From Sharyn & Bill Stewart, who now reside in Florida:

We would love to subscribe to Dolan’s monthly email newsletter.  For your information, we lived in Arizona for 23 years prior to moving to Florida.  A job transfer brought us here.  We are loyal fans of Dolan and when in Arizona went to many of his programs when he was in proximity to where we lived.  When Dolan had his restaurant in Scottsdale, we were frequent visitors for dinner, followed by a night of entertainment.  In fact, one night we were sitting in the audience when a thunderstorm brought tons of rain, collapsing a corner of the roof causing a gush of water to protrude upon us and several other tables of guest watching his program.  Dolan didn’t miss a beat.  He stopped his song for just a minute, made reference to the ghosts of the riders in the sky and was off again with a very entertaining evening.  He met with all of us at the break, gave each of us an autographed tape of our choice and even ensured that we got front row seats for the second half of the show.  Great memories.  We had lost tack of Dolan after he left Rawhide and had been searching for his where a bouts for several years.  Last year I retired and we traveled back to Arizona for a two month visit.  It was during this visit that we found that Dolan now lives in Sierra Vista and were able to locate his Webb site.  We are looking so forward to receiving his CD’s and playing them for all our friends here in Florida.  There is only one Dolan Ellis.  And we are so proud to have been a part of his past as he is an original of a style of music and the history of Arizona that will be remembered by many from our generation whom have been blessed by the pleasure Dolan has brought to each of us. 

Thank you for your kind response and please pass on to Dolan that we miss him and thank him for all the wonderful memories he has brought to us over our life time.  We are very excited to get the CD’s.  Believe me, they will bring much joy for us over the remainder of our life time.  

Sincerely,
Sharyn and Bill Stewart

They added this a few days later:

Also, to add a little to my message below, we first heard Dolan back in 1975 at the Arizona Hospital Association Convention in Phoenix.  At the time, I had just graduated from the University of Arizona and had just started my first job with St. Josephs Hospital located in Tucson.  Our group was so impressed with Dolan that we hired him to perform at our Hospital picnic in Tucson one year later.  He was a resounding success and our employees went away true fans of Dolan.  We also have a picture somewhere in our achieves of Dolan signing a cast of our then 10 year old daughter at the picnic.  She had broken her arm three days prior to the picnic and wouldn't even let her school friends sign her cast.  She thought that stuff was “weird”.  However, after she heard and met Dolan at the picnic, he was the first to sign her cast.  Oh are memories fun to think about and so warm to think about.  Just a small reason why Dolan has been so entrenched in our thoughts over the years.

From the granddaughter of Tom Wiley, the subject of Dolan's song, T.E. Wiley's Train. Often when Dolan introduces the song he will talk about the little girl who waved as the train went by each day--that was Lisa.

Hello,

I am the grand-daughter of Thomas Earl Wiley. The long time Conductor of
the T. C. & G.B. Rail Road in Ajo.
We lived on 10th street in Ajo (near the railroad tracks). I waited every
morning or my grandfather to go by on the train so that I could wave to him
on his way out of town.
My sister Ginger and I spent many hours on that train. Some of our fondest
memories with our grandfather. We would start the morning at 4:00 a.m. and
stop at the bakery for a jelly donut and a Dr. Pepper. I can still hear the
creaking of the wood in the caboose as it shook back and forth the squeaky
rails...good times.

Lisa Wooden (Wiley)

Dianne Johnson saw Dolan with the New Christy Minstrels in Scottsdale, and that prompted her to send this email:

What a great concert!  I've been following your music since you were playing in Scottsdale back in the 60's; been down to Ramsey Canyon for your show there.  It's great to see you continuing in a new (old) direction.  Your voice is wonderful!  And I don't know how you could shake hands after all that strumming!

Best wishes from a 62-year-od groupie!

Dianne Johnson
Goodyear, AZ

From Art Yow of the San Francisco Bay Area. He and his wife, Claudia, met Dolan in Scottsdale last August (2007) when they attended the Trio Fantasy Camp, and again at the big bash for Travis Edmonson's birthday on September 23rd. They flew in and stayed one night, just for the party. They arranged a jam session at the hotel the night before and helped tremendously with the party. Always devoted fans of Travis and the NCM, they are now friends to all:

Dolan,

What a pleasure it was to meet you at the Trio Fantasy Camp.

I was a stranger to you, so I was a bit intimidated, but your genuine and easy going nature quickly put me at ease.

I have been a long time fan of the New Christy Minstrels and still listen to your albums today.

Anyway, I want to thank you for your music and wish you all the best. Arizona has one outstanding musical ambassador!

Art Yow.