds time to write and arrange music for the Dallas Cowboys and the Houston Rodeo. Daves' latest feature film "the Hi Low Country," includes music written, arranged and performed by Dave with such artists as Willie Nelson and Marty Stuart. This film received a Western Heritage Award in 1999 at the National Cowboy Hall of Fame. He is also a featured artist on a new release for the Dreamworks label with Ray Benson, Dwight Yokum and Tracy Bird, for a Tribute to Bob Willis. Dave Alexander is one of Western Swings' youngest and most exciting stars. After a short stint in the late 80's with the Red River Brass, a prestigious band of Dallas / Ft. Worth musicians assembled by Neiman Marcus to promote the Red River line western wear, Dave created his own Western Swing Big Band. "It seems like the music world is finally catching the swing fever that we've had all along." says Alexander, in a recent interview with CBS television for a special on country music in America today. Recently in Ft. Worth, Dave was named "Entertainer of the Year" by the Academy of Western Artists'. His latest CD, "Tango In Durang0" has received rave reviews since its release. He is also a three time GRAMMY nominee. Daves' most recent recordings include an album with Ray Benson, Tracy Byrd, Willie Nelson and Dwight Yokum, on Steve Spielberg's Nashville label Dreamworks Records and his own Western Swing Christmas Album. When Dave is not touring with his Big Band he finds time to write and perform music for the Dallas Cowboys at all home games and he holds the honor as house band for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. He also appears at many major Rodeos throughout the U.S. as a singing cowboy on his Palomino horse Missy. Alexander's opening act appearances include such entertainers as Garth Brooks, George Strait, Clint Black, and Reba McEntire. He has performed on numerous albums and has written and performed scores for major films. Other performance credits include the National Republican Convention, The World Economic Summit and the MS Rodeo Ball with Trisha Yearwood in Dallas, Texas.