To the Editor:

Everyone says buy local. This should be particularly true when consuming music. Musicians today are crippled by prohibition-type laws at tavern venues and most “local” stations playing only canned, non-local music.

Despite dwindling venues and cash for them, Portage County musicians are turning out super music. And nothing beats listening to a local artist at home or out, and the memories their music evokes. Not to mention the great fun had by all.

Congrats to all music supporters. Polka’s Norm Dombrowski’s Happy Notes are honored statewide. Bluegrass’s Art Stevenson and Horseshoes and Hand Grenades are known throughout the Midwest. Blues greats Cadillac Pete and Otis McLennon are respected nationwide. The country sounds of Raised Reckless are everywhere. Everyone has a favorite alternative band.

This letter honors our own James Stanley Houwen. “Jimmy” has played every venue in Portage County for 40 years, while always driving his big rig as well. With proper support and promotion, I believe Jimmy would be a national star. All his songs are tight, well-written and different. The tunes on “Side by Side,” written with Rapids’ Harry Hamm, include “Where the Mighty Rivers Meet,” which gets hundreds of internet hits in Europe, but few in Point.

Jimmy and his friends in the Mighty Rivers Project, a tribute to deceased bass player Kurt Helminiak, recently released “Going with the Flow,” featuring super production and guitar playing from Point’s Marty Nellessen and many others.

The first cut on it, “County Jail,” was picked asbest blues song of 2016 by indiemusicpeople.com. Sadly, you won’t hear it on Point’s computer generated “local” corporate music stations. When I had a WWSP DJ play Otis McLennon singing Jimmy’s “Sad and Lonely,” the DJ said, “I’m getting this CD now.” Likewise, when I requested the same song from a different DJ, he also played the next three songs as well. Enough said. In short, as the T-shirts say, “It’s All About Jimmy.”

Again, please check out all local artists’ websites, their CDs and their shows. Tell others. And sorry to all folks whose names don’t fit into 350 words.

Mike Nigbor,

Stevens Point