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Sisters, Oregon
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The contents of the on-line edition of The Nugget represent a selection among the stories that appear in the weekly print edition.

Sisters man writes the best song
By Tom Chace

Dennis McGregor, artist and songwriter. photo by Lynn Woodward

"Bittersweet" is a word often associated with folk music.

So it was in real life for Dennis McGregor on Saturday, September 6, when he won the coveted top prize in the Sisters Folk Festival Song Writing Contest.

The morning before, Dennis McGregor lost his 14-year-old companion and pal, his yellow lab/golden retriever dog, Oscar.

The first of the four songs he wrote and played before an overflowing audience at Bronco Billy's Ranch Grill and Saloon was "My Dog's Brother Is My Brother's Dog."

McGregor and his brother, Brent, moved here from California 14 years ago and immediately bought twin dogs.

"This is for Oscar," he said, dedicating that first song to his long-time buddy.

"I didn't think I could make it," he said later. "I was crying all day and even this morning driving to the contest. But my mom and dad came over from Bend and one of my twin daughters is at OHSU Med School and she came over to be with me and we did make it."

Jim Cornelius, director for the song writing contest, introduced the event, saying, "This, to me, is the highlight of the Sisters Folk Festival."

He then introduced McGregor who won the draw of the five finalists to be first on stage.

Others to make the top five from over 140 entries nationwide were Jim Faddis from Nine Mile Falls, Washington; Dale Fisk from Council, Idaho; Mathew Fox from St. Paul, Minnesota; and Ginny Mitchell from Santa Cruz, California.

McGregor had a serious accident three months ago when he was in a bicycle mishap riding down the McKenzie Highway. He was flown by Air Life, unconscious, to St. Charles Medical Center with broken ribs, a punctured lung and a concussion.

He has made a full recovery, proven by his outstanding performance last Saturday.

"It is wonderful to receive the $500 prize," he said, "but the real reward and honor comes from getting to play in the main tent before an appreciative audience. I couldn't be happier."

McGregor is a commercial artist who resides in Sisters. He is well known for his colorful poster work and illustrations.

"I have done the Quilt Show art and design for 12 years," he said. "In fact, some of the older ones are keepsakes and very valuable now. We have a calendar which is now available at The Stitchin' Post of all 12 past posters. That's about the only way you can see the early ones."

He has also done the posters for the Sisters Rodeo and the Sisters Folk Festival. His illustrations are on the kiosks for the Forest Service Trail heads, samples of which are in Village Green, and he did the fixed panel on the East Portal of the Forest Service Building.

He is a long-time musician and member of the Blue D'Arts. Lately he has been devoting more of his creativity to songwriting.

"One of the things that helped and inspired me was the Americana Song Academy, which I attended at the urging of Brad Tisdel who heads The Americana Project here," McGregor said.

"I left there after three days higher than a kite," McGregor said. "It inspired me like nothing else. I have been writing music every day since. It gives me so much satisfaction and is very fulfilling.

"The very most favorite thing in my life is music, all kinds of music, but to compose folk, and to be able to share it as I have this weekend, is a never-to-be-forgotten wonder," he said.

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