The Sound of Tradition

At the North American International Livestock Exposition, sound is part of the story. The hum of fans, the shuffle of hooves, the applause that rolls through Freedom Hall, all of it blending into a rhythm that feels like home. But above it all, one sound rises, year after year: the warm, unmistakable sound of the organ.

That familiar tune belongs to Dewayne Cartee, the man behind the keys who keeps one of NAILE’s most enduring traditions alive.

“The organ and those green shavings, they’ve both stood the test of time,” Cartee said. “They’re what make the North American feel like home.”

For Cartee, who hails from Pulaski, Tennessee, about forty-five minutes south of Nashville, the path to the NAILE organ wasn’t planned; it was played, one note at a time. He had been performing at horse shows across the country when a familiar name opened a new door.

“When the previous organist retired, Scarlett Matson, who manages the World Championship Horse Show here in Louisville recommended me to the fair board,” he said. “I’ve been here ever since.”

The fit was natural. Cartee grew up in a dairy family, surrounded by the same agricultural spirit that defines NAILE.

“I love the agricultural industry,” he said. “And I love the organ. You combine those two, and it’s the greatest thing.”

When the organ begins to play, something happens. The lights don’t change. The banners stay still. And the air feels different.

“You don’t always notice it when it’s there,” Cartee said. “But when it’s gone, the room feels empty. It’s like crickets. The organ fills the arena with the atmosphere that defines the show.”

Unlike recorded music, Cartee’s performance moves with the moment.

“It’s more personal,” he said. “Whether it’s a cow class or the big drive, I read the ring and match the energy. A recording can’t follow the moment like that.”

Every day, he said, someone stops by to ask about the sound echoing through Freedom Hall.

“People don’t realize it’s live,” he said, laughing. “They assume it’s recorded, but it’s not. It’s alive.”

For nearly twenty years, Cartee has played for livestock and horse shows, and for close to a decade, he’s been part of NAILE’s tradition, but his love for the organ began long before Freedom Hall.

“My grandmother played at church,” he said. “I’ve loved the organ since I was a kid.”

He found mentors along the way who shaped not just his sound, but his sense of purpose.

“Larry Bright, who played for the Tennessee Walking Horse Celebration, was a huge influence,” he said. “And Gene Wright, who plays for the World Championship Horse Show, has always been someone I look up to. I’m glad to call him a friend.”

Those mentors, along with the people at NAILE and other shows who took a chance on him, built more than a career, they built a community.

“There are so many people to thank,” he said. “They’ve all played a part in helping me do what I love.”

As the show evolves, Cartee hopes the tradition of live organ music continues to echo through Freedom Hall long after he’s gone.

“I’d love to see the organ stay,” he said. “Even when I’m not here. There aren’t many people taking up this tradition anymore, but I hope it lasts. The organ is as much a part of Freedom Hall as the green shavings themselves.”