Fall The WESTERN WAY

Transcription

1 The WESTERN WAY Fall

2 2 Fall 2011 The WESTERN WAY

3 The WESTERN WAY Fall

4 Founder Bill Wiley Officers Jon Messenger, President Rick Huff, Executive V.P. Robert Fee, V.P. General Counsel Theresa O Dell, Treasurer Belinda Gail, Secretary Executive Director Marsha Short Board of Directors Robert Fee Juni Fisher Belinda Gail Rick Huff Jon Messenger Marvin O Dell Theresa O Dell Michael Roehm Marsha Short Terry Weckesser Board of Advisors Rex Allen, Jr., Chairman Hal Spencer, Co-Chairman Lynn Anderson Cheryl Rogers Barnett Ray Benson Tom Chambers Alvin G. Davis Don Edwards Douglas B. Green Mike Mahaney Suze Spencer Marshall Gary McMahan Jon Messenger Michael Martin Murphey Rusty Richards Roy Dusty Rogers, Jr. O.J. Sikes Red Steagall Steve Taylor Marilyn Tuttle Johnny Western Russ Wolfe Contributing Writers Nolen Berry, Les Buffham, Don Cusic, Buck Helton, Rick Huff, Marvin O Dell, O.J. Sikes The Official Publication of the Western Music Association FEATURES Fall Volume 21. Issue 4 18 Hall Of Fame - R.W. Hampon by Don Cusic 20 Hall Of Fame - Vaughn Monroe by O.J. Sikes 24 Roy Rogers by Don Cusic 28 Sons Of The Pioneers by Nolen Berry 56 Member Spotlight - Robert Wagoner by O.J. Sikes DEPARTMENTS 6 President s Letter by Jon Messenger 8 Roundin Up Strays by Don Cusic 9 Golden Nuggets by Buck The Big Man Helton 10 In The Spotlight by Marvin O Dell 12 Western Air by Rick Huff 13 WMA Membership & Subscription Form 14 Chapter News 16 Buffham s Buffoonery by Les Buffham 22 Membership Application 31 WMA Showcase & Awards Show Agenda & Registration 35 A Musical Note by O.J. Sikes 35 Best Of The West by Rick Huff 59 Western Playlists by Marvin O Dell 60 Playlists Reporters 61 In Memoriam Contributing Photographers Nolen Berry, Roy Rogers Museum The Western Way The Official Quarterly Publication of the WMA Deadline for Winter Issue: November 15, 2011 The Western Way Editor Don Cusic, don.cusic@belmont.edu Graphic Design Oddball Creations Production Coordinator Sharp Management Advertising Director Lindalee Green LindaleeGreen@gmail.com Western Music Association P.O. Box 648, Coppell, TX Cell Phone REVIEWS REVIEWS by O.J. Sikes & Rick Huff CDs Cisco Jim Genuine Cowgirls Katy Creek Ken Curtis Florida Crackers Greg Hager Sid Hausman Paula Rhae McDonald Many Strings & Company Richard Martin Ernie Martinez Prairie Moon Andy Parker Rick Pickren Roy Rogers Jr. & Dustin Rogers Del Shields Cal Shrum Sourdough Slim Kip E. Sorlie Andy Wilkinson & Andy Hedges Books J.R. Sanders DVDs / Sets Gene Autry Songs Gene Autry TV Shows 4 Fall 2011 The WESTERN WAY

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6 From The President... Jon Messenger WMA President Howdy do to each and all of you! Summer in southern Arizona. It s been a time of fire and flood, and with the blessed rain also a sticky, muggy place to be. However, any day it rains in the desert is a good day, (with the exception of when conducting outdoor Western Music events ). I hope that you re busy making plans to be in Albuquerque in November. We re trying to ensure that we have a exceptionally good time. Details are to found on the WMA Website and between the covers of the Western Way! Sometimes it s a fine line, and sometimes a dark and dusky border that we ride between the myth of among other things, to inform and educate the public of the United States, Canada, and other nations and cultures, respecting the history and literature of this musical tradition which uniquely represents and reflects the character, beauty, spirit and myths of the American West and the American people; and to conduct any and all lawful affairs pertaining to its objectives and purposes. Within the grand body of musical work that is Western Music, lies the Truth of the American West. The myth serves to inspire, and the truth serves to enlighten. We are a body that encourages the efforts of a singularly important group of troubadours and bards who tell people stories that they hunger and thirst for; stories of courage and perseverance, stories of stoicism in the face of adversity, stories of faith and truth. We tell stories of the best of what it is to be human beings living on God s great Earth. We represent the Spirit of the American West. We have opportunities to change hearts and minds. In my generation, I have seen music move mountains. Paradigms have shifted, hardened hearts have been made to soften and yield. It leaves me in deep contemplation when I wonder about what exactly are all the options for an organization committed to helping people achieve a Western State of Mind, an organization committed to conducting any and all lawful affairs to execute its mission. I d be very much grateful to you if you would consider it, too. We find ourselves living in turbulent times. For Westerners, what is changed? Life in the West has been forever turbulent. The spirit of the West is anathema to those who hate liberty. We are the Voice and the Spirit of the American West, and we shall tell its story past, present, and future and we shall tell the Truth. I m looking forward to seeing you all in Albuquerque. In the meantime, Vaya Con Dios, Jon Messenger, President Western Music Association 6 Fall 2011 The WESTERN WAY

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8 Roundin Up Strays by Don Cusic British Archive of Country Music This summer I was in England and went down to Dover to visit my long-time friend Dave Barnes and the British Archive of Country Music. I boarded the train in London on a Saturday morning and the train was packed and I didn t Don Cusic know why. Come to find out, the British Open Golf Tournament was being held at the stop beyond Dover. It was pouring rain and quite chilly and I spent the afternoon with Dave and two collectors Phil and Al at the British Archive. While we talked about music and recordings the golfers were toughing it out in that cold rain. We could hear it on the roof but were inside safe and dry. There s a wealth of recordings in merry olde England and Dave has quite a few in his Archive, including a wealth of recordings of western artists from way back when. Dave does the western music community a great service by finding these old recordings and releasing them. There are, a number of groups I d never heard of before Dave dug them out and a wealth of songs that I knew nothing about until they appeared on a BACM CD. The Western Music Association owes a great deal of gratitude to people like Dave Barnes and Richard Weize with the Bear Family group in Hamburg, Germany for preserving and presenting western music to the public. Richard Weize s Bear Family albums are classics with high quality recordings and extensive liner notes (they re actually books!) of artists such as Marty Robbins, Wesley Tuttle, the Sons of the Pioneers, Gene Autry, Johnny Cash, Eddy Arnold, Red Foley, John Wayne and others. These artists are treasures and Bear Family treats them, appropriately, like precious jewels. Those Bear Family sets cost a bit but they are not just made for the car they re made for libraries. If you want to have a true library of western artists then you could not do better than invest in Bear Family box sets or releases from the British Archive of Country Music. If you re ever in England, Dave Barnes would love to have you stop by the British Archive of Country Music. He s a friendly, warm hospitable man and I guarantee you it will be time well spent if you drop by for a visit. 8 Fall 2011 The WESTERN WAY

9 GOLDEN NUGGETS by Buck The Big Man Helton The National Anthem of the West Home on the Range This classic, and Official State Song of Kansas has its beginnings in A young Physician named Brewster Higley had come to Smith County, KS from Ohio to escape an unhappy marriage. He built a small one room cabin near the banks of Beaver Creek, and there hung out his shingle and lived with his new wife, Sarah, and raised 4 children. Dr. Higley was well liked and respected in his community, and had a remarkable sense of humor as well as being a talented poet. One afternoon, while walking the banks of Beaver Creek, as was his habit Dr. Higley was inspired by the beauty around him, and wrote a poem which he entitled My Western Home. Dr. Higley wrote the poem for his own enjoyment, and after doing so, placed it between a couple of books, where it remained until the following Spring. In April of 1873 Dr. Higley s friend Trube Reese of nearby Smith Center, KS went to borrow one of the doctor s books after dinner. The sheet of foolscap with the poem fluttered to the floor, and upon picking it up and reading it, Mr. Reese encouraged him to publish it. Dr. Higley showed the poem to his friend Daniel Kelley, who played with his Brother s in law as the Harlan Brothers Orchestra. Dan liked the poem, and composed the melody that it is still used today. The song, was first performed at a dance at the Harlan family home in late April of 1873, and was first published, as a poem in the December, 1873 edition of the Smith County Pioneer (which is still in publication today) The song was an instant success, and spread across the country, changing slightly as it went. The original authorship was soon forgotten, and it came to be considered a true folk song. Home on the Range received renewed popularity when it was included in the 1910 edition of John Lomax s book Cowboy Songs and Other Frontier Ballads and was given another boost in 1932 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt claiming it as his favorite song. It was also a favorite of Admiral Byrd, who played his recording of it while on his famous expedition to the South Pole, and then when his phonograph froze, singing it himself, much to the consternation of his companions who felt that as an entertainer, the Admiral made a great explorer! A lawsuit claiming copyright infringement by an Arizona couple in 1934 caused a hunt for the true authorship of the song, and it was then that the Smith County Pioneer article was found, finally re-establishing Dr. Higley as the Lyricist, and Daniel Kelley as the Composer. The song was named as the official State Song of Kansas in 1947, and has been played on every continent of the world. It s the unofficial anthem of the West, and I know of at least one instance, at a pyrotechnics competition in Monaco in 1984 where it was mistaken for the U.S. National Anthem. The cabin in which the poem was written was restored in 1954, and stands on its original foundation on the banks of Beaver Creek approx 8 miles from Athol, KS. It remains open to the public. The WESTERN WAY Fall

10 In The Spotlight... by Marvin O Dell... Still Lovin the Ride: The Janet McBride Story by Mary Neal Schutz and Janet McBride with Pat Boilesen has been released! This, according to Janet s web site, is your backstage pass to life in the entertainment worlds of the West Coast during the 1960 s and Texas and Nashville in the 1970 s and 1980 s. Included are stories about the not-so-wholesome nightlife of the Los Angeles area during the 1960 s, the trials of carving out a music career, the joys and challenges of producing and presenting a weekly music show, and the pleasures of mixing traveling and music. It s a journey full of hope and sorrow, always fueled by the strength of the dream to make it to the stage of the Grand Ole Opry. This is a must read. The book is $20 with $3 postage and can be purchased by sending check or money order to P. O. Box , Mesquite, TX or by using PayPal. Janet s address is: jmcbride.yodeler@sbcglobal.net. R.W. Hampton has been achieving success in Europe with songs from his latest CD Austin to Boston. The Hotdisc Top 40 Country chart named Driftin Again the Most Popular Song of The song was #1 for eight weeks. Cowboy s Prayer from the CD was #1 for three weeks, and the song Shortgrass just recently entered the top spot. In June R.J.Vandygriff was a guest of Red Steagall on Red s syndicated radio show In the Bunkhouse. R.J s latest CD is titled The Cowboy Ain t Dead Yet, Vol. III. Carolyn Martin was inducted into the Texas Western Swing Hall of Fame back in May. Al Dressen, organizer of the Texas Natural and Western Swing Festival, presented Carolyn with a Texasshaped plaque to celebrate her induction. Johnny Western has been sidelined for a few months due to throat problems brought on by his move to the dry Arizona desert. He has been ordered not to sing until November. However, doctors have assured him a complete recovery by then. In August, KG & The Ranger were inducted into America s Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame in LeMars, Iowa. They also performed an evening show built around their induction that was hosted by Janet McBride. Pat Meade appeared on the televised Midwest Country Show in Sandstone, MN, on May 22nd. The show aired in June and again in August on the RFD network. Naomi Bristow spent some time in Nashville this summer and completed her 6 th album. Richard Sterban of the Oak Ridge Boys sang on two the CD cuts. In May Miriam Dreher auditioned for a Seniors Talent Search in Calgary and came in first. She will compete in October against 11 other winners to see who makes the show. She was awarded a beautiful trophy with a gold star and a musical note on the side. The latest single from Royal Wade Kimes is a remake of the Bobby Bare classic 500 Miles Away From Home. A video was shot with Royal Wade actually traveling 500 miles for the shoot from his Tennessee ranch to his father s ranch in Chester, AR. Patty Parker has been nominated in the first round of the 21st Annual European Country Music Association Awards for her Christmas Song La Noche Buena; It s Christmas Eve. The song appears on her album Southwestern Serenade.... Songs of the Untamed West, the 2010 CD release by Frank Fara, is in the first round of nominations for this year s Album of the Year award by the European Country Music Association. Fara is also up for Male Vocalist of the Year by the association. Glen and Yvonne Hollenbeck s granddaughter, Brandi Hollenbeck of Pretty Prairie, KS, recently won the 2011 National High School Rodeo Breakaway Roping Championship at the international finals held at Gillette, WY. Yvonne herself recently took 1st place against over 400 entrants at a big quilt show in Rapid City, SD. Austin O Dell made his first formal recording in August. You ll hear him with his grandfather performing a song called Trail of Dreams on the next CD release from Les Buffham. Austin wrote the music for the song. In June, SaddleStrings (Brian Arnold, Cindy & Kurt Argyle, and Laurie Morgan) performed for the United States Air Force Commanders Joint Chiefs of Staff representing bases in the majority of all 50 United States. Robyn Arnold was recognized with a plaque from the WMA/ Utah Chapter as its first president. Robyn attended a WMA Festival in Tucson in 1998 and brought back to Utah all the information needed to organize the first Utah Chapter. It s the first great-grandchild for Gary & Jean Prescott! Jean reports that Emerson Leigh is a lovely little darling weighing in at 7 lbs., 6 oz. Jean is also in the process of recording a new CD which will be out soon. Beth Malone finished a 6-day run of Annie, Get Your Gun at the California Musical Theater in Sacramento, CA, in August. Beth had the lead role of Annie Oakley. She is now in New York City working in a new play. Peggy Malone is Beth s proud mother. The Tumbling Tumbleweeds have added fiddler Jesse Olema. Jesse began performing with the Tumbleweeds in September; he will be introduced to the WMA in November in Albuquerque! Jennifer Lind and her husband, Andrew Smith, celebrated their 25 th anniversary on August 17th. Jennifer has been spending the bulk of her performance time with the New Christy Minstrels. Jon Chandler is currently finishing his first new recording in over two years. And besides working on a new Christmas CD, Jon and his wife, Pat, are enjoying being grandparents for the first time. Braden James Chandler entered the world in September. Jon s new novel, He Was No Hero, is slated for an early 2012 release....the independent film Love Carries contains two songs by Rodger Maxwell. The movie about a Montana rancher who marries a younger woman features Rodger playing his tunes Hombres of Summer and The Promise. Jim Anderson of Palo Duro writes that Cody McCoy Anderson is the latest addition to the family of Jim s son, Cody. Little Cody came into this world in April. The Andersons own and operate Cowboy Gelato restaurant on old Route 66 in Amarillo, TX. In October Stan Corliss celebrated his 40th year as an entertainer. Then in September he began a six-month performance on the Carnival Cruise ship Freedom out of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Stan has also just released his first novel, titled The Line Rider: Reckoning, a fantasy adventure about a singing cowboy. Champion Attitude Boots of El Paso, TX, (Caboots) has begun production on a new line of Juni Fisher Signature boots. Caboots also makes boots for Riders in the Sky, Cirque de Sole, Bluegrass legend Doyle Lawson, and others. They have also joined the group 10 Fall 2011 The WESTERN WAY

11 of custom western wear makers who sponsor Juni. Storme Warren of CMT (Country Music Television) covered one of the Rio Grande Railroad s events in early September in La Veta, CO. With Michael Martin Murphey and Fred Hargrove performing, a film was made highlighting the summer and fall concert series. You can check out this series at Pipkin s single I Should Be Dancing With You has been in the Top Five at the Dixiestreams.com online radio site for three months! You can hear the song at Gary Allegretto recently recorded harmonica tracks for an upcoming album by Don Felder (Grammy award-winning original guitarist for the Eagles and author of the mega-hit song Hotel California ). He also recorded tracks for the upcoming Johnny Depp movie Rum Diary to be released October 28. The Bill Ganz Western Band will perform again with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra in February of The new performance will be titled Back in the Saddle Again: More Music of the West. The band s fourth CD will be released later this year. Cowboy poet Jessica Hedges is now sponsored by Sagebrush Old West of Kennewick, WA, and Jaxonbilt Hat Company of Salmon, ID. Roger Ringer and Peggy Malone have entered into a musical partnership and will be performing together in Albuquerque at the WMA Showcase and Awards Show. Hank Cramer was honored in August with the Humanities Washington Award for The award is presented annually to an artist (musician, speaker, painter, etc.) who has touched communities around Washington state. A $1,000 prize is awarded which Hank graciously donated to Grays Harbor Historic Seaport in Aberdeen, WA. The Academy of Western Artists has nominated The Oregon Valley Boys in the categories of Western Swing Duo/ Group and, for their album All Roads Lead to Howell Prairie, Western Swing Song and Western Swing Album. Doug Muchmore has released his second album. Titled Doug Muchmore, Live at the Albuquerque Tavern, the CD consists of 12 tracks, nine of which are new and three from Doug s first album. Vic Anderson has begun a half-hour western music/western swing show called Campfire Smoke. The show airs on Monday mornings at 9:00 a.m. on KRBR, 1470 AM, Estes Park, CO. Kerry Grombacher appeared at the Starburst Storytelling Festival in Anderson, SC, in October. This event concentrates on storytelling, and it is unusual for a musician to be invited to participate. Kerry s western story songs opened the door for him to participate Belinda Gail, along with her husband, Robert Lorbeer, will again be riding in the Tournament of Roses Parade on Jan. 1st. RFD- TV and parade organizers are creating an unprecedented event a float with the real Trigger and Bullet on it. The float will be surrounded with riders on 100 Golden Palomino horses. Robert is president of one of the premier, all-golden Palomino parade groups, the Long Beach Mounted Police. The WESTERN WAY A panel honoring Roy Rogers on the 100 th Anniversary of his birth was featured at the annual International Country Music Conference held at Belmont University in Nashville. Pictured are Don Cusic, moderator of the panel, and Packy Smith discussing the future of the singing cowboy. Prairie Moon has just wrapped up their latest CD project titled Saddle Up. The CD has been a year and a half in the making. There are 17 cuts to be enjoyed. The Daughters of the Purple Sage are celebrating their 20-year anniversary at the Cochise Cowboy Poetry & Music Gathering in Sierra Vista, AZ, in February. Lynn Anderson is currently working with Rich O Brien and collaborating with her mother, legendary songwriter Liz Anderson, on a new western recording. In August, she performed for Donald Rumsfeld and the Joe Foss Institute. The institute teaches endangered children the basics of being a good American. Two of Daron Little s three daughters were elected recently to represent the Carbon County (Wyoming) Fair and Rodeo 2012 as Junior Queen and Princess. The Camden County (Missouri) Saddle Club put on their 1 st Lake of the Ozarks Rodeo in July. The Missouri State Fair honored the rodeo as being one of the best. Brenda Libby was the featured western performer. Mary Kaye Knaphus and her husband, Brad, celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary on September 11th at the Gene Autry Museum where Mary Kaye performed with Rusty Richards. Richard Martin has released his third CD. The project, titled Fall Roundup, is another collaboration of songwriting with his brother, Glenn. Rebecca Linda Smith was the featured artist in a sweepstakes contest held by Country Chart Magazine and CountryChart.com. The contest began July 27 and ended on August 18 with a second contest to start with the debut of Christian Chart Magazine and ChristianChart.com. In October on the General Jackson Showboat in Nashville, The Ball Family taped a show hosted by Shotgun Red. The show will be aired shortly after the first of the year on RFD-TV. In July, Del Shields had the opportunity to present cowboy music to the governor of Maine and one of the state s senators. Later in the month, while recording his next CD in Nashville, he spent an evening backstage at the Grand Ol Opry with musician friends. Skeeter Mann was featured in the world premiere of the western musical Lake Balboa. The show tells a story of love, life, and heartbreak on Lake Balboa. It ran Sept. 3 rd -25th at the NoHo London Music Hall in North Hollywood, CA. Musikode Records and Productions has introduced L.K. Potts to the western community. His new CD, titled Gone West was released in June. This is the artist s first completely western effort. After 20+ years, Ray Doyle is stepping out on his own, leaving Wylie & the Wild West. His last show with the band was July 10 at the Montana Folk Festival. Ray will be working on a new solo CD project and working freelance. In Billings, MT, at the Metra Park, the 2011 NILE Western Expo s 1st Annual COWBOY CODE Gathering, Celebrating the Spirit of the West, was held October The evening show on Friday featured WMA poets and musicians. Fall

12 Western Air COLUMN by Rick Huff Tips? Comments? Ideas for the column,, send to:, send to: Frontiersmen2, P.O. Box 8442, Albuquerque, NM T ruly it s an interesting trail that OJ Sikes has ridden. And to follow it, we ll start at the natural place. The end. It should come as no particular news that OJ shared DJ Of The Year honors with Al Krtil at the 2010 Western Music Association Awards in Albuquerque. How that particular part of OJ s broadcasting adventure came about is due to his ten years and hundreds of hours of programming catalogued and heard 24 hours a day online through the nostalgia-based And that only got started at the end of his thirty-year career with the United Nations where he specialized in education and communications. So, welcome to The End! I was just two weeks away from retirement from my UN work, OJ remembers, when I got an interesting note from the actor Will Sugarfoot Hutchins. He and I were (and still are) columnists for Boyd Magers Western Clippings. Will had read my reviews and had just started a show of his own on BostonPete (named for its Bostonian creator Peter Kenney). Will saw that I sometimes would include brief stories in reviews and he thought it might make a good radio show. (OJ had begun a bit of feature hosting on Mary Ryland s & my radio show The Best Of The West Review back in 2000, and he kindly credits that experience with giving him the spark to try it). Roll forward to his neighbor s backyard cookout. One of the invitees turned out to be a professional songwriter who offered to record a demo show for OJ at his home studio a convenient two blocks away. When the web master heard it, he wrote back and said not only do I like it my mother likes it!! So I was in!! OJ Sikes Western Music Time follows the format he originated for it. The show is largely based on classic artists and classic material. Examples include (of course) The Sons Of The Pioneers and Roy & Gene, but also Andy Parker & The Plainsmen, Foy Willings Riders Of The Purple Sage, The Reinsmen and other greats. But, like OJ says, he isn t one to let good opportunities to interest listeners in newer things pass him by, either. Since the website is largely nostalgia oriented, I don t stray too far away from what listeners have shown they expect. But Red Steagall, Sons Of The San Joaquin, Don Edwards and others whose music can stand up alongside the core format of course I use it! Despite Windows Media Player being required to hear OJ s shows and the BostonPete site not being the easiest to navigate for some, an astonishing array of folks seem to have found it and, since those hundreds of hours of back shows are always available, many of them pretty much keep the show on as the soundtrack of their lives. OJ says with justifiable pride, a lot of people listen in the office or have it on in their shops as the background sound. I ve had s from truck drivers who had laptops hooked up to cell phones or something in the cabs listening as they drive in the late hours of the night, others I ve heard from work on ranches and say they ve got the boss s computer on in the bunkhouse, and I heard from one guy who said he was in a very small crossroads saloon. The bartender had set his laptop on the bar and he and a bunch of the guys from the ranch were in there listening! Across the span of his work with the programs of the UN Population Fund, OJ Sikes travels have taken him to more than fifty countries. In his continuing consultancy he is periodically still called on to travel (as we spoke he was fighting prolonged jet lag from a jaunt to The Philippines). Now fans in many of those same countries are hearing and ing him, including people in China, Indonesia and all across Europe. Yesterday I heard from a guy in Denmark who was on his way to Germany, and I heard from a fellow in Russia OJ marvels during our phone interview. One of the most surprising aspects to him is the frequency of s he gets from cultures that don t even share our musical scale! I don t know how Western Music manages to relate to them, but it obviously does, OJ beams with obvious satisfaction. Ten years (to the month, as this is being written) and hundreds of hours of programming later, there is no end in sight for Western Music Time. I remember that songwriter who recorded my early demo show for BostonPete to consider, OJ says. When the show was accepted he asked me if I thought I had enough for a second show!! In the beginning OJ s show was one of a mere handful of programs offered by BostonPete. Now the offerings from the site number around twenty, and Will Hutchins show remains among them as well! Truth be told OJ Sikes actually has two shows. His venerable Western Music Time has now been joined by Bluegrass Music Time which you might wind up finding by simply clicking on the site s bar that says OJ s Latest Time!! My, my. Western and Bluegrass! Sorry, friends, but the naked truth had to come out sometime. OJ Sikes is bi-musical. At the time of this writing, OJ Sikes and fellow DJ Of The Year Award recipient Al Krtil were sharing something less desirable the task of battening down ahead of Hurricane Irene which isn t what either of them wanted to think of as being on the hurricane deck. 12 Fall 2011 The WESTERN WAY

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14 Chapter Update ARIZONA CHAPTER musicians will be featured from 1:00-5:00 PM every afternoon. President: Will Merritt She s also lined up a great location, Cedar Hall on the Metra Park grounds, for this year s Western Expo Night Show. Duane Nelson CALIFORNIA CHAPTER and Lori Campanella are organizers of the 5 th annual Columbia President: John Bergstrom wsomusic@aol.com Gorge Cowboy Gathering, featuring Brenn Hill, Nevada Slim & Summer has been a busy time out in California. Our annual Cimarron Sue, Duane Lee Nelson and special guest Coyote Joe workshop series included Joe Herrington s presentation on poetry Sartin in the evening show; all-day open mic and Western lifestyle vendors round out the fun on Saturday November 26, 2011 writing; Hal Spencer s presentation about the dos and don ts of music publishing, and a panel presentation on how to make the at the Historic The Dalles Civic Auditorium in The Dalles, Oregon. best possible presentation of yourself at a performance. We also Dawn Nelson is heavily involved in organizing the first annual had performances by Sourdough Slim, and Rusty Richards in the Silver Spur Western Gathering, March 23-25, 2012 at the Wells Fargo Theater of the Autry National Center in Griffith Park, Northern Quest Resort & Casino in Airway Heights, WA. This Los Angeles. Along with all of these, we sponsor three jams a event features Western entertainers and vendors, as well as month; the third Sunday of the month at the Autry, and the first acting as a platform for breast cancer awareness. For Columbia and third Wednesday of the month at El Trocadero Steak House Chapter news-as-it-happens, please visit website in Newhall, CA. On July 1, 2011 Chapter President, John Bergstrom released a new CD, titled, Ghosts and Legends, which was reviewed in the last issue of Western Way. If you re KANSAS CHAPTER going to be in the Los Angeles area and would like information President: Jeff Davidson davidsonfour@yahoo.com about our jams or events, feel free to The WMA Kansas Chapter is looking forward to a busy Fall. wmacc2000@yahoo.com, or WSOMmusic@AOL.com Also, They will be doing an encore of their Kansas: Home on the Range you can communicate with us on Facebook; concert in Wichita on Oct. 8 th. They first staged the production in March at the Fox Theatre in Hutchinson in celebration of the COLORADO BRANDED WESTERN CHAPTER 150 th birthday of Kansas. Conceived by Roger Ringer, the show President: Barb Richhart bfboston@fone.net featured more than 60 performers, including special guests, the Hutchinson Symphony and the McPherson Arts Council Children s COLUMBIA CHAPTER Choir. First Generation Video produced multimedia segments President: Bruce Matley bmatley@columbiainet.com tying the history in the songs together, and celebrating the land, Columbia Chapter members are busy and far flung for the immigrant settlers, and more than one hundred famous Kansans. summer. Many of us are performing at fairs and festivals in the As part of the Kansas 150 Festival in Wichita, the new production Pacific Northwest and beyond. We ll come together as a chapter will be held at the Century II Convention Hall and tell a much for the annual meeting, showcase and elections on October 1, larger story. The first production was a tribute to Kansas by our Cherry Park Grange, The Dalles, OR. Several members have WMA members and special guests, says co-producer Martha taken part in organizing new festivals and creating performing Slater Farrell of First Generation. Now we re illustrating the opportunities for western entertainers at existing events. Of note: Kansas story with other kinds of music and dance as well. We re Jessica Hedges, in partnership with Sagebrush Old West, produced a National Day of the Cowboy event July 23 in Kennewick, will be more dramatic. Kansas: Home on the Range will include excited. We ll be able to seat up to 4,500 people, and the staging WA. Jessica was joined by chapter members Duane Nelson, Native American dancers and drummers, an African-American Coyote Joe Sartin, Lynn Kopelke and others in this first annual choir, Hispanic Vaqueros doing roping tricks, and Asian dancers, effort to bring cowboy poetry and music to the people. Plans are bringing the immigrant story to modern day Kansas. Western already underway for the 2012 celebration. John Schultz served Music Association performers from the original show include: on the Music Committee for the Silver, Saddle and Song Musicians and groups - Judy Coder, Diamond W Wranglers, Jeff weekend in Bend, OR at the end of April He reports, I can Davidson, Fred Hargrove, Prairie Rose Rangers, Tallgrass Express happily say it went off without a hitch. The Riders In The Sky String Band, 3 Trails West, Barry Ward, and Zerf. Cowboy concert at the high school was just about sold out and enjoyed by storytellers and poets - Roger Ringer and Ron Wilson. Symphony all who attended. The event also included music by John and conductor Dr. Richard Koshgarian of Salina will conduct once others, as well as a gear show, art show and chili feed. Almeda again. The show begins at 2:30 pm on Saturday October 8 th, and Bradshaw is hard at work on the The Western Expo Entertainment will be the climax of the Kansas 150 Festival. Thanks to Stage and related sponsorships for the 2011 Northern International Livestock Exposition in Billings, MT, Oct Poets and Tickets are available at At the July meeting underwriting from a number of donors, admission will be just $5. 14 Fall 2011 The WESTERN WAY

15 hosted by LeWayne and Donna Bartel of the Old Mill Theatre in YOUTH CHAPTER Buhler, plans were made for the next meeting on October 16. Coordinators: The meeting will be held in Florence, at the Harvey House James Michael Museum. The Clifton hotel in Florence was the first hotel and Jane Leche - rangerjane@rocketmail.com restaurant combination of the famous Fred Harvey chain. Chapter A new thing happened in Albuquerque last year at the members will dine on one of the Harvey House recipes and will Western Music Association (WMA) Showcase and Awards Show. be served by Harvey girls in original costumes. The meeting Nine aspiring young western musicians got a chance to learn and dinner is a warm up for members planning to take Amtrak some invaluable lessons from some of the best in the business (which goes through Florence) to Albuquerque in November. then apply those lessons on stage in the first-ever WMA Youth Showcase. Now it s time to get ready to do it again. If you are NEW MEXICO CHAPTER under 18 years of age and are or would like to become a Western President: Ray Rutherford bonray2@gmail.com poet or musician, give us a call or send us an . We want to It was truly a memorable evening as Belinda Gail and the help you become the best Western poet or musician you can be Buckarettes performed on the Curly Musgrave stage in Placitas, and give you a chance to showcase your talent. The WMA NM on July 8. The Western-themed stage was set in the foothills Showcase and Awards Show is a premier Western Music and of the Sandia Mountains with the Rio Grande valley in the Poetry event. Western artists from every corner of the globe background. The weather was perfect for an outdoor concert and come there each year to share in the excitement. They spend four the audience was very appreciative of both the music and the action-packed days and nights performing on stage, jamming with setting. The WMA-NM chapter passed out informational flyers old friends, discovering new friends and feeling the energy and membership applications to interested patrons. generated by all that talent being in one place at one time. It is an experience you simply should not miss. NORTHWEST CHAPTER Come join us in Albuquerque this year and be a part of the President: Bodie Dominguez bdominguez@cableone.net West. Attend three first-class workshops: Vocal Horsepower for the Young Performer (Judy Coder), For the Art of the Jam OKLAHOMA CHAPTER Workshop (Suze Spencer-Marshall) and The History of Western President: Jim Garling cowboyjimgarling@gmail.com Music Panel (Marilyn Tuttle, Suze-Spencer Marshall and O.J. Sikes), then show em your stuff on stage in the second annual UTAH CHAPTER Youth Showcase. For more information contact James Michael at President: David Anderson davidacowboy@aol.com or mhosea@zianet.com or contact Jane Leche at The Utah Chapter was involved as a co-sponsor and support or rangerjane@rocketmail.com. group for the Cowboy Legends Gathering held May 27-30, 2011 at Antelope Island in the middle of the Great Salt Lake. Organized by Chapter member Lisa Stubblefield, Cowboy Legends listed 34 poets and/or musicians for the four day weekend. Serving on the committee were Chapter members Sam DeLeeuw Advertise in The Western Way and Don & Lois Schrader. Park rangers counted over 4000 visitors to the Garr Fielding Ranch where the gathering was held. The and reach the people you need to know! Chapter handed out the Western Way and membership applications to interested visitors. The WMA banner was displayed Don t wait reserve your space today! adjacent to the indoor stage located in the sheep shearing barn, a part of the Utah history on the Island. The second of three stages was on the front porch of the bunk house. A third stage Rate/Issue 4X Rate/Issue was added this year for open mic signups. Sunday morning, Chapter B&W or Color B&W or Color members supported the gathering for cowboy church to over 50 people who stayed for the Sunday evening potluck dinner and Full Page $800 $750 jam around an open pit fire. The WMA/Utah Chapter continues Full Page Inside Cover $900 $850 to meet every other month for a short business meeting, then on Back 3/4 Page Color $900 $850 Half Page to a potluck social and jam. Officers are outlining an agenda for $500 $450 Third Page $450 $400 visits to the schools, centers, seniors and other community Quarter Page Square $400 $325 organizations during the late summer and fall months. Chapter Sixth Page $300 $275 members will be allotted to various regions to make contact for 1/12th Page (Logo Only) $135 $125 these visits. Meanwhile, because of the jams and the outreach programs at gatherings, our numbers continue to grow. We are excited about the upcoming November WMA Showcase & For more information on deadlines Awards Show and are encouraging our members to attend. and how to submit your ad, Lindalee Green at lindaleegreen@gmail.com WYOMING CHAPTER or Call President: Dick Hall rrhall@rtconnect.net The WESTERN WAY Fall

16 Buffham s Buffoonery by Les Buffham i got mail from my old amigo, Mackey Hedges the other day. He was relating some of his latest adventures to me and I thought I might pass em on. If you don t know who he is I will introduce you. Mac is an old Nevada buckaroo who worked for the ZX Ranch at one time under Sunny Hancock. Later he rode for another out fit in Nevada with Waddie Mitchell. Needless to say he has been around and for a while. I don t know how old he is but I keep tellin him he s to old to be ridin bronc horses any more and he listens to me about like the dally post in his corral. Back in the early 90 s he was in a bad horse wreck when he worked for an outfit up on the Idaho border. He was laid up for a year or so with a broken back. He was spendin a lot more time in bed than what he was used to and was about to go stir crazy. One day his wife Candi lugged her computer in to his bed side and told him to write down some of his experiences for posterity. I think she wanted them to show their boys so she could maybe head them down a different trail than their daddy had taken. One thing about Mac that might be a little hard to believe is that he is a bit more educated than you might think, probably the result of his momma standin over him with a switch to make sure he completed his studies. After he got started, he got to enjoyin himself and the end result was a novel that was picked up and published right away by Gibbs Smith. That novel, The Last Buckaroo, later earned several awards including the Tom Blassingame Award. Quite an accomplishment for an old busted up cowboy, I would say. Mac and I were both invited to the Cowboy Symposium in Lubbock, Texas, some time later. Mac was there to accept the award and talk some about the book. I stumbled across him back stage just before he was supposed to go on. He was sittin in a chair all hunched over, starin at the toes of his boots. I asked him what the matter was and he looked up at me all whitefaced like a Hereford cow and said, Ya know, Les, I would sooner be gettin on the meanest, rankest, nastiest, bronc I ever rode as to walk out there in front of all those people. Well, I pulled up a chair and sat down with him and told him that when he got out there the lights were gonna be in his face and he couldn t see any one out front anyway and to just imagine that he was talking to Sunny and Waddie and me. That seemed to cheer him up a bit and when he got the curtain call he went out there and snuck up on that microphone like it was an old wild steer. I d lied to him I reckon cause all the house lights were on. He started out kinda stiff but after a couple of sentences he started to warm up and purty quick he had them folks fallin out of their chairs. He was havin so much fun they purt near had to drag him off when his time was up. I asked him later if he was considering a new career in public speaking. He looked at me kinda sideways and asked me, Do you think one of them Oceanside beaches in Arizona would be a good place to winter? Like many of the cowboys I ve known, Mac has moved around a lot. Matter of fact he changes jobs about as often as I do my underwear. He swears that the last wreck he had was not from a bronc but from a horse fallin with him. I told him, Your not suppose to ride horses as old as you are. He assured me that wasn t the case, just a matter of icy ground and horse shoes without caulks on em. I got this information from a cell phone call. As soon as Mac answered we were cut off. When we finally got connected again he apologized, This phone is busted and I have to hold the two pieces together just right to get it to work. I reckon it was a survivor of that last horse wreck too. He had surgery on his shoulder a while back and is now layin around the house healin up again. I asked him if that meant there would be another book and he said he didn t think so. He described what he was doin while he is layin around healin up. I have taken the liberty of attaching as follows that description in his own words. The closer I get to going back to work the more I get to thinking about how little I ve accomplish since I ve been home. At first I was pretty disappointed and then Candi told me to make a list. After I read it things didn t seem quite so bad. To show you what I mean, since I ve been at the house resting: 1. I pulled the shoes on my five head of horses. 2. I painted our barn, little shop, and horse trailer. 3. Buck and I cut all the grass and weeds on about five of the acres of our place, (the horses mowed the rest). 4. We pruned 20 or 30 trees and hauled off all the limbs and suckers. 5. We had a container moved in (for storage) and I filled it with a jillion items that were scattered outside. 6. I built shelves and straightened out our other two containers. Other than that, my arm hasn t allowed me to do too much of anything else. When it gets to feeling better I hope to get some serious things done around the place before I have to go back to 16 Fall 2011 The WESTERN WAY

17 work. All this rain has also kept me from getting a lot of things done that I wanted but you know the old saying, There s no such thing as a bad storm in Nevada. Candi just hollered and said the bathroom has warmed up, so guess I best go run through the rain room and get my Saturday night bath. Be talking (writing) with you later. Mackey Hedges Since the success of The Last Buckaroo Mac has written a sequel titled Shadow Of The Wind. They are both great reads. Check em out at cowboybooksandmusic.com Though Mac doesn t use tobacco in any form or drink coffee anymore he reminds me of a guy who could sip on a cup of scaldin hot coffee and chew on a biscuit with a lip full of Copenhagen, all while he was sittin on the outhouse throne! The WESTERN WAY Fall

18 2011 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE R.W. Hampton By Don Cusic R.W. Hampton released his first album, Travelin Light in 1984 after he d spent a number of years as a working cowboy. Born June 17, 1957, Hampton worked for several large ranches in New Mexico and often played his guitar and sang for personal entertainment. His first performance before an audience came in 1978 when he sang Little Joe, The Wrangler before a cattleman s gathering. That led to other performances at other cattlemen s functions. R.W. s second album, The One I Could Never Ride, came after a performance at the Cowboy Symposium in Lubbock, Texas. He performed at Elko in 1986 and two years later decided to go for broke with his music. His third album, Born to Be a Cowboy, contained the song that was the album s title. Michael Martin Murphey recorded it and it became Hampton s best known song. Hampton continued to record albums and developed a one man play, The Last Cowboy, written with his brother, Jeff and playwright Dave Marquis. That became an album which won a Wrangler Award from the National Cow- boy and Western Heritage Museum. Hampton appeared on the TV special Kenny Rogers and the American Cowboy and in several movies, including the HBO movie The Tracker with Kris Kristofferson. Hampton has won numerous awards from the Western Music Association, the Academy of Western Artists, and a second Wrangler from the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. R.W. Hampton is the real deal, a bona fide cowboy with roots planted deeply into ranching culture. He lives in a home on the range and when he sings Home on the Range it comes from his heart as well as his everyday life. Hampton s music is an outgrowth of his lifestyle; deep in his soul is a working cowboy who loves to sing about what he lives. He is a contemporary western singer, which means that his life is wrapped up in the modern world of ranching and his performances are geared to those who wish they were cowboys as well as those who are real cowboys. R.W. Hampton s induction into the Western Music Hall of Fame is well-deserved; although he was not present at the creation of the singing cowboy, he has proudly carried that torch forward and kept the flame burning bright. 18 Fall 2011 The WESTERN WAY

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20 2011 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE Vaughn Monroe By O.J. Sikes Singing orchestra leader Vaughn Monroe would have been quite happy just playing his trumpet and leading his swing band. But when he stepped up to the microphone to sing, audiences wanted to hear more. He had always enjoyed western music, and while he could croon romantic ballads with the best of the pop singers, his voice had a rugged quality that could convey images of the out-of-doors that the western genre called for. In 1945, well into his successful career, he convinced his record label, RCA Victor, to let him sing some western music. His first foray into the genre was on a record of Cool Water, accompanied by the Sons of the Pioneers, followed by Blue Shadows on the Trail a couple of years later. The recordings made the pop record charts in 1948 (at # 9 and # 26, respectively). He also recorded the theme from the motion picture Melody Time, the Disney film starring Roy Rogers & the Sons of the Pioneers that featured the classic Disney cartoon, Pecos Bill, & the song, Blue Shadows on the Trail. In 1949, he recorded a #1 hit record, Riders in the Sky (A Cowboy Legend), which led to numerous other Western recordings including the very popular Mule Train, and starring roles in two singing cowboy A-films (not B-Westerns) with Republic Studios, Singing Guns and Toughest Man in Arizona, filmed in color (the music from these films is available today on YouTube). Monroe also recorded many other western songs, e.g. The Pony Express, Mexicali Trail, Gonna Ride & Ride, Home on the Range, Smoking My Last Cigarette (the Cowboy Serenade), Don t Fence Me In, A Man s Best Friend is his Horse, Rounded up in Glory, Phantom Stage, When the Sandman Rides the Trail, No Range to Ride Anymore, and others, a number of which were assembled in an RCA Victor album in 1952 (Vaughn Monroe Sings New Songs of the Old West). The rest were issued as singles, most of which have been re-issued on CD. Because he was a popular singer with a huge following (even today, a large number of CDs of his music are readily available), he played an important role in bringing western music to a new and larger audience. Since so much of his work is still being re-issued, nearly 40 years after his death, his impact is still being felt. 20 Fall 2011 The WESTERN WAY

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23 Western Music Association Founded in 1988 by western music performers and fans, the WMA supports and promotes the historic, traditional and contemporary music of the American West and the American Cowboy. A non-profit organization, the Western Music Association strives to bring ideals embodied in the Code of the West to everyone living in today s society. The American Cowboy represents honor, integrity, respect and a love for mankind and the world in which he lives and works. The Western Music Association is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) Corporation, funded through the generous support of the western music industry. Donations are taxdeductable as a charitable donation. Join us online! Visit the WMA website at The WESTERN WAY Fall

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25 Roy Rogers: KING OF THE COWBOYS By Don Cusic Roy Rogers became King of the Cowboys in 1942, the same year that Len Sly officially became Roy Rogers. Photos courtesy Roy Rogers Museum D uring his early years with Republic, Rogers was overshadowed by Gene Autry, who was the biggest western star in the movies and received the biggest budgets and best scripts from the Republic screenwriters. Rogers proved himself a reliable box office draw and his films were well received, but there was no clear-cut discernable image of Roy Rogers. Ray White noted that Twenty-two of the first two dozen Roy Rogers Westerns were period films set in the nineteenth century and related to such topics as the Texas Republic (The Ranger and the Lady, 1940), the pony express (Frontier Pony Express, 1939), the Civil War (Southward Ho!, 1939), Reconstruction (Robin Hood of the Pecos, 1941), cattle rustling (Shine on Harvest Moon, 1938), and railroads (Nevada City, 1941). In these early films, Rogers portrayed a variety of characters ranging from pony express riders and Confederate military officers to Wild West gunmen. In two films he played dual roles (Billy the Kid Returns, 1938; Jesse James at Bay, 1941). During his first ten films for Republic, Roy Rogers played Roy Rogers but then the scriptwriters had him playing a character with another name. However, in the 1941 film Red River Valley, Rogers played Roy Rogers again. During the late 1930s and early 1940s Roy began to assemble a team that defined his character. In the 1939 film Southward Ho, Gabby Hayes joined him as a sidekick and in 1941 the Sons of the Pioneers joined him in his films. Pat Brady joined the cast and provided comic relief and, beginning with Silver Spurs in 1943, Trigger, The Smartest Horse in the West began receiving star billing. Then, in 1944, Dale Evans became his leading lady. The year 1942 marked a turning point in Roy Rogers career because this was the year he came out of the shadow of Gene Autry. Autry had pioneered the singing cowboy role in westerns and Rogers became a singing cow- The WESTERN WAY Fall

26 Roy Rogers Continues from page boy star when Gene Autry walked out on Republic Pictures over a contract dispute. Republic signed Rogers as a bargaining chip to lure Autry back and as a replacement for Autry, who did not show up to film the first movie scheduled for him in After Autry returned, Rogers starred in almost 30 movies for Republic but Autry always got the better scripts, more money and came in ahead of Rogers on favorite western star polls until Gene joined the Army Air Corps. Art Rush The foundation for a Roy Rogers Empire was established a couple of years before when Roy hired Art Rush as his manager. Rush would played a key role in the life of Roy Rogers until his death in During the 1930s he was head of RCA Victor Records on the West Coast. In that position, he produced recordings by Leopold Stokowski, Nelson Eddy, Lily Pons, Benny Goodman, Igor Stravinsky, and Tommy Dorsey. Rush then worked as a talent agent for Vladimir Horowitz and Orson Welles. According to Laurence Zwisohn, Rush invited Roy Rogers to lunch and offered to represent him. Rogers was cautious until he asked where Rush was from. When Rush replied, Ohio, the two shook hands and began their lifelong association. One of the first things Rush did was approach Herbert Yates at Republic to give Roy a raise and draw up a new contract. Roy was given a raise of $150 a week (from $100) but, more importantly, Yates agreed to a contract that allowed Roy to earn and keep outside income generated from merchandising and performances. This had been a sticking point with Gene Autry; his original contract gave Republic a healthy cut of his outside earnings. The studio assured Autry that they wouldn t bother with that income, but Gene insisted it be included in his contract. Yates probably saw this as a way to placate Autry, and then Rogers, because it meant it kept their salaries down. But, in the long run, Roy Rogers earned much more through merchandising and endorsements than he earned from Republic making movies. Touring Roy Rogers toured extensively over 100,000 miles a year in the early 1940s promoting his films and earning money from his performances. During his performances, Roy was generally accompanied by the Cactus Cowboys, whose members were Joe Caliente (fiddle), Jake Watts (guitar), Windy Bill McKay (bass) and Bobby Gregory (accordion). He needed the money; Herbert Yates was notoriously cheap and the $100 a week Rogers earned in 1940 wasn t enough to pay the bills. The new contract Rush negotiated for Rogers led the two to go New York and meet with manufacturers to license Roy Rogers name and likeness for a variety of products. Soon, Roy was advertising Wheaties and other products. Cheryl Roy and Arline Rogers wanted children but it seemed like they were unable to have them. On a trip to Dallas, Roy met with Bob O Donald and Bill Understood, who owned local theaters that showed Roy s movies. Roy told them of his desire to adopt a child and both the men were on the Board of Directors of Hope Cottage, an orphanage. Roy saw a baby girl they wanted to adopt and in 1941 they adopted Cheryl Darlene, born June 6, A Home on the Range Roy had earned enough money by the fall of 1941 to purchase a house on six acres at 4704 Whiteoak Avenue in Encino, near the chicken farm he purchased for his parents. The home has been described as a huge Spanishstyle house with a swimming pool, tennis court, guest house, citrus orchard and corral. The house had previously belonged to Don Ameche. By 1942, Roy Rogers was a strong competitor to Gene Autry in singing westerns. Autry continued to hold down the number one position with his films but Roy came in third, behind Hopalong Cassidy (William Boyd). The publicity department at Republic Pictures advertised a feud between Roy Rogers and Gene Autry (both said the feud was nonsense ) in order to boost their popularity. Films of 1942 Roy Rogers began 1942 with South of Santa Fe. Gabby Hayes as his sidekick, Linda Hayes was the female lead and the Sons of the Pioneers were the featured musical group in this film about treachery and a gold mine venture. Songs in the film include Song of Vaquero, South of Santa Fe, Yodel Your Troubles Away, Trail Dreamin, We re Headin for the Home Corral, Open Range Ahead and Down the Trail. Interestingly, the film copied Photos courtesy Roy Rogers Museum 26 Fall 2011 The WESTERN WAY

27 Autry s formula of using the contemporary west of automobiles and airplanes in a mixture of the old and new west. This trend of using the contemporary rather than the historical west became a continuing theme in Roy Rogers movies, although action remained the primary ingredient in the fourteen Rogers Westerns released between December 1941 and October 1943, noted Ray White. The plots of these films focused on the traditional themes of horse rustling (Ridin Down the Canyon, 1942), bank robberies (Idaho, 1943), land grabbing (Sunset on the Desert and Sons of the Pioneers, 1942), and range wars (Man form Music Mountain, 1943), observed White, but the scriptwriters also incorporated radios, automobiles, trucks, airplanes, and telephones into the stories. Sunset on the Desert featured Lynne Carver as the romantic interest in addition to Gabby Hayes and the Sons of the Pioneers. Songs in the movie were It s a Lie, Remember Me and Faithful Pal of Mine. In Romance on the Range, Linda Hayes is once again the romantic interest with Gabby Hayes and the Sons of the Pioneers in supporting roles. Song in this film were Oh, Wonderful World, When Romance Rides the Range, Rocky Mountain Lullaby, Coyote Serenade and Sing as You Work. Recordings In 1939, the CBS Corporation, headed by William Paley, purchased the American Record Company from Herbert Yates firm, Consolidated Film Processing for $700,000. Roy Rogers did his last recordings for ARC in April of that year, recording three songs he wrote, The Man in the Moon is a Cowhand, She s All Wet Now and I Hope I m Not Dreaming Again (co-written with Fred Rose). In 1940 he signed with Decca Records and on August 29 recorded four songs with Johnny Bond and Dick Reinhart. The songs they recorded were Chapel in the Valley, You Waited Too Long (which had Fred Rose, Ray Whitley and Gene Autry listed as writers), Nobody s Fault But My Own and No Matter What Happens My Darling. Rogers recorded three more sessions for Decca in 1940, including one session where he was accompanied by Jimmy Wakely s Rough Riders, another where he called square dances accompanied by Spade Cooley and His Buckle Busters and a one where he was accompanied by Carl Cotner and Spade Cooley playing fiddles. In September, 1941, Rogers recorded eight songs for Decca but did not record again until March 20, 1942 when he recorded You re the Answer to My Prayer, Little Old Church on Top of the Hill, She Gave Her Heart to a Soldier Boy and Think of Me, which has Roy, Richard Loring and Steven Cross listed as writers. The Musicians Union called a strike in 1942 that lasted until the end of 1944, so Roy did not record during the rest of 1942 or in 1943 and Sons of the Pioneers featured the songs of Bob Nolan and Tim Spencer but the plot was not about the group, although they were in the film. The female lead was Marie Wrixon and the songs were Things Are Never What They Seem, Trail Herdin Cowboy, The West Is in My Soul, He s Gone Up the Trail and Come and Get It. That film was released on July 2, 1942 and three days later Gene Autry, who performed with his troupe at Soldier s Field on July 4, enlisted in the Army Air Corps. World War II The United States was pulled into World War II on December 7, 1941 when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. During 1942, the first full year of World War II, a number of men were drafted. Since many of the western stars were eligible for the draft age, they had to either enlist or obtain a deferment if they didn t want to be drafted. Herbert Yates, head of Republic Pictures, told Autry that a deferment could be arranged, but Autry chose to enlist. Yates threatened Autry s career; the singing cowboy had signed a contract to star in eight pictures, four of them top budget Continues on page The WESTERN WAY Fall

28 Sons of the Pioneers The Legacy By Nolen Berry Photo Courtesy Of Nolen Berry 28 Fall 2011 The WESTERN WAY

29 hink of the term the West and you think of natural beauty, a cultural mind-set and a very distinctive type of Tmusic. The term evokes the image of the singing cowboy and his songs of western places and events. For over 77 years the Sons of the Pioneers have painted musical images and stories of the West. Songs like Tumbling Tumbleweeds, Cool Water and Ghost Riders in the Sky are classics forever entwined into the lore and mystique of the American West. Songs from the Pioneer catalog have been recorded and used by a long list of who s who in the music industry, ranging from Bing Crosby to the Boston Pops, Frankie Laine, Johnny Cash, Riders in the Sky and Michael Martin Murphy. There s even film footage of Elvis Presley warming up for a concert using Tumbling Tumbleweeds! The WESTERN WAY Early Days From the earliest days of the film industry the cowboy has been a favorite movie subject. Westerns became the bread and butter of most early studios. When musical segments were added to rejuvenate westerns the singing cowboy was born and people like Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Tex Ritter and Rex Allen because huge stars. Enter the Sons of the Pioneers. The Pioneers were different from the start. While some stars sang traditional sweetheart songs, the Pioneers sang about the West. Their songs elicited unforgettable images and stories of horses, cattle, cowboys, night herds, tall timber, cool water, canyons and prairies. Many of their songs were original compositions penned by the original members, Bob Nolan, Tim Spencer and Roy Rogers (then known as Leonard Slye). They were creating a whole new library of music. The Pioneers started with their own radio show and moved to appearing in almost 100 western films during the 1930s, 40s and 50s. Numerous albums were recorded under contracts with Decca, Columbia, RCA and others. The Pioneers provided songs for several John Ford westerns including the soundtrack for The Searchers starring John Wayne. When television came along they appeared regularly on The Roy Rogers Show and had guest appearances on such programs as the Barbara Mandrell Show. They were the first cowboy musical group to perform at Carnegie Hall and the first to headline in Las Vegas casinos. They have performed across America in some of the largest venues and have fans literally around the world [A group of Norwegians attended their 2011 Wisconsin concert] and they have received an enviable number of prestigious awards. Four years from their inception the composition of the group started to change. The first change brought Lloyd Perryman into the group. Lloyd is regarded as the architect of the close distinctive harmony that has been the group s hallmark. He tutored subsequent members, like Luther Nallie, to be curators of the robust Pioneer Sound which still sets them apart today. When Shug Fisher joined the group playing bass he added his contrived humor. Today each performance is still peppered with comedy. The Farr brothers made guitar and fiddle instrumentals a necessary part of the repertoire. Billy Liebert introduced Pioneer fans to accordion riffs while Sunny Spencer played a whole big band orchestra of instruments. No one configuration has been responsible for building and maintaining the group s reputation. While most fans can name the original members, only the most devoted followers can name later members and the immeasurable contributions they made. One of the secrets of their legend is that members have always worked together as a team putting the group before individual fame and self-interest. Another secret to their legendary success is that each configuration had to be no less impressive than their predecessors. As a replacement became necessary the new member had to have not only sterling musicianship but a unique voice to fit the blend and a dedication to the trademark Pioneer sound. The current multitalented members reflect those qualities. The current line-up of the Pioneers continues their legend. Within the last couple of years the the group has been on Nashville s Grand Ol Opry, been elected to the Vocal Group Hall of Fame; performed on two different RFD-TV shows, filmed their 75 th Anniversary Show at the Texas Troubadour Theater in Nashville [which is now out on DVD], performed on Shotgun Red s television show; performed a benefit for the Roy Rogers Museum; been the subject of a feature article in American Cowboy magazine; performed approximately 200 shows a year at their Branson venue, and performed various dates on the road during the fall and spring months. Despite such a busy schedule the group finds time for some charity work. Recently they performed at two benefits for the Joplin Tornado Relief and at a concert for a nonprofit botanical park. They are currently scheduled to perform at a fund raiser involving the preservation of the wild Sonoran Desert. The Current Members Reputably the Pioneers are the longest continual musical group in America. Mention the name Sons of the Pioneers to any fan of Cowboy or Western music and you get instant recognition. There have been changes in the group over the years so it is sometimes difficult to know who the current members are. Other famous groups may have had one or more noteworthy members and when they retired or quit the group disbanded or passed from the scene but the Pioneers have maintained a formidable presence since It took 33 members to span 77 years, each with their own unique contribution to building and maintaining the legacy. Today, the Sons of the Pioneers consist of Luther Nallie, Gary LeMaster, Ken Lattimore, Randy Rudd, Ricky Boen and Mark Abbott. Luther Nallie No one epitomizes the best of the Pioneers as does trail boss Luther Nallie who is only the third trail boss in the group s entire history. The trail boss is the administrator and business leader. With his native Texan personality Luther continues on page 30 Fall

30 Sons of the Pioneers continues from page 29 is respected by everyone for his gentlemanly manners and even-handed leadership, not to mention his consummate musical talent and dedication to the Pioneers heritage. Luther holds the third longest longevity with the Pioneers surpassed only by Lloyd Perryman and Dale Warren. As the main curator of the group s sound he knows the lyrics and arrangements to all the Pioneer catalog. He is a multifaceted musician who can sing any of the trio parts needed, add a guitar riff, provide a dixieland clarinet, play bass, develop a song s voicing and arrangement or contribute in a hundred other ways. His voice can be heard on the group s recordings dating back to the 1960 s when he first joined the group. Initially he sang tenor, then switched to lead and ended up singing baritone. In a special tribute to past member Sunny Spencer, Luther s clarinet delights an audience with Sunny s arrangement of Just a Closer Walk. Luther participated in many of the groups pinnacle moments. As the group was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, Western Music Hall of Fame, Cowboy Hall of Fame and Texas Swing Hall of Fame, Luther was there. He was there when the Pioneers got their Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and there when they were awarded the Golden Boot Award. He was a member when Tumbling Tumbleweeds and Cool Water were elected to the Grammy Hall of Fame. Having contributed most of his life to the success of the Pioneers, Luther is understandably rankled when anyone suggests the current members are not the real Sons of the Pioneers. I m honored to be part of this group with it s rich heritage, said Luther. I m also deeply appreciative of all those members who carved out a whole new American style of music genre. And I am extremely proud of the current group whose sound and performances are second to none. They go out every day and prove to each audience that Western music is beautiful, entertaining and admirable; that it represents a life-style that is worth emulating. Historians of the Pioneers will recall that other Nallie family members have been involved in the group; Luther s brothers, Jack and Tommy, and Luther s son, John, are all past members. There was a period in which all three brothers were part of the Pioneers at the same time. Tommy now performs with Roy Rogers, Jr. and the High Riders but he occasionally fills in for any temporarily absent Pioneer. Gary LeMaster Gary LeMaster started his career in music at the age of 3; later, he performed in national charting rock n roll bands and subsequently landed in Las Vegas in 1969 where he performed with his own band until he become Entertainment Director at Sam s Town in When visiting his father-in-law and Pioneer member Sunny Spencer in 1986, the possibility of filling in for Roy Lanham was suggested to Gary and ultimately resulted in Gary becoming an official member. Fans are often surprised to learn Gary s longevity surpasses many of the former members. He was present in Oklahoma City when the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum inducted the Pioneers into the Western Performer s Hall of Fame. Along with other members of the Pioneers he received a Golden Boot Award trophy in Gary s tenor voice is used both on harmony and solos. His lead guitar provides the key intros and turnarounds which create an artistic landscape for each song. He s recognized everywhere he goes as one of the country s very best guitarists. Each performance is sprinkled with Gary s humor and antics. On stage Gary is animated, sometimes loping on his imaginary horse or searching the sky for ghost riders. Gary has great respect for the music and heritage of the Pioneers. He has spent years researching the group s classic songs and developing arrangements for the current group. Gary recently penned Pioneer Heaven a re-write of the classic Tex Ritter Hillbilly Heaven but his version pays homage to key past members of the Pioneers. If you want to know how dedicated the current members are to the Pioneers just consider the example of Gary LeMaster. Feeling nauseated, Gary had to leave the stage during the final minutes of a 2010 performance at The Prairie Rose in Benton, Kansas. A few days later he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. His health failed dramatically despite an army of doctors and numerous surgeries, but Gary hung on, determined to return to the group. During the weeks and months of treatment and recovery he insisted on having his guitar in the hospital room where he could keep up his chops as his energy would allow. When you visited Gary in the hospital he always wanted to discuss ideas he had for show performances. Gary s life with the Pioneers and the prospect of returning to it was what brought Gary through. Early in 2011 the doctors told him the cancer was gone. Still attempting to regain his strength and on a cautious diet Gary rejoined the Pioneers on their spring road dates and for the regular season at Shepherd of the Hills. Ken Lattimore Ken Lattimore is the formal music scholar of the group, holding a degree in music from Texas Tech University. A tenor, Ken provides the higher harmonies. He also delights audiences with his fiddle solos and duets; occasionally he supplies a mandolin to the mix. Ken composed the orchestral parts used as an accompaniment to recent Pioneers recordings of Blue Prairie and Everlasting Hills of Oklahoma. Before joining the Pioneers, Ken had experience in a variety of music genres ranging from singing lead tenor in Gilbert and Sullivan productions to performing in Nashville s Ryman Auditorium and at a country music festival in Austria. For several years his day job was as a music teacher. Ken continues his diverse musical interests in the off season by joining the violin sections of several different symphony orchestras throughout Texas and Louisiana. Ken s interest in western music and particularly the Pioneers dates back to childhood when he became a fan after listening to his parent s albums. The harmonies and lyrics roped in his interest. As an adult he found himself falling deeper under the spell of Pioneer music and committed many of their songs to memory. On a 1997 stopover in Branson Ken approached Dale Warren and gave him a demo CD. Dale was continues on page Fall 2011 The WESTERN WAY

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35 O.J. Sikes Reviews A Musical Note From OJ... Some folks are still asking about the Roy Rogers & Dale Evans Museum, so for those who haven t heard the news, it s gone. Sadly, the museum, which was moved from Victorville, CA to Branson, MO after Roy passed away, closed its doors for good at the end of The treasures so many people came to see for decades, including Trigger, have been auctioned off over the past 18 months and are now parts of numerous private collections around the country. The money the items brought made headlines, but the money wasn t important for everyone. It was a traumatic experience for those of us who watched it, even from afar. On the brighter side, Roy & Dale s son Dusty and grandson Dustin, remained in Branson and are keeping the legend alive through a daily show at the Mickey Gilley Theater. Dusty s show with his band, the High Riders, was always a high point during a visit to the museum, and it s a thrill to see it continue and expand. In Rick Huff s reviews section, you ll see a writeup on a CD recorded live this year from one of those shows. It s a show not to be missed, especially this year as they celebrate Roy s 100 th anniversary. The shows run from April through December (with a special Christmas show that starts in November). Dusty and Dustin take the show on the road from time to time, so before you plan your trip, check the show schedules online at RoyRogers.com to make sure you re in town when the show is playing. If you are a promoter, you may want to look into booking them. In the 1940s & 50s in the Carolinas where I grew up, everybody knew the name, Arthur Guitar Boogie Smith. You were either a fan or a closet fan (country wasn t cool back then, and western could only be heard on Gene Autry s Melody Ranch radio show or at the Saturday matinees). But we heard Arthur live on The WESTERN WAY clear channel WBT radio every day throughout the region, or on his weekly syndicated TV show. For reasons I m sure I ll never understand, it wasn t so easy to find his records, even though he recorded many excellent sides beyond his signature songs. Fortunately, in part because his records were heard on the BBC and his work was known in Europe, the British Archive of Country Music (BACM) has recently released an outstanding CD of some of his best-known recordings, like Feudin Banjos, and some of his lesser-known gems as well. There s a story behind the banjos tune: Arthur wrote it and he recorded it in the mid-1950s with his friend and colleague Don Reno, but it faded from memory over the years. Then, it appeared with a modified title (and under a different composer s name) in the film, Deliverance, and it became a hit song. When he heard his song with a different title and under someone else s name, Arthur sued and won. Now, you can hear the original! The new CD, ARTHUR GUITAR BOOGIE SMITH, (CD D 341), features Arthur with his band, the Crackerjacks, and Don Reno. It includes The Red-Headed Stranger, lots of great instrumentals like Texas Hop, and a sequel to his classic Foolish Questions. It s available for $15 from CountySales.com in the Country & Western section. To submit your CD for review, send to: O.J. Sikes, 327 Westview Avenue, Leonia, NJ Required: Album cost, S&H cost, Address, Phone Number Questions? You can O.J. at osikes@nj.rr.com Fall

36 Reviews - DVD REVIEW - - CD REVIEW - GENE AUTRY, SMILEY BURNETTE & CHAMPION The Phantom Empire 3 DVD set -Timeless Media Group - B.A.C.M. CD D 334 When the Gene Autry office was choosing which of Gene s previously unreleased (on DVD) films to issue first in 2011, they decided to let the fans vote on it. The 12 chapter serial, The Phantom Empire, won the contest. Previously, episodes of the serial had been released one at a time on DVDs featuring Autry s full-length films, so unless you had a sizeable collection, you might not have had access to all of the chapters. Now, they re all in one package, beautifully restored for greater enjoyment. Each has an exciting cliff-hanger ending, just the way the front-row kids saw them at Saturday matinees years ago. In 1934, when Gene Autry was invited to Hollywood to appear in Ken Maynard s film, Santa Fe, he wasn t sure he liked the idea of staying. But audiences and the film studio liked what they saw. So Gene and his pard, Smiley Burnette, were encouraged to stay on a little longer to play minor roles in three chapters of Ken Maynard s next film, a serial titled Mystery Mountain. Maynard was being considered for the lead in The Phantom Empire, which was to be filmed next, but Gene got the job instead. The first disc in this 3 disc set opens with a color wraparound from Gene Autry s Melody Ranch Theater TV show with Gene, Pat Buttram and guest Pee Wee King relaxing while they talk about the feature of the day. In this case, the feature was a truncated version of the serial which had been converted into a feature-length film in The viewer gets some history and stories about The Phantom Empire being the first Western Sci-fi serial and what went into making it, but it s important to note that this 3 disc set contains the complete, uncut serial with all twelve chapters (over 4 hours). There s plenty of music; the plot has Gene committed to broadcasting a weekly radio show, and he has to escape the clutches of subterranean villains to get back to the Radio Ranch in time for his weekly broadcast. As long-time Autry fans will attest (and did with their votes), this one s great fun! Available from the Autry Museum store ( ), Timeless Media s website, timelessvideo.com ( ), Sam s Club stores and elsewhere. O.J. Sikes KEN CURTIS The Ken Griffis Memorial Edition Ken Curtis is one of the most interesting of the many men who have passed through the ranks of the Sons of the Pioneers. Most people know him as Festus from the Gunsmoke TV series and aren t aware that he was an exceptionally talented singer. He was a big band vocalist in the early 1940s, recording with the Tommy Dorsey and Shep Fields bands. And in 1945 he became a singing cowboy movie star with sidekick Big Boy Williams and the Hoosier Hotshots providing comedy relief in his feature films for Columbia studios. He joined the Pioneers in 1949 and left the group when they decided not to continue their Lucky-U Ranch radio show early in Ken stayed on to take over the radio show, changing the name to The Lucky-U, accompanied by Rex Dennis & Buddy Dooley. About the same time, Ken also hosted a TV series called Song Stories of the West with short segments featuring his new trio. Occasionally, his friends Tommy Doss and Lloyd Perryman dropped in to join Ken as the trio for these TV shows. The show was never sold, but Ken kept the master soundtrack tapes and his widow gave copies of them to his dear friend Ken Griffis who, shortly before his death in 2008, shared the rare tapes with his friend and associate in creative productions, Jim Kleist. Those tapes became the masters for this new CD. With one exception, Curtis sings all the solos, and the voices of Perryman and Doss are clearly evident on several songs, most notably the beautiful renditions of Grand Canyon, Old Forgotten Trails, Rollin Dust & When the Prairie Sun Says Good Mornin. But the Ranch Hands trio of Curtis, Dooley & Dennis also renders some terrific western music on tunes like This Ain t the Same Old Range, Old Pioneer, The Touch of God s Hand and A Summer Night s Rain. Most titles will be familiar, but there are some that are quite rare, e.g. The Old High Lonesome, Stars of the West & Serenade of the Cowboy. This album is a real western treasure. Don t miss it! $ $3.45 (s&h) from Kactus Jim Kleist, East 700 South, Upland, IN 46989, or O.J. Sikes 36 Fall 2011 The WESTERN WAY

37 ANDY PARKER & THE PLAINSMEN Vol 2 The Coast Recordings BACM CD D CD REVIEW - - DVD REVIEW - GENE AUTRY & CHAMPION WITH PAT BUTTRAM The Gene Autry Show Season One 4 DVD set - Timeless Media Group - B.A.C.M. CD D 339 Reviews You may remember Andy Parker & the Plainsmen from the many B-Western films they appeared in with Eddie Dean and Ken Curtis in the 1940s. Or you may remember their radio broadcasts from those years and later. They also recorded a large number of sides for the Capitol and Coast record labels. The British Archive of Country Music has worked with Andy Parker s family to locate beautifully restored copies of 26 recordings the group made for the Coast label from 1945 to All 26 are included on this new disc, including an alternate take of New San Antonio Rose. That swing title is a reminder of the remarkable talent and diversity of the group during these years. The amazing steel guitar work of Joaquin Murphy on these sides is itself worth the price of admission. But the Plainsmen s wonderful, smooth vocal harmony is also much in evidence. Long ago, I learned that just after seeing these fellows in concert, Lloyd Perryman told a friend, I d better go back and light a fire under my boys! Of course, Lloyd s boys were the Sons of the Pioneers! Six of the songs are instrumentals, with the rest being a mix of up-tempo tunes and beautiful ballads. Most of the vocal solos are by lead singer Charlie Morgan but there s also a rare solo by Hank Caldwell on In the Hills of Old Wyoming and three solos by Andy Parker, one of which is on an unforgettable version of the beautiful West of the Wasatch. Highly recommended! US$16 ppd to BACM Records (without the plastic jewel case) from the British Archive of Country Music, Greenacres 451 Folkestone Road, Dover, Kent, CT17 9JX, UK, or $15 + postage from CountySales.com (under the Country & Western category). O.J. Sikes Join the WMA! Membership Form on Page 22 It s been a long time coming, but the complete first season (26 episodes) of the Gene Autry TV show is finally available on DVD! In the first episode, Head for Texas (July 23, 1950), Gene sings Sing Me a Song of the Saddle, a favorite he had considered using as his radio theme before selecting Back in the Saddle Again. The Cass County Boys joined Gene in the second episode and the show was off to a very successful 5 year run. The Cass County Boys didn t return until much later in the series, but Gene included music in every episode, to the delight of fans both then and now. The first season was not without excitement, both off camera and on. In September, 1950, Gene s famous sidekick Pat Buttram was seriously injured on the set when a small cannon accidentally exploded, sending shrapnel flying. Fortunately, Gene s small plane was close-by and Pat was immediately air-lifted to a hospital for life-saving treatment. When they reached the runway in the town where they had to land, the airport was already closed so Gene radioed ahead and by the time they got there (after dark) a lot of people had driven to the airport, parked on either side of the runway & turned their headlights on so the pilot could see how to land. Chill Wills, Alan Hale, Jr. & Fuzzy Knight can be seen as Pat s replacements in the season s last 5 episodes. The last two episodes from that first year were filmed in Kodachrome. They turned out beautifully, but the process was expensive, so color was not introduced on a permanent basis until much later in the series. The DVD set includes several bonus features, the most important being the December 2, 1950 episode of Gene s Melody Ranch radio show with an outstanding version of Adobe Hacienda, and Pat and Gene talk about Pat s accident. Other extras are images of vending cards and movie trailers from 5 films, one of which is shown with Spanish, French & German subtitles. Available from the Autry Museum store ( ), Timeless Media s website, timelessvideo.com ( ), Sam s Club stores and elsewhere. O.J. Sikes The WESTERN WAY Fall

38 Reviews - CD REVIEW - CAL SHRUM WITH HIS RHYTHM RANGERS & COLORADO HILLBILLIES Rodeo Rhythm, Vol BACM CD D 336 Cal Shrum and his brother Walt established the Colorado Hillbillies in the early 1930s. By the time the first recordings on this disc were made, they had started recording radio transcriptions and appearing in B-western movies. You can see them in Gene Autry s The Old Barn Dance & Blue Montana Skies, Jack Randall s The Land of Fighting Men and Tex Ritter s Rolling Home to Texas, for example. Spade Cooley and Deuce Spriggins joined the band early on, and Tex Williams had become an important part of the Rhythm Rangers by 1940 when they appeared in the Tex Ritter film. Happy Perryman, Lloyd s brother, was with the band in 1942 and sang the solo on their transcription recording of At the Rainbow s End, included on this CD. Cal and Walt Shrum parted company a couple of times and rejoined forces, and you ll learn the specifics from Kevin Coffey s detailed liner notes. But whether you re listening to the Rhythm Rangers or the Colorado Hillbillies, you re sure to enjoy the music, regardless of who s leading the band. Three of the 30 tracks are from the soundtrack of the Tex Ritter film, and one of those features a vocal solo by Eddie Dean. Eddy was in the cast, but not one of the band members. Tex Williams is not featured but vocalists include names you may recognize (but might not hear often) like Curly Ross, Hal Blair and cowboy movie sidekick Britt Wood, as well as Cal Shrum himself, along with and regular vocalists Don Weston and Chuck Woods. The instrumentals are terrific, with Gene Haas on guitar and Spade Cooley on fiddle. US$16 ppd to BACM Records (without the plastic jewel case) from the British Archive of Country Music, Greenacres 451 Folkestone Road, Dover, Kent, CT17 9JX, UK, or $15 + postage from CountySales.com (under the Country & Western category). Google BACM to see complete contents list and other CDs. O.J. Sikes 38 Fall 2011 The WESTERN WAY

39 Continues from page Roy Rogers musicals and Yates was angry that those commitments would not be fulfilled. However, Autry stated, I think the He-men in the movies belong in the Army, Marine, Navy or Air Corps. All of these He-men in the movies realize that right now is the time to get into the service. Every movie cowboy ought to devote time to the Army winning, or to helping win, until the war is over the same as any other American Citizen. The Army needs all the young men it can get, and if I can set a good example for the young men, I ll be mighty proud. There were several stars at Republic that were draft eligible; Don Barry was scheduled to enter the military, and Jimmy Dodd, the newest member of the Three Mesquiteers was waiting to hear from his draft board. Republic s star John Wayne received deferments arranged by Yates to continue making movies during World War II. Autry Joins the Army Gene Autry finished filming Bells of Capistrano before he was sworn into the Army Air Corps on July 26. Autry had arranged to join the Air Corps and become a pilot and during basic training his 55 th movie, Call of the Canyon was released. On September 15, 1942, Bells of Capistrano was released. This was the last new Gene Autry movie until World War II ended, although Republic re-released several other films, including his first serial, Phantom Empire, as two features titled Men With Steel Faces and Radio Ranch. (There was some additional footage added for these features.) During 1942 Roy Rogers helped the war effort by performing on a tour of army bases in Texas and also made 136 appearances over a 20 day period to sell war bonds in Texas. Rogers was sponsored by the state, the Interstate Theater Circuit, the Theater Owners of Texas and Republic Productions. Roy and Trigger performed for servicemen and children at bases, hospitals and orphanages. Roy bought Little Trigger in 1940 and this was the horse he generally performed with on the road. Roy also used a number of doubles for Trigger in his movies. Republic Promotion Since Autry was going to be away from the film studio for an indefinite time, Herbert Yates decided to promote Roy Rogers as King of the Cowboys and publicized him with that title in a huge promotional campaign. Ironically, Rogers wore that title before a movie by that name was released. Art Rush and Roy took full advantage of this promotion and endorsed a number of products. The Family Grows During the summer, Arline was surprised to learn she was pregnant. On August 22 Roy requested a name change for the couple to Roy Rogers and Grace Arline Rogers; that was granted on October 6. On September 14, Sunset Serenade was released. Helen Parrish was Roy s love interest but Joan Woodbury also had a starring role while Gabby Hayes was his sidekick with the Sons of the Pioneers the featured musical group. Songs in that picture included Song of San Joaquin, I m a Cowboy Rockefeller, Mavoureen O Shea, He s a No Good Son of a Gun, Sandman Lullaby, I m Headin for the Home Corral and the great Bob Nolan classic, For a Cowboy Has to Sing. The film is about cattle rustling and features cars and trucks. Madison Square Garden On October 7, Roy Rogers made his debut at the Madison Square Garden Rodeo, dressed in a white outfit with red boots. He performed for 19 days October 7-25 and drew capacity crowds. While in New York, Roy and Arline visited the sites and Trigger impressed everyone by signing an X at the registration desk of the Dixie Hotel, then going upstairs to Roy s room before dining at the restaurant. It was a great publicity trick that was utilized time and again. Another great publicity trick was Trigger rearing up with Roy on his back, which delighted fans and made for great pictures in newspapers and magazines. Ruth Terry was Roy s love interest in Heart of the Golden West, released on November 16. Smiley Burnette and Gabby Hayes were both in this picture, along with the Sons of the Pioneers, and songs featured were The River Robin, Who s Gonna Help me Sing, Night Falls on the Prairie, Cowboys and Indians, River Chant, Carry Me Back to Old Virginny and Under Stars Over Texas. Five days before Christmas, Ridin Down the Canyon was released with Lorna Gray as the love interest, although Linda Hayes played a prominent role. Songs include Sagebrush Symphony, Curley Joe, Blue Prairie, In a Little Spanish Town, My Little Buckaroo, Who Am I? and Ridin Down the Canyon. The President s Birthday President Franklin Roosevelt s birthday was January 30 and Roy was invited to the White House to help the President celebrate his 61 st birthday in Films of 1943 Smiley Burnette is Roy s sidekick and Virginia Gray was his love interest in Idaho, Roy s first film released in Songs in the film include Idaho, Whoopee Ti Yo, Home on the Range, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lone Buckaroo and Don Juan, Stop. On April 9, 1943 King of the Cowboys was released. Roy s love interest was Peggy Moran and his sidekick was Smiley Burnette as Frog Millhouse. The film s plot has Roy as an undercover agent working for the Governor. Roy stars as a singer in a traveling tent show who uncovers a plot by saboteurs who want to blow up a bridge. After Roy, with the help of the Sons of the Pioneers and Smiley Burnette solve the mystery, foil the plot and emerge victorious, the Governor presents Roy Continues on page The WESTERN WAY Fall

40 Roy Rogers Continues from page Photos courtesy Roy Rogers Museum with a commendation proclaiming him King of the Cowboys. Songs in this movie were A Gay Ranchero, Ride Ranger Ride, Ride Em Cowboy, Red River Valley, Roll Along Prairie Moon, I m an Old Cowhand, They Cut Down the Old Pine Tree and Biscuit Blues. Prior to the release of the film, Republic placed Roy s movie posters on 192 billboards at a cost of $500,000. The posters named Roy King of the Cowboys and Trigger as the Smartest Horse in the Movies. Additionally, the Whitman Publishing Company began Roy, Trigger, and Dale publishing Roy Rogers children s books and American Music published a song book, Roy Rogers Own Songs. Linda Lou Nine days after King of the Cowboys was released, Linda Lou was born to Roy and Arline Rogers at Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital. At his home, Roy owned 95 homing pigeons and raced them. Some of these races covered 700 miles and one bird, named Lone Ranger was reportedly clocked at 50 miles an hour. In addition to pigeons, which were registered for army duty, Roy owned about 20 dogs and an assortment of other animals. Touring During a tour of army bases, Trigger stayed in the lobby of the Gunter Hotel in San Antonio in a special box stall for three days. The Double R Bar brand was created by leather craftsman Bob Brown and became an important trademark for Roy Rogers, beginning in Roy Rogers toured for almost four months in the summer and fall of 1943, logging 50,000 miles to rodeos. It was reported that 7,500 theaters showed his films. There were 126 theaters in Chicago showing Roy Rogers movies and Roy spent a week at the Oriental Theater there with Trigger. At this time, trainer Glenn Randall had taught Trigger about 60 tricks and routines. Films of 1943 Song of Texas followed King of the Cowboys and in this film Sheila Ryan played Roy s romantic interest. Songs in this movie were Blue Bonnet Girl, I Love the Prairie Country, On the Rhythm Range, Chapanecas, Mexicali Rose, Moonlight and Roses, Rainbow Over the Range, Cielito Lindo, Far Away and Whoopee Ti Yi Yo. There were only four songs in Silver Spurs: Tumbling Tumbleweeds, When s Springtime in the Rockies, Highways Are Happy Ways and When You Look For a Silver Lining (Back in Your Own Back Yard). Springtime in the Rockies had been the title of a 1937 film by Gene Autry. The song was a major hit in 1930 for Ben Selvin (#1), Hilo Hawaiian Orchestra (#1), Ford and Glenn (#14) and Ray Miller (#5). In Man from Music Mountain (also the name of an Autry film but Rogers version was also known as Texas Legionnaires), Ruth Terry and Ann Gillis were the females and the songs were I m Beginning to Care, Wine Women and Song, Deeper and Deeper, Song of the Bandit, After the Rain, Roses on the Trail, King of the Cowboys, Smiles are Made of Sunshine, an He- Li-O-Yip-I-O-Le-A. That was the last Roy Rogers film released in At the Madison Square Garden Rodeo in 1943 Roy was backed by the Ranch Girls and had his picture taken with Gene Autry, who dropped by in his Army uniform. In New York he made appearances every day for bond drives, orphanages, hospitals and other fund raising events. He sold so many bonds for the U.S. Treasury Department at his personal appearances that at the end of the war the U.S. Treasury Department gave him a citation for selling over a million dollars worth of bonds Begins In January, 1944, Hands Across the Border was released with Ruth Terry starring as Roy s romantic interest. Songs in this film were When Your Heart Is on Easy Street, The Girl in the High Buttoned Shoes, Hands Across the Border, Cool Water and Hey, Hey. The film ended with a huge musical production number, inspired by the musical Oklahoma that Herbert Yates had seen in New York. After seeing Oklahoma, Yates instructed his screenwriters to insert lavish production numbers in Roy Rogers films. The Cowboy and the Senorita, released in May, 1944, was the first film where Dale Evans starred as Roy s romantic interest. Mary Lee, a child star who was in a number of Gene Autry movies, also starred in this film as the 16-year old girl who inherited a gold mine but was faced with a greedy gambler who tried to steal it from her. Songs in this movie were Cowboy and the Senorita, What ll I Use for Money? The Enchilada Man, Bunk House Bugle Boy, and Round Her Neck She Wore a Yellow Ribbon. Dale Evans The lady who became known as 40 Fall 2011 The WESTERN WAY

41 Dale Evans was born Frances Octavia Smith in Uvalde, Texas on October 31, 1912 to Walter and Betty Sue Smith. Walter Smith farmed and ran a hardware store in Italy, Texas, about 40 miles south of Dallas. During her growing up years, Frances had piano lessons and did well at school, skipping several grades. Around 1920 Walter and Betty Sue, with their two children, Frances (who was seven) and Hillman, moved to Osceola, Arkansas, located on the Mississippi River about 40 miles north of Memphis. In 1927, Frances was madly in love with Thomas Frederick Fox and the two high school sweethearts ran off and got married; she was 14 and he was 18. The young couple moved in with his parents in Blytheville, Arkansas but the marriage did not work out; however, they had a son, Thomas Fox, Jr., born November 28, Meanwhile, Walter and Betty Sue Smith moved to Memphis and invited their daughter and young grandson to join them and on Easter, 1928, Frances and Tom did so. The Smiths offered to adopt Tom but Frances turned down their offrs. A divorced mom at 17, Frances Fox had to find a way to support herself and her child. She really wanted to sing but the practical side of her realized she needed a steady job so she enrolled in a business school and landed a job with an insurance company in Memphis. Her big break came one day as she sat at her desk staring vaguely at an accident claim form in my typewriter. I was trying to think up words to fit a tune I had just composed, when the boss walked in. He stood there looking at me for a moment, and then he exploded. Young lady, I think you are in the wrong business! As the young Mom began to type quickly, her boss walked away, then came back and asked How would you like to sing on a radio program? The insurance company was a sponsor for a program and the boss arranged for her to make a guest appearance; she sang Mighty Lak a Rose on that Friday night debut on WREC and soon performed every Friday night on that The WESTERN WAY station. The performances on WREC led to some personal appearances and then, on October 14,1929, Frances Fox began singing on WMC, the largest station in Memphis. WMC was owned by the major daily newspaper, the Commercial Appeal, so Frances recived newspaper coverage from her performances on the station. She then moved to a CBS affiliate, WREC, which was located in the Peabody Hotel. At WREC Frances had her own half hour program. The divorce of Thomas and Frances Fox was granted in September, On November 30, 1930, eighteen-yearold Frances married August Wayne Johns, 22, and the couple moved to Fairmont, North Dakota and then to Chicago where Frances had a job with the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. In her off hours, she auditioned for singing jobs. Frances Fox Johns was apparently in an abusive marriage and it took a toll on her health so in 1932 she moved back to Texas where her parents now lived. Suffering from malnutrition and anemia, she spent two weeks in the hospital. WHAS in Louisville appeared there in Spring, After about a year in Louisville, Dale moved back to Dallas after her son, Tommy, became seriously ill. Dale in Dallas Dale landed a spot on the Early Bird program on WFAA in Dallas and soon Dale Butts joined her at WFAA. Butts worked as a musician and arranger at the station. Dales divorce from August Johns was final at the end of May in 1936 and on September 20, 1937, Butts and Dale, whose legal name was now Frances Octavia Johns, were married in Dallas, Texas. In 1936, Dale Evans saw Roy Rogers for the first time. Rogers was with his group, The Sons of the Pioneers, appearing at the Texas Centennial where Gene Autry was filming his movie, The Big Show which featured the Sons of the Pioneers as guests. Tom Fox remembers he was at the Centennial with his mother and had just thrown up in her hat. The two walked past where the Sons of the Pioneers were performing and when Dale saw Roy she remarked, What a pleasant looking young man. In 1939 Robert Dale Butts (always referred to as R. Dale by his wife) and Dale Evans moved to Chicago. Butts went to work as an arranger for NBC while Dale sang with the Jay Mills Orchestra at the Edgewater Beach Hotel. She then obtained a job with the Anson Weeks Orchestra, and toured throughout the Midwest and West Coast with this group. In 1940 Dale was back in Chicago, living with her son, her husband and his parents while performing in the supper clubs at the Blackstone, Sherman and Drake Hotels. She sang on WWBM Radio and on network shows for NBC and CBS. She also had her own show, That Gal From Texas, broadcast over CBS. Frances landed a job at WHAS in Louisville in the Fall of either 1933 or 1934; there she performed as Marion Lee. Joe Eaton, the program director for the station, decided to change her name. He informed me that my name would thereafter be Dale Evans, she remembered. That s a boy s name! I indignantly informed him but Joe wouldn t budge. He told me of a beautiful actress in the era of silent films whose name was Dale Winter. He wanted me to be Dale in honor of her. The surname Evans was added simply because Joe decided it was euphonious. It could roll easily off the lips of radio announcers. In May, 1936, Dale divorced August Hollywood Beckons Johns. At WHAS she worked for WHAS for $30 a week and met Robert Dale In 1940, out of the blue one Butts, a pianist and arranger who gave afternoon...i received a telegram from her professional help. She also met Gene Autry at WHAS during the time he Continues on page Fall

42 Roy Rogers Continues from page an agent in Hollywood, remembered Dale. He asked for photographs. If he liked them, he would arrange a screen test. Dale remembers she laughed as I read the telegram. I had no desire whatever to go to Hollywood. I was aiming at stardom in Broadway musical comedies. The telegram was sent by Hollywood agent Joe Rivkin, who sent several more before Dale answered. She then had the assigned glamour photos taken and sent the best of the batch to Rivkin. The agent wired back Take a plane immediately for a screen test at Paramount Studios. So Dale caught a plane from Chicago to Hollywood. Travel by plane was not as common or as comfortable in 1940 as it was at the end of the 20th century and ten feet off the ground, on our way to cruising altitude, I developed a severe earache and suffered with it all night long, said Dale. In those days airplanes had no pressurized cabins to compensate for high altitudes, remembered Dale. A flight attendant dropped warm oil into my ears. Nothing helped. I slept not a wink and could eat no breakfast because of nausea. After landing, she saw a thin man pacing up and down on the tarmac...i d read in a book that all agents are nervous and high-strung. After introducing herself she noticed an incredulous look on his face. Oh, no! he exclaimed. Are you Dale Evans? After replying she was, he ordered her to take off her sun glasses then mumbled, Well, you certainly don t look like your pictures. After putting her luggage in his car he drove down the road when he noticed Dale s wedding ring. You didn t tell me you were married! he said. You didn t ask, she replied. He asked her how old she was and the twenty-eight year old singer replied Twenty-two. He insisted she say twenty one And you are single. Understand? The two drove to the Hollywood Plaza Hotel where Rivkin took her to the beauty salon and ordered an operator to See what you can do with her. The beautician gave me a stinging facial massage...[and] tinted my light brown hair with an auburn rinse and sent me off to dress for a luncheon with Mr. Meiklejohn, a casting director for Paramount. She put on a black dress and was curtly informed by Rivkin that in Hollywood you wear bright colors, with flowers before she was ushered into Meiklejohn s office. Looking her over with a critical eye, the casting director noted I m a little worried about the nose. A trifle too long for the chin and then asked if she danced. Rivkin quickly replied Dance? She makes Eleanor Powell look like a bum before Dale corrected him, saying No, Mr. Meiklejohn, I can t dance. I can t even do a time step. Bill Meiklejohn almost blew his top when he heard that, said Dale. He gave Joe Rivkin the kind of icy stare that would have frozen a polar bear into silence. The casting director then told her that he was looking for someone to play opposite Bing Crosby and Fred Astair in the movie Holiday Inn but since I could not dance, I couldn t fit the part. From the lunch, Dale went to the wardrobe department, then a drama coach who picked a scene from Marlene Dietrich s picture Blue Angel and told me that MacDonald Carey was to play opposite me, said Dale. For two weeks, she worked hard, rehearsing the part and tried to lose some weight. She had to lie about being married and having a son until I could stand it no longer. I walked up to Joe Rivkin and told him that I had to talk to him right now before things went any further and then informed him I am twentyeight. I have a son who is twelve years old. He lives with me. Rivkin said immediately, You will have to send him away to school. Dale refused, so Rivkin then said Tom is your brother. Do you understand? Dale remembers that she didn t like it but at least this ruse gave me a chance to have Tom with me in Hollywood...so I said, It s all right with me if it s all right with Tom. Tom agreed but told her you can do anything you want, Mother, as long as I myself don t have to lie. Back in Chicago, Dale received a call from Rivkin that Paramount had turned her down but Twentieth Century Fox wanted to sign her for $400 a week. R. Dale, Dale, Tom and R. Dale s parents then moved to Los Angeles where they rented a house in Dale landed small parts in two movies, Orchestra Wives and Girl Trouble. She then became a featured singer on the Chase and Sanborn Show on network radio, which featured Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy with Don Ameche and Jimmy Durante. Dale Joins Republic Dale Evans had a 43-week run on the Chase and Sanborn Show but during that period Joe Rivkin entered the military, so Art Rush, Roy Rogers personal manager, took over as her agent. Dale had an active singing career, entertaining troops on U.S.O. shows at military camps in the United States; her husband, R. Dale usually went along and accompanied her on piano. Dale soon had a conflict with Art Rush because he spent so much time with his top client, Roy Rogers, so she left him and signed with Daniel M. Winkler. Because of Art Rush and Daniel Winkler, Dale Evans was brought to the attention of Herbert Yates, head of Republic Pictures, home of the singing cowboys. In 1943 Dale Evans signed with Republic and her first film was Swing Your Partner with Lulu Belle and Scotty, two stars of the WLS Barn Dance in Chicago. She then appeared in Hoosier Holiday, West Side Kid, Here Comes Elmer and her first western War of the Wildcats (also known as In Old Oklahoma) starring John Wayne. She appeared in the 1944 release Casanova in Burlesque with Joe E. Brown and Hitchhike to Happiness. Her husband, R. Dale was busy arranging songs and scoring films for Republic while her son, Tom graduated from high school and entered the University of Southern California. Both she and R. Dale were busy with their careers, often working together, and the strain began to show on their marriage. 42 Fall 2011 The WESTERN WAY

43 Oklahoma Oklahoma debuted on Broadway in 1942 and was the most successful musical during World War II with songs like Surrey with the Fringe on Top, Oh, What a Beautiful Morning and People Will Say We re in Love. Herbert Yates had seen Oklahoma in New York and, according to Dale, decided to expand the female lead in westerns and adopt this format for one of his biggest stars, Roy Rogers. And so Dale Evans was cast in The Cowboy and the Senorita, her first film with Roy Rogers, whom she had met briefly while performing at Edwards Air Force Base with the Sons of the Pioneers. In The Yellow Rose of Texas, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans star in a musical western. Roy is a singer on a showboat owned by Dale Evans and this musical western features the songs I m Coming Home, Lucky Me, Unlucky You, Down in the Old Town Hall, Down Mexico Way, Timber Trail, Show Boat, Song of the River, Take It Easy, Two Seated Saddle and a One Gaited Horse, and Yellow Rose of Texas. The elaborate musical production numbers at the end of his films added length to his movies; The Cowboy and the Senorita ran 78 minutes and Yellow Rose of Texas ran 69 minutes. Song of Nevada featured Dale Evans as well as Mary Lee and the songs were Nevada, It s Love, Love, Love, There s a New Moon Over Nevada, Hi Ho Little Dogies, What Are We Gonna Do?, Harum Scarum Baron of the Harmonium, A Cowboy Has to Yodel in the Morning, The Wigwam Song, Sweet Betsy From Pike, and Golden Hair Hanging Down Her Back. Roy and Dale s film, San Fernando Valley, released in September, 1944, featured the songs San Fernando Valley, I Drotted a Drit Drit, Sweeter Than You, My Hobby is Love, They Went That-a-Way, Days of 49, and Over the Rainbow Trail We ll Ride. In 1944 Bing Crosby had a number one pop hit with San Fernando Valley and Johnny Mercer also reached the pop chart with that song. Those last two films ran 75 and74 minutes, respectively. The End of 1944 The last Roy Rogers film released in 1944 was Lights of Old Santa Fe, where Roy and Dale, with Gabby Hayes and the Sons of the Pioneers (billed as Bob Nolan and the Sons of the Pioneers) star in a film about rodeos. Song in the film were Amor, Amor, Lights of Old Santa Fe, The Cowboy Polka, Cowboy Jubilee, I m Happy in My Levi Britches, Trigger Hasn t Got a Pretty Figure, The Nerve of Some People and Ride Em Cowboy. On December 1, 1944, Roy Rogers appeared in the film Hollywood Canteen, which featured Hollywood stars the Andrews Sisters, Jack Benny, Eddie Cantor, Kitty Carlisle, Joan Crawford, Bette Davis, the Golden Gate Quartet, Peer Lorre, Ida Lupino, Barbara Stanwyck, Jane Wyman and Jimmy Dorsey and His Band performing. The plot featured some soldiers who returned home and dropped into the Hollywood Canteen, where they were surrounded by beautiful girls. Roy and the Sons of the Pioneers sang Tumbling Tumbleweeds and introduced the Cole Porter song Don t Fence Me In. Two days before Christmas Lake Placid Serenade was released starring Vera Hruba Ralston, wife of Republic president Herbert J. Yates. Ralston was a champion ice skater and the movie was about ice skating. In this film Roy sang Winter Wonderland. It was a big year for Roy Rogers in It s hard to believe today that comic books were so popular with young people during the 1940s, 50s and even up to the early 1960s but youngsters bought and read them regularly. It was a mark of distinction for a performer to be so popular that they had their own comic book series and Roy Rogers entered that realm in April when Dell published the first in a series of Roy Rogers Comics. The first issue, Roy Rogers and Blazing Guns, reportedly sold a million copies in the first twentyfour hours after it hit the newsstands. Continues on page The WESTERN WAY Fall

44 Roy Rogers Continues from page (Philips 27) During the summer, the Roy Rogers World Championship Rodeo was formed. Roy toured twice a year, several weeks at a time, and also appeared at the Madison Square Garden Rodeo that fall for a three-week engagement. During his time in New York, Roy saw the musical Oklahoma on Broadway, met Frank Sinatra, Babe Ruth, Jack Dempsey and former president Herbert Hoover. Radio Radio was the mass medium during the first half of the twentieth century and it was through radio that Roy Rogers entered show business and, ultimately, the movies. Rogers started out singing with various groups, then formed the Sons of the Pioneers who performed on KFWB in Los Angeles as well as KHJ and KNX on Peter Potter s Hollywood Barn Dance. Rogers appeared on radio shows during his early years at Republic and even starred in a series, Radio Rodeo in A second series, The Call of the West was on the NBC Blue Network in On the latter show were Gabby Hayes, Sally Payne and the Sons of the Pioneers. During World War II Rogers appeared on Melody Roundup, a show created by the Armed Forces Radio Service (AFRS) in 1942; he also appeared in Mail Call and Command Performance, which were AFRS programs. Rogers appeared on several Guest Star shows, which were created by the U.S. Treasury Department to sell savings bonds. The Roy Rogers Show was Roy s first major network weekly radio show. It was broadcast over the Mutual network and sponsored by the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. The half hour show was heard on Tuesdays 8:30-9 p.m. in the Eastern time zone. The show was a western musical variety program and Rogers was the emcee who sang a song or two and featured a guest performer as well as the Sons of the Pioneers and the Perry Botkin Orchestra. Roy s theme song was Smiles Are Made Out of Sunshine. The year ended with the Rogers family in a new home in Van Nuys in the San Fernando Valley. Arline s parents had moved from Roswell, New Mexico and lived nearby Begins The first Roy Rogers film of 1945 was Utah and Dale Evans was once again his co-star. She played a musical star from the east who had a show in Chicago and needed money to keep the show going. She wanted to sell her ranch, but the foreman Roy didn t want it sold. Songs in this film were Utah, Thank Dixie for Me, Utah Trail, Beneath a Utah Sky, Wild and Wooly Cowgirls, Five Little Miles, Welcome Home Miss Bryant and Cowboy Blues. Bells of Rosarita, released in June, 1945, featured a number of Republic cowboys stars Bill Elliott, Allan Lane, Don Barry, Robert Livingston, Sunset Carson as well as Bob Nolan and the Sons of the Pioneers in addition to Roy and Dale. In this film, Dale owned a circus she inherited but is in danger of being cheated out of it. Roy, with the help of his Republic pals, comes to the rescue. Songs in this film were Bells of Rosarita, Bugler s Lullaby, I m Gonna Build a Fence Around Texas, Trail Herdin Cowboy, Singin Down the Road, Under a Blanket of Blue, When the Circus Comes to Town, The happy couple, Dale and Roy Michael Finnegan and Aloha. The film Man from Oklahoma opens in New York City, where Dale (as Peggy Lane) is appearing at the Flamingo Club. Roy, Bob Nolan and the Pioneers audition for a promoter, who steals their money but Dale loans them money to return home. Roy s uncle is Jeff Whittaker and Dale s Grandma Lane are part of a long running family feud. Dale returns to the area where the Oklahoma Land Rush is about to begin. Because of the family feud, and some Whittaker horses on the Lane property, Roy has to win over Dale which, of course, he does. Songs in this film were I m Beginning to See the Light, The Martins and the Coys, I m Gonna Have a Cowboy Wedding, Prairie Mary, Draggin the Wagon, Cherro Cherro Cherokee, For You and Me, Skies Are Bluer, Finale, Square Dance and Yes, My Darling. The Roy Rogers Show was broad- Photos courtesy Roy Rogers Museum 44 Fall 2011 The WESTERN WAY

45 cast on radio until May 15, 1945, when the season ended. World War II Ends By the time Sunset in El Dorado was released at the end of September, 1945, World War II had ended. V-E Day (Victory in Europe) was May 8 and on August 15 the Japanese agreed to end hostilities after atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima (August 6) and Nagasaki (August 9). Once again, Dale Evans is Roy s co-star in the film and Bob Nolan and the Sons of the Pioneers are the musical group, like they had been in all of Roy s films during World War II. Songs in the film were I m Awfully Glad I Met You, Belle of the El Dorado, Lady Who Wouldn t Say Yes, Go West Young Man, Call of the Prairie, The Quilting Party, T ain t No Use and Be My Little Bumble Bee. Don t Fence Me In Cole Porter is listed as the only songwriter of Don t Fence Me In but the original lyrics were written by Robert Henry Fletcher (born 1885 in Iowa). Fletcher s father was a cattle rancher whose herd was decimated during the winter. Bob Fletcher wrote a number of stories, poems and songs about the cattle industry in Montana, including a book of poetry and prose, Corral Dust, published in Hollywood film producer Lou Brock commissioned Fletcher in 1935 to help write western dialogue for a musical, Adios Argentina. Cole Porter was commissioned to write the music. Fletcher wrote several songs for the musical, including the original version of Don t Fence Me In. Adios Argentina was never produced but Fletcher showed the song to Porter, who offered to purchase it for $250. Fletcher agreed with the stipulation that if the song was published he would receive some credit. Porter rewrote the music, two verses and changed the lyrics on the chorus. The rights to the song were acquired by Warner Brothers and Roy Rogers introduced it in Hollywood Canteen before recording it in his film by the same title. The song was a hit on the pop charts by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters (#1), Horace Heidt (#10), Kate Smith (#8) and Sammy Kaye (#4) and by Gene Autry on the country chart (#4). Legendary gossip columnist Walter Winchell broke the story of Fletcher s contribution and 20 years after the song was a hit Fletcher was entitled to receive royalties through the efforts of ASCAP and Porter s representatives. The film Don t Fence Me In, starring Roy and Dale featured the songs Don t Fence Me In, A Kiss Goodnight, Tumbling Tumbleweeds, Cho Cho Polka, Along the Navajo Trail, My Little Buckaroo and The Last Roundup. Along the Navajo Trail A song in Don t Fence Me In became the title of Roy s next movie. Along the Navajo Trail was originally Prairie Parade, written by Larry Markes (born 1921 in New York) and Dick Charles (born Richard Charles Krieg in 1919 in Newark, New Jersey), two page boys at the New York studios of NBC. The song was introduced in the 1942 movie Laugh Your Blues Away starring Bert Gordon and Jinx Falkenburg. Lou Levy was president of Leeds Music Corporation, a publishing powerhouse in New York. Levy did not like the title Prairie Parade because the p s tended to pop when sung over a microphone. Levy requested a new title with a lyric change and the following day bandleader Eddie DeLange suggested Along the Navajo Trail. Levy asked the songwriters cut DeLange in on the writing credit and promised them a recording by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters. The two young men agreed and the song was first recorded by Dinah Shore, whose version reached number seven on the pop charts in That same year a recording of the song by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters reached number two and a recording by Gene Krupa reached number seven on the pop chart. Musically, the film Don t Fence Me In was one of Roy Rogers strongest. The Last Roundup had been a hit for Bing Crosby, Gene Autry, Guy Lombardo, Conrad Thibault, Don Bestor, George Olsen and Victor Young in Written by Billy Hill, it became a classic western song during the 1930s and has remained so. Tumbling Tumbleweeds, written by Bob Nolan and originally recorded by the Sons of the Pioneers when Roy Rogers was a member, was a hit for that group in It was a pop hit for Glen Gray in 1939 and for Bing Crosby in My Little Buckaroo was a hit for Bing Crosby in The follow up movie, Along the Navajo Trail, was released on December 15 and featured the regular line-up of Roy, Dale, Gabby Hayes, Pat Brady and Bob Nolan and the Sons of the Pioneers. World War II demonstrated the importance of oil and several of Roy s films featured the issue of oil. In this one, organized crime figures discover there s oil underneath a ranch owned by Dale and her father. Song in this film are How Are You Doing in the Heart Department? Cool Water, and Along the Navajo Trail. Larry Markes, one of the songwriters of Along the Navajo Trail, served a a fighter-bomber pilot during World War II. Markes was in England in 1945 when Roy Rogers film was released. Unaware that Roy Rogers had featured the song in the film, Markes took a British girlfriend to a London theater to see the film. When the song came on, Markes exclaimed I wrote that song! Thinking that the young man was just trying to impress her, the young lady said, Oh, that s alright Yank. I like you anyway. Sons of the Pioneers During World War II, the Sons of the Pioneers appeared with Roy Rogers in his movies but their personnel changed during those years. In September, 1941 the group had returned from Chicago to Los Angeles and joined the Camel Caravan for a tour of military bases on the West Coast. Also in 1941 the group Continues from page The WESTERN WAY Fall

46 Sons of the Pioneers continues from page 30 to the Pioneers just consider the example of Gary LeMaster. Feeling nauseated, Gary had to leave the stage during the final minutes of a 2010 performance at The Prairie Rose in Benton, Kansas. A few days later he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. His health failed dramatically despite an army of doctors and numerous surgeries, but Gary hung on, determined to return to the group. During the weeks and months of treatment and recovery he insisted on having his guitar in the hospital room where he could keep up his chops as his energy would allow. When you visited Gary in the hospital he always wanted to discuss ideas he had for show performances. Gary s life with the Pioneers and the prospect of returning to it was what brought Gary through. Early in 2011 the doctors told him the cancer was gone. Still attempting to regain his strength and on a cautious diet Gary rejoined the Pioneers on their spring road dates and for the regular season at Shepherd of the Hills. Ken Lattimore Ken Lattimore is the formal music scholar of the group, holding a degree in music from Texas Tech University. A tenor, Ken provides the higher harmonies. He also delights audiences with his fiddle solos and duets; occasionally he supplies a mandolin to the mix. Ken composed the orchestral parts used as an accompaniment to recent Pioneers recordings of Blue Prairie and Everlasting Hills of Oklahoma. Before joining the Pioneers, Ken had experience in a variety of music genres ranging from singing lead tenor in Gilbert and Sullivan productions to performing in Nashville s Ryman Auditorium and at a country music festival in Austria. For several years his day job was as a music teacher. Ken continues his diverse musical interests in the off season by joining the violin sections of several different symphony orchestras throughout Texas and Louisiana. Ken s interest in western music and particularly the Pioneers dates back to childhood when he became a fan after listening to his parent s albums. The harmonies and lyrics roped in his interest. As an adult he found himself falling deeper under the spell of Pioneer music and committed many of their songs to memory. On a 1997 stopover in Branson Ken approached Dale Warren and gave him a demo CD. Dale was friendly to Ken s approach called the next day and suggested a try-out after Ken learned his assigned part to six or so songs. Ken got the nod and says, Singing and playing violin with the greatest western singing group ever proves the old adage...at At the Pioneer s Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame L to R: Sunny Spencer, Daryl Wainscott, Dale Warren, Luther Nallie, Gary LeMaster, Ken Lattimore times your fondest dream can come true. When not working on his music Ken enjoys a variety of outside pastimes especially American history. Ken s family roots dating back to the American colonies has led to his becoming a member of the 19th Texas Infantry, a group of Confederate army re-enactors. The Marshall, Texas, native has fought in battles at Gettysburg and other locations across the country. Randy Rudd Randy Rudd s dulcet baritone voice makes him a natural as the lead singer of the group. When he joined the group in 2001, Dale Warren likened Randy s voice to that of earlier Pioneer Ken Curtis. As an accomplished guitarist, Randy not only supplies rhythm guitar but occasionally adds a short solo. Randy s right hand approaches flamenco guitar speed as he provides rhythm on some of the up tempo tunes. Adding comedy with one of his ad libs or impersonations of famous celebrities, Randy s personality easily connects with the audience. Randy is the only native Missourian of the group, having grown up in Marshall and Blue Springs, Missouri. He began playing the piano at age 5 and by age 9 he was performing on the piano and guitar for local events. Starting in college Randy devoted himself to a full-time musical career. Randy acknowledges he always had great admiration for the Pioneers songs, their style and their instrumentation but it wasn t until he came to Branson and was performing in the same theater that he fully become a fan. Randy s early musical influences were varied; he admired Merle Haggard, Larry Gatlin, Roy Orbison, Marty Robbins, James Taylor and guitarists Stevie Ray Vaughan and James Burton. Randy still enjoys playing the piano and keyboards although they are not used in connection with the Pioneers. Working with the other members is a treat beyond compare, said Randy. I m delighted to be a member of a group whose goal is to produce impeccable musical performances. When someone like American Cowboy magazine calls you legends of western music you ve got to give it all you ve got in every performance. Ricky Boen When it comes to top Western style fiddle players, Ricky Boen heads the list. Competing against the best of the best he has won the titles of Texas State Fiddle Champion and World Fiddle Champion. The Pioneers have always included an excellent fiddle starting with the likes of Hugh Farr and Billy Armstrong. Strike up San Antonio Rose or Texas Plains and Ricky s Texas swing goes into overdrive. Ricky is totally dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Western music. It s real music and it s our heritage, said Ricky. I grew up in Texas and in the Western culture and this music is ours. It didn t come from England or continues on page Fall 2011 The WESTERN WAY Photo Courtesy Of Nolen Berry

47 Rick Huff s - Best Of The West Reviews To submit items for review, send to: Rick Huff, P.O. Box 8442, Albuquerque, NM Include: Album cost - S&H cost - Address - Phone Number ROY ROGERS JR. & THE HIGH RIDERS WITH DUSTIN ROY ROGERS Live 2011 The WESTERN WAY - CD REVIEW - Dusty & son Dustin s Branson, MO morning show is captured in this CD, which is almost surely intended to be a more of a souvenir or audition piece for booking the show than an album release. But it wears both hats well enough! Delivered with gusto (and with much snappier arrangements than the previous High Riders used) are tons of requisite Bob Nolan, Stan Jones and other B-Western standards. But there is some muchwelcomed newer and less often heard material. In that latter category place Rusty Richards undercovered Call Of The Wild and Curly Musgraves Cowboy True. Rex Allen Jr. s Can You Hear Those Pioneers gets a good treatment as does Til The Last Shot s Fired and the Zac Brown Band hit As She s Walking Away, a father-son duet. It may have just been the excitement of the moment, but some may feel Dustin occasionally pulls a bit sharp on his solos. However the CD is good fun and, with a whopping twenty-six tracks, it s definitely worth your time and cash. CD: $10 plus $5.20 s/h (no personal checks - bank check or money order only) from Golden Stallion, 118 Notch Lane, Suite F, Branson, MO Rick Huff - CD REVIEW - RICK PICKREN The Good Gone Days The superb balladeer Rick Pickren arrives with a new one filled with his gently different views of the terrain. Often he is nicely poetic in his approach, with the true meanings being cloaked in other imagery, making him all the more interesting as an artist! Pickren s musical support this time is twelve strong. The two songs from other writers he chose to cover typify his vision. He does the song its writers won t (Tyson & Russell s Claude Dallas ) and the Western song The Byrds wrote ( Chestnut Mare ). His originals show diverse sources of musical inspiration, including Shake The Chill with its progressive pop feel for the land rush ending in a haunting Indian drumming (read between those lines)! Or an ironically cheery Civil War piece saying Better Days Are Comin for the South and we know the outcome. Or a nod to Black Bart, the gentlest road agent. Unusual material and arrangements aren t new to Pickren, creator of the State Song series (Vol. 3 is in the works). If he can herd some of those weird animals to market, he can handle anything! Thirteen tracks. CD: Price not furnished, but likely $ $2 s/ h through or from Big Strike Productions, 122 Ashland Ave., River Forest, ILL (708) Rick Huff Fall Reviews

48 Reviews - BOOK REVIEW - - CD REVIEW - J. R. SANDERS The Littlest Wrangler J.R. Sanders book adapts and fleshes out the story and earlier history of Jack Thorp s famous Little Joe The Wrangler only this time things end happily! It s aimed at ages 8-12 and deservedly won a prize in the Arizona Authors Association s Literary Contest & Book Awards. The Littlest Wrangler has downloadable workbook questions available about the story and the genuine cowboyin techniques portrayed. Included are art opportunities for the kids, puzzles using facts of the story and a copy of the Code Of The West. Rule #8 says to talk less and say more. Sanders took that advice and didn t waste words. His narrative is vividly direct and his character dialog is crisp. It rings true from beginning to end and should intrigue young readers about this curious Cowboy life we celebrate. I highly recommend throwing a lasso around The Littlest Wrangler and getting into the hands of young folks you d like to see begin to get it. Eighty pages. Book (softcover): $12.95 from Moonlight Mesa Associates, Moonlight Mesa Road, Wickenburg, AZ or online through with workbook materials through Rick Huff GENUINE COWGIRLS Songs From The Saddle Shop The Genuine Cowgirls are just that. There s Alberta ranchwife/ songwriter Lynda Thurston, rancher/ saddle maker and former Nebraskan Lori Gordon and rancher and former Texan Robyn Armstrong all from families who share a US and Canadian ranching tradition. Mostly the arrangements are gentle Country, and it s a positive element here. The songs lyrics are definitely a personal vision from Lynda Thurston, with the Western picks being Lori s Leather & Repair, Blue Roan Horse and The Song With No Ending (actually, it does) and the Country pick being We Learned To Dance. I gave this CD extra thought and extra listens to get past what was for me a sticking point. The ladies sing in unison, with no harmony used at all. When done well it s damnably difficult, to be sure. But some may yearn for a vocal chord, pardon the pun. In future productions, how bout trying a guitar or fiddle playing a harmony line in perfect sync with the unison vocals? I ve not heard it done in Western, and it might prove interesting. Just a thought from a reviewer who s also a producer. Thirteen tracks total. CD: $20 ppd in the US & Canada. Contact Lynda Thurston directly through lndthurston@gmail.com or call Rick Huff - CD REVIEW - KATY CREEK Wild Rose The unusual but effective vocal blend of the Ruybals Nancy s tight Billie Burke vibrato and Wes cowpoke-direct at ya style are on display again in this new release from Katy Creek. Some day I ve simply got to ask them how they first figured out it would work!! Picks this time include their original songs Ridin Back To Texas (swing), Headstone By The Trail (a co-write with Les Buffham), a poem called The Dream, Just An Old Cowboy, the lyrically eerie Where The Wind Blows A Different Song and a semi-novelty I suspect may actually be called Saddle Up rather than the title listed Thunder Over The Prairie. There are two songs by others covered here (John Lowell s Sarah Hogan and Jon Cook s Wild Colts & Wild Hearts ). Katy Creek has interesting stories to tell in their releases. Their CDs work on multiple levels. Give it a try. Thirteen tracks. CD: $15 + $3 s/h from Nancy Ruybal, PO Box 187, Stanfield, AZ Rick Huff 48 Fall 2011 The WESTERN WAY

49 DEL SHIELDS Let The Cowboy Sing - CD REVIEW - - CD REVIEW - An interesting poem set to music opens Del Shields new CD. It quite accurately sums up a basic truth that you ve heard, seen or felt the words to The Cowboy Song through your experiences. I really like that idea, and I really like this CD. For my money it s Shields best since his debut release. Let The Cowboy Sing benefits from excellent production values and strong original songs from Shields. Eleven support musicians shine brightly here. Pick tracks include Ridin In, Danged Hard Winter, El Cerrito and Grandpa s Buckaroo (that one is guaranteed to make parents and grandfolks turn gooey)! There are only ten tracks on this release, two of which are recitations (including the aforementioned poem). But the eight full-length Shields songs on the disc are good enough to make the trip worth taking. CD: $16.95 ppd in the US through or from Del Shields, th Rd., Humbolt, KS Rick Huff GREG HAGER In The Valley Below The title song of Greg Hager s pleasant new release pictures a small rancher, looking down from a rise upon his enterprise with satisfaction. Hager should look at the enterprise of this release with some of that as well. Hager delivers his twelve original songs in a pleasing and comfortable baritone. His CD is predominantly Western and his arrangements are predominantly Country, but still quite acceptable for those guardians against the dread Country incursion! Other picks are This Time (about a cowboy being allowed to settle down), Life Is A Ride (he s learned the back roads are true and tried ), Nothing But Time (all he has since time took the rest) and Not Every Hero (here s one time an ex-soldier is thanked). Greg Hager is a confident artist with a nice product. Give it a spin. CD: Info not furnished, but contact Greg Hager, PO Box 773, Valley City, ND Rick Huff Reviews - CD REVIEW - The WESTERN WAY ANDY WILKINSON & ANDY HEDGES Mining The Motherlode These guys produce Western the same way Woody Guthrie did. If it fits the people, it fits the West. In fact three of Guthrie s sardonic works are on this newest CD from the Texas collaborators and Oklahoma Hills ain t one of em! Andy Wilkinson has long brought a cutting edge to his songs and Andy Hedges obviously has no problem following suit. This time it s farmer and rancher woes, from within and without. Among Wilkinson s 12 original songs and poems this time are Cradle Of The Wind, Hang & Rattle, Old Timey Heart, No Room For Big Shots, This River Don t Burn, the CD s title track and others. It s nice to hear his warning on irresponsible water use Sandstone Champaign get dusted off here. In case the message might not prove to be sufficiently abrasive to certain powers-that-be, the CD also offers Mother Maybelle Carter s No Depression, Uncle Dave Macon s Farm Relief and the Bentleys Down On Penny s Farm. Also featured on some tracks is fine vocal work from Emily Arellano and Alissa Hedges. From stem to stern warning it s superior stuff. Eighteen tracks total. CD: $17.98 through cdbaby.com or MP3 download for $9.99 from the same source. Rick Huff Fall

50 Reviews PRAIRIE MOON Saddle Up - CD REVIEW - In a way I m glad I haven t had occasion to review a Prairie Moon CD until now. By the effect I d sort of felt they were a band still locking in, as it were. But with this one, I can happily say they ve come into their own. This CD is their strongest to date. From the group s endearing, gutty harmony to the material and the sound mix, on this release things have jelled. Prairie Moon is made up of brothers Michael, Ron and Tim Callaway with Dave Holcomb and Will Sullivan. They have more songwriters aboard than many groups (all five!), and it provides them a nice variety of approaches to their subjects. Picks among the originals include Grandfather s Voice, The Caprock, Joe Carson Billy Bob Brown and nice cover versions of songs include Come Back To Old Santa Fe, Seven Spanish Angels and the pop song Amie. Prairie Moon offers something a bit different in their effect something quite likeable. You might like to Saddle Up with this one. Seventeen tracks total. CD: (amount not furnished) Visit or contact Michael Callaway, 7405 Maricopa Cove, Austin, TX Rick Huff - CD REVIEW - ERNIE MARTINEZ Bluerange Longtime performer and session man Ernie Martinez writes this collection lets him explore his love for Western and Bluegrass. Just wait til you hear him cut loose into the second half of Along The Navajo Trail as an up tempo Bluegrass instrumental! You ll look for the white lightning to strike!! We were first introduced to Ernie s elevated musicianship as part of the chuckwagon band Everywhere West (rumored to be back together again, but maybe more on that later). And does he ever shine here! His original title track is tremendous as are his covers of Ol Double Diamond, El Rancho Grande, and others. He does his own version of Sandy Reah s Last Roundup after playing on her album (she s with him here, too) and finally the 1970s pop hit Ride Em Cowboy has been given the acoustic Western treatment it merits. Here s a great one for fans of the two genres from an artist who s considered a national treasure in Colorado. I see no reason to argue the point. Eleven tracks. CD: $15 + $3 s/h from Ernie Martinez, 2606 S Miller Dr., #101, Lakewood, CO or through cdbaby.com. Rick Huff KIP E. SORLIE Cowboys Are The Magic - BOOK REVIEW - Kip Sorlie states his poems are not the result of training or natural gifts. As for the training part we ll have to take him at his word, but the gift aspect is another matter. Alluding to the contexts for the works, on the jacket Sorlie calls himself a grandfather, father and son and says the three of us hope the sincerity overcomes the lackings. It does, but the lackings are few. And his phrase about gladly accepting the blame for an unexpected tear through which the painted pictures seen touched a heart is art! His concise verse covers everything from the height of the stars to the warmth of a hug. At times he offers unique surprises worthy of O Henry. Try these lines of two souls separated on a rainy day: Grief of separation, a single day apart, had forced the need of both to seek the other s heart. Come to find out they are an Appaloosa horse and a four year old girl! Yes, the sincerity wins out. And so will you, putting this book on your shelf. One hundred thirty-one pages. Book (hardcover): $30 ppd from Kip Sorlie, th Avenue, Winfred, SD Rick Huff 50 Fall 2011 The WESTERN WAY

51 - DVD REVIEW - FLORIDA CRACKERS The Cattlemen And Cowboys of Florida This eye-opening DVD is produced by Rob & Susan James and directed by John Michie. After viewing it you ll likely come away agreeing with the participants. As Jim Wilson recently sang Everywhere s West Of Somewhere, but the Florida cowhunters tend to feel they ve been left out, and for no good reason. Even the dictionary lists two disparaging definitions of cracker before the correct ones are given. It s a term of pride used by the Celtic-descended Florida cowboy culture. It s generally accepted that the word cracker came from the whip cracking drovers who herd more with them and cur cowdogs than with throws of a rope. These folks point out some things across the 87 minutes you spend with them here. Items like the fame of the cowboy being based on ten years worth of cattle drives out West when the Florida cowboys have done it for 300 years and counting! And cattle, horses and cowboys were first in Florida (their history predates even the Mexican charros, back to Ponce de Leon)! And the operation named Ranch Of The Century is a Florida spread! Stuff like that. No wonder they re defensive! The production team clearly loves and respects their subject. As with most projects of the type, there is considerable repetition of theme to get the point across and, as is stated at two different points in the DVD, they taught us all we know but not all they know! But this will give you insight that is long overdue into one of the strongest and most viable cowboy cultures. Highly recommended. DVD: (amount not furnished) but suggested retail is $19.95 and should be available by contacting Rick Huff Sons of the Pioneers continues from page 46 some foreign country. It is totally American. I just want everyone to have a chance of enjoying it the way I do. Ricky s career began when he was given a fiddle at age 10. Growing up in Odessa, Texas, Ricky was tutored in Western swing by his father Darrell, a noted musician in his own right. Ricky had a keen interest in emulating the music of Bob Wills and Johnny Gimble but Ricky s dad believed in learning the right way so he insisted that Ricky learn proper classic violin. He took first chair in his high school and area orchestras. But Western swing still didn t lose its hold on Ricky; by age 15 Ricky was playing in local dance hall bands. While still in high school Ricky s grandmother convinced him to enter a little fiddle contest in Crockett, Texas. When Ricky showed up the day of the contest he discovered it was more than just a little fiddle contest it was the World Champion contest that had been held in Crockett since the 1920s and was attended by all the greats. Ricky didn t win that year but the contest inspired him to develop his talent. He returned each year to Crockett and at 20 he won the title World Champion Fiddle Player. He accepted an invitation to study under Terry Morris, noted fiddle player with the famous Flying W Wranglers of Colorado Springs. Ricky continued his formal education obtaining a degree in business from the University of Texas at Permean Basin. Before he won the World Championship, Ricky and some continues on page 58 For Bookings: Call or The WESTERN WAY Fall

52 Reviews - CD REVIEW - CISCO JIM Along The Christmas Trail Cisco Jim writes he s been doing a holiday show songs for the past twenty years and figured he should record some of em so he did. The effect hearkens back to a bygone time of Edison cylinders and real cowboys in the field steppin down off their horses, bellerin a song into the bell, then gettin back on and gettin gone. He doesn t really beller, but Cisco Jim is a rustic performer and his songs possess a certain innocence in this polished age. The vintage effect is heightened by Cisco s careful annunciation and throaty delivery on oldies like Tex Williams The Winter Song, Larry Chittenden s Cowboy Christmas Ball, Tex Ritter s Christmas Carols By The Old Corral and eleven others including three originals. For those who prefer it how it was, here it is. $15 + $3 s/h through cisco@cruzio.com or through (831) or (408) Rick Huff - CD REVIEW - SOURDOUGH SLIM & ROBERT ARMSTRONG Oh, Sweet Mama! Another charmer has sashayed in from that Vo-Do-Dee-O-Dude himself Sourdough Slim, and this time finds him reunited with the equally wonderful multi-instrumentalist & singer Robert Armstrong (from Slim s CD Live From The Strawberry Music Festival ). I have to say it s purty crafty partnerin up with a superior musician who can also wrangle yer CD art and layout! There are fine originals here, but there are few better times to be had in Western Music than when Sourdough Slim, tongue firmly in cheek, cuts loose on the dourest vintage lyrics he can unearth, like My Last Old Dollar, Women, Women, Women or a blues song bearing a famous title Sittin On Top Of The World! And the near military snap he gives to warhorses Old Faithful, Wahoo and Rollin Along will have you rolling as well. But there s also astonishing musicianship behind the fun, and it shines brightly on loving treatments like they give to Sunset Trail. Sixteen tracks total. Oh, Sweet Mama it s a good n!! CD: $15 ppd from or direct from Sourdough Slim, PO Box 2021, Paradise, CA Rick Huff PAULA RHAE MCDONALD Little Bird Here s a Santa Fe art gallery owner and Western Swing/Honky Tonk artist who snagged four separate nominations in the New Mexico Music Awards for her efforts! Paula Rhae McDonald has a powerful belt on her original song Crazy As A June Bug or Michael Martin s Last Call At The Old Ponderosa and classic swingers like My Window Faces The South and then manifests a suitable sweet sensitivity on heartfelt pieces like I Wonder or A Sunday Tune. She gives a nice slow rock spin to Buddy Holly s True Love Ways and a sparkling sass to Goody Goody. She calls her album Country/Jazz, and that description works too. Tonally the CD sounds as if it could have been recorded in a dancehall with Paula on the bandstand. It s an appropriate effect. And it s danceable fun, so what s not to like?? Eleven tracks. CD: $20 ppd from Paula Rhae McDonald, Kiva Fine Art, El Centro de Santa Fe, 102 East Water Street, Santa Fe, NM Rick Huff 52 Fall 2011 The WESTERN WAY

53 - CD REVIEW - SID HAUSMAN WITH WASHTUB JERRY Emus & Owlhoots I m mighty impressed at what this hardcover Western book for kids manages to convey in 30 pages!! Some of the romance of old time radio, the draw of B- Western heroes, the Cowboy Way, a glossary of cowboy terms, some stories behind cowboy songs and oh yes there s a CD with six songs including the Tom Mix Ralston Straight Shooters theme! Grandly mustachioed Sid Hausman wrote the story, illustrated it and sang n played the songs (with Washtub Jerry), including the Hausman original Radio Riders and classics Whoopie Ti-Yi-Yo, Panhandle Rag, The New Ragtime Cowboy Joe and Cowboy Heaven. The radio cowboy heroes Handlebar & Washtub bear a striking resemblance to, well, no mystery there. And the lady emu rancher Sureshot Dot is inspired by none other than Arizona entertainer Dee Strickland Johnson, aka Buckshot Dot. The book is good gentle fun and a nice way to maybe pique the curiosity of potential little cow-fans. But brace for surprises in satisfying that curiosity. Questions like what s radio and what are cowboys may show up right along with what are emus and owlhoots!! Book: $21.95 through (amazon.com). Rick Huff Reviews WHAT ADVERTISERS ARE SAYING... The Western Way is an informative, inviting publication focusing on America s Western Heritage; its history, music, art, literature, and people. As a member of the Western Music Association, it provides me with an effective, efficient format for advertising my skills and products. This publication keeps me informed of western events, media policies, friends and peers. If you have an interest in western genre, I recommend that you subscribe to The Western Way. Marci Broyhill, Prairie Poet The WESTERN WAY Fall

54 Roy Rogers Continues from page signed to do a series of transcriptions for Dr. Pepper with singers Dick Foran and Martha Mears. This was broadcast over the Mutual System and lasted until the end of World War II. Group members Lloyd Perryman and Pat Brady joined the service; Perryman was replaced by Ken Carson and Shug Fisher replaced Pat Brady, after Deuce Spriggins had filled in briefly. During World War II, the Sons of the Pioneers, consisting of the trio of Spencer, Nolan and Carson, with Shug Fisher and the Farr Brothers, worked extensively with Roy Rogers, appearing in over 40 westerns with him. Lloyd Perryman and Pat Brady rejoined the group in 1946; they signed a recording contract with RCA and became Bob Nolan and the Sons of the Pioneers. During 1945 Roy Rogers appeared in Colonel Jim Eskew s Texas Rodeo in Philadelphia. It seems that Roy had either purchased the Eskew Rodeo or hired Eskew to run his rodeo because the Roy Rogers World Championship Rodeo toured a circuit that started in Los Angeles and played before 80,000 with a number of Hollywood stars in attendance and then went on to Houston, St. Louis, Chicago, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Detroit, Philadelphia, Boston and New York. Roy made his final appearance at the Madison Square Rodeo in October, 1945; from this point forward he toured with his own rodeo. By the end of the year Roy Rogers was classified 1-A for the draft but his status was changed to 3-A when the deferment age was lowered. The 34- year old Rogers thus escaped the World War II draft. The World War II period was good to Roy Rogers. At the beginning of 1940 Gene Autry was the top western cowboy. By the end of the War, Roy Rogers held the number one ranking, which he kept even after Gene Autry returned from the War. Rogers outfits were now brightly colored customized shirts elaborately designed with western images. Dale Evans, who had originally fought appearing in western films, was named Queen of the West after she was voted the top-ranking female in westerns. Sources: Cusic, Don. Gene Autry: His Life and Career. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland and Company, Cusic, Don. The Cowboy in Country Music. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland and Company, Phillips, Robert W. Roy Rogers: A Biography, Radio History, Television Career Chronicle, Discography, Filmography, Comicography, Merchandising and Advertising History, Collectibles Description, Bibliography and Index. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc., Tinsley, Jim Bob. For a Cowboy Has To Sing. Orlando, FLA: University of Central Florida Press, White, Ray. King of the Cowboys, Queen of the West: Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, WHAT ADVERTISERS ARE SAYING... As a full time professional entertainer, just as important to staying out on the road working is keeping my name in front of potential talent buyers and bookers who are interested in what I do. I have used The Western Way...as a mainstay in my advertising plans. The rates are reasonable, the quality of the magazine is top notch, and the advertizing manager, Lindalee Green just makes working with her so easy. Juni Fisher 54 Fall 2011 The WESTERN WAY

55 WHAT ADVERTISERS ARE SAYING... Besides keeping me up to date on my friends in the Western music world, The Western Way has also been generous in sharing my music endeavors with the community. The magazine has reviewed my recordings in its excellent review section, covered my performances, and listed my activities and awards in the spotlight. But perhaps most endearing to me is that last year The Western Way magazine printed a twopage article on my Harmonikids humanitarian mission to Haiti, where I provided music therapy to 1000 child victims of the earthquake in Port Au Prince. Personally, I feel this shows the true heart of the magazine. After all, lending a helping hand to others is the cowboy way. Thank you again for the support. Gary Allegretto 5-time WMA Award Nominee The WESTERN WAY Fall

56 SPOTLIGHT ON MEMBERS Robert Wagoner By O.J. Sikes orn in 1928, Bob Wagoner became interested in the music of the silver screen cowboys early on. He met Roy Rogers and the Sons of the Pioneers in the early B1940s and they remained life-long friends. His interest in western music started, as it did with most of us, watching the action and listening to the music in the B-Western movies that were shown every Saturday in his home town of Long Beach, California. Since he was particularly attracted to the music of Roy and the Pioneers, one day in 1944 he decided to call Republic Studios and talk with Roy Rogers! He reached an operator, but Roy wasn t there. Neither were the Pioneers, but he managed to speak with Gabby Hayes who talked with young Bob for awhile and suggested that he call Roy again the following week when he was expected back. Bob took Gabby s advice, and this time he reached Roy Rogers, who proceeded to invite the boy to the studio to watch a movie being made! When he arrived at the studio, he could tell that the guard didn t believe his story, but agreed to let Roy know young Bob was asking for him. Soon, Roy walked down to the gate and escorted Bob past the astonished guard to the sound stage. Roy told him to stand back, remain quiet and enjoy himself, so he walked over to the side, away from the lights, to watch. After a few minutes, he realized that the men who were standing there with him were his heroes, the Sons of the Pioneers! As a teen-ager in 1947, Bob, along with Billy Strange, Billy Armstrong and Don Hoag formed a band. Strange later became a renowned guitarist and session musician on the West coast, and Armstrong became a champion fiddler and worked with the Sons of the Pioneers ( ). Then, Bob joined Tommy Duncan's All-Stars and they made the first recording of Bob s composition, "High Country." Later, he worked with the legendary Ray Whitley. In 1951, Foy Willing & the Riders of the Purple Sage offered Bob a job. He turned it down and Foy hired Dale Warren instead. Bob then moved from music to mining, spending several years in the desert where he developed a love for that setting. There, he further developed his skills as a painter of western scenery until he met and joined The Reinsmen. With them, he made a number of outstanding recordings, two of which, Song of the Trail and Saddle Up! were chosen as two of the best western recordings made from 1973 to 1992, for Rounder Records 4 volume anthology of western music, issued in Bob and the Reinsmen appeared on TV specials in the US and Germany and he invited the Reinsmen to join him at the annual Death Valley Encampment, an event they continued to headline for many years. He also developed a long friendship with Ken Curtis and renewed his friendship with Bob Nolan who spent time 56 Fall 2011 The WESTERN WAY

57 with Wagoner and his family at their home in the high sierras. During a visit in the late 1970s, Nolan wandered out into the pasture behind Wagoner s house, returning shortly, only to go back out awhile later. Nolan had left his cassette recorder on the ground beside the stream that ran through the pasture. He wanted to tape the sound of the rippling stream and small waterfall so he could listen to it at night as he drifted off to sleep! But when he got home and listened to his tape, Nolan called Bob and told him about a strange noise part-way through the tape. They determined that, while the recorder was taping, Wagoner s horse had wandered over for a cool drink and, wondering what the strange machine was doing there, started snorting! In 1988, Robert Wagoner was one of the founding members of the WMA and soon became a life member. He is Robert Wagoner in guest appearance with the Sons of the Pioneers, also a well-known artist, famous for paintings of western scenery, especially winter scenes in the high country. You may have seen samples of his work on Leanin Tree greeting cards. Though he spends most of his time painting, Bob devoted considerable time in the 1990s to perfecting multiple audio recording in his home studio where he began recording classic western songs and many that might have been lost had he not resurrected them. In the early 1990s he issued a number of cassettes and in recent years has released 5 CDs. Recommended reading on Robert Wagoner: REINSMEN: Painters of the West in Song by Ken Griffis (1997). For his CDs and contents listings online go to station004.html. Photo by Michele Sundin The WESTERN WAY Fall

58 Sons of the Pioneers continues from page 51 friends went to a Johnny Gimble performance. They arrived early and found Gimble talking to another person on stage in the empty theater. As they walked toward the stage Johnny looked up and said Well, there s that Ricky Boen. Ricky was astounded because they had never met. Johnny admitted he had seen him at some of the fiddle contests. Ricky was invited to play a particular song which had difficult fingering. With his lifelong hero watching Ricky s fingers got locked up at a certain spot in the song. Johnny said, I was wondering how you were going to handle that spot. Johnny kindly showed Ricky a way out of the fingering problem and a friendship was born. Ricky is always ready to pass along the musical encouragement he received to young musicians, especially fiddle players. He is often be seen in the autograph or meet and greet lines talking to kids about the fiddle and offering encouragement. One of the things I really enjoy is seeing young kids come to our concerts with a parent or grandparent and by the time they pass through the autograph line they ve opened their minds to our genre of music. Maybe there is hope of passing the music along. relates Ricky. Before coming to the Pioneers Ricky played in the bands of Michael Martin Murphey, Asleep at the Wheel, and Red Steagall. He performed with Steve Wariner at the 1989 Inaugural Ball in Washington, D.C. While touring with his own Western swing band in 1999 he met Dale Warren in Tucson, Arizona, and the two became friends. In 2005, Ricky started his own show in Branson, Missouri; a few weeks later Ricky received a call from Dale Warren inviting Ricky to become a member of the Pioneers; Ricky has been a key member of the Pioneers ever since. Mark Abbott When it comes to making a Western song sound great, Mark Abbott has a wealth of experience. Mark anchors the lower registers with his bass voice and upright string bass. He adds a dose of comedy to each performance with songs such as I m My Own Grandpa or Preacher and the Bear. Mark also takes on the sound technical duties, working with each venue s sound engineer to get the right mix for the stage and house systems. As a small boy Mark s mother persistently tried to get him to learn the guitar and Mark just as persistently refused. Then around the age of eleven, Mark heard Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys play Summit Ridge Drive by Artie Shaw. The bass solo so captivated Mark that he pulled the old guitar from his closet and started picking the solo out by ear on the lower four strings. Mark joined an old time string band and got his own bass when he was 14. Meanwhile, he learned to read music in the public schools as a brass horn player. At 15 he told his parents he wanted a fiddle. Within a few months he had learned four fiddle tunes and entered a local fiddle contest. Three other kids were better than Mark leaving him in fourth place but, undaunted, Mark continued practicing his fiddle. With his fiddle bow experience the orchestra teacher put Mark in the school orchestra playing the upright bass with a bow and several All State championships followed. Mark began playing bass with local bands; one of the bands included Mark Chesnut, who had yet to become well known. He then played for Johnny Rodriquez. Deciding he wanted a different career, Mark opted for a day job and dropped out of playing for five years but he missed the music so when an opportunity to play with Janie Fricke came along he took it. Soon he was backing up Red Steagall and Don Edwards. When Sons of the San Joaquin, Willie Nelson or Marty Stuart headed into the recording studio to do western tunes it was Mark who got the call to play bass. His bass can be heard on many of the jazzy How the West Was Swung albums by Tom Morrell and the Timewarp Tophands. He fulfilled a childhood dream by playing with the Texas Playboys under Leon Rausch. Before joining the Pioneers Mark played with Ray Price for 12 years. The Show At a current Sons of the Pioneers concert you will experience two hours of pure Cowboy music in the same style as previous generations. Member Mark Abbott says, The music is so strong that it speaks for itself. There is no need to enhance it with any new fads or gimmicks. Randy Rudd is right when he announces, We re going to do as many songs as we can squeeze into two hours. Drawing from hundreds of tunes in the Pioneer catalog the play list is seldom the same as the previous show. The show is packed with all the favorites utilizing vocal solos, trios and even a double trio on the sensational Silver on the Sage. Many of the songs are arranged for trios and the composition of the trio members varies from song to song, underscoring the depth of talent in the group. Ken and Ricky s double fiddles, along with Luther s guitar and Mark s lightning bass are featured on the Farr s Cajun Stomp. Ricky, Ken and Mark have worked up a fiddle trio while Gary reminisces about past members, Randy s wit provides one-liners and Mark s antics bring laughter. No performance would be complete without the signature songs Tumbling Tumbleweeds and Cool Water, lovingly referred to as Weeds and Water. Asked about doing those songs daily Luther s standard reply is I never get tired of performing them. As long as the audience wants to hear them, I ll be doing them. It s also become traditional to end each show with the audience participating in Dale Evans Happy Trails. Anyone wanting more information on the Pioneers can spend some time on their website sonsofthepioneers.org where you can listen to a few songs, watch a video and read more about their history and awards. The Pioneers also invite you to become a fan on their facebook page. Conclusion The Sons of the Pioneers hold a unique place in American music. Through the individual and team effort of 33 men over 77 years a very special musical experience has been shared by the nation. The Smithsonian Institute named them a national treasure. Acknowledging their impact, the web based music outlet Rhapsody notes All in all, they re just as influential to Americana culture - and Americana - as Levi s, Baseball, and Betsy Ross. And they are still the genuine article today wholly dedicated to their legacy by delighting old fans and creating new ones. 58 Fall 2011 The WESTERN WAY

59 Western Playlists TOP TWENTY COWBOY / WESTERN ALBUMS 1. Dreamin Of...When the Grass Was Still Deep - Red Steagall 2. Austin to Boston - R.W. Hampton 3. My Horse Knows the Way Home - Horse Crazy 4. American - Don Edwards 5. The Cowboy Ain t Dead Yet, Vol. III - R.J. Vandygriff 6. A Cowboy s Song - Sons of the San Joaquin 7. Tall Grass & Cool Water - Michael Martin Murphey 8. Wild Rose - Katy Creek 9. Gone West - L.K. Potts 10. Chrome on the Range - Michael Hurwitz 11. Blaze Across the West - The Tumbling Tumbleweeds 12. On the Outskirts of Crazy, More or Less - Brenda Libby Trails West - 3 Trails West 14. My Mustang, My Martin & Me - Kristyn Harris 15. Fall Roundup - Richard Martin Western Tales - Trails & Rails 17. Windmill in the Sunset - Earl Gleason 18. Continuing the Legacy...Live Roy Rogers, Jr. & Dustin Rogers 19. Equine - Brenn Hill Here, There, and Everywhere - Rod Taylor TOP TEN WESTERN SWING ALBUMS 1. Swing - Carolyn Martin 2. What Makes Bob Holler - Hot Club of Cowtown 3. Twin Fiddles Turn Me On - Jody Nix 4. It s a Good Day - Asleep at the Wheel & Leon Rausch 5. Cookin With Carolyn - Carolyn Martin 6. Swing Me a Song - Chuck Cusimano 7. In My Spare Time, Vol. 5 - Brady Bowen 8. Oklahoma Les Gilliam 9. Herdin Cats - The Saddle Cats 10. This is Tommy Duncan, Vol. 2 - Billy Mata A Tribute to Billy Dozier - Brady Bowen TOP TEN COWBOY POETRY ALBUMS 1. The Bar D Roundup, Various Artists 2. Western Wordsmith - Susie Knight 3. Forgotten - Steve Porter 4. Cowboy Poets of Utah - Symposium Cow Chasin Words - R.L. (Slim) Hawk 6. Cowboy Poetry: The Poetry of Larry McWhorter - Larry McWhorter & Friends 7. Beneath a Western Sky - Doris Daley Ranchin Rhymes - Diane Tribitt 9. Morning After Rain - Paul Kern 10. Cowboys Are Like That - Ken Cook That No Quit Attitude - Waddie Mitchell *A missing number in the list represents a tie for that spot. Attention DJs! Send in your playlists, including the song and the CD on which it is featured. For more information, contact Marvin O Dell, meoteo@aol.com. Various DJ friends have reported their playlists for the last quarter, thus helping us compile these charts reflecting which CDs are being played the most on their radio shows. You will find a listing of those reporting DJs on the following page. - Marvin O Dell The WESTERN WAY Fall

60 Western Playlists - Reporters Here are the DJ s who sent their playlists this quarter: Vic Anderson 2021 Fish Creek Road Estes Park, CO KBBR 1470 AM mtyodeler@hotmail.com Waynetta Ausmus PO Box 294 Tom Bean, TX waynettawwr@yahoo.com Art Bohman KSUU 91.1 FM 107 N W. Cedar City, UT raboh2003@yahoo.com Chuckaroo the Buckaroo KPOV Radio, FM Rickard Rd. Bend, OR Clif Freligh Music Coordinator KSEY-FM 2503 Evita Way SW Albuquerque, NM *Plays primarily western swing George Gamble Under Western Skies 89.7 WDVR-FM PO Box 522 Long Valley, NJ janprx@juno.com Call the show 6-9 P.M. EST Mike Gross 15 Nina s Way Manchester, CT Swingin West * primarily western swing and band-oriented western material.) Corey Hickenbottom KRUU Country Music Jamboree 405 N. 2nd St. Fairfield, IA corey.hickenbottom@gmail.com Judy James PO Box 953 Weatherford, TX Cowboyjubilee891@yahoo.com Al Krtil 225 W. 7th St. Ship Bottom, NJ alkrtil@yahoo.com Jarle Kvale KEYA Public Radio PO Box 190 Belcourt, ND jkkeya@utma.com Graham Lees Radio HWD 13 Overthorpe Ave. Dewsbury, West Yorkshire WF120DS UK g-lees@sky.com Eddy Leverett c/o Campfire Productions 1623 Co. Rd. 820 Cullman, AL Around the Campfire WKUL kudzucowboy@hotmail.com Rhine Nyen Cowboy Music Roundup PO Box Steamboat Springs, CO Marvin O Dell Around the Campfire meoteo@aol.com 3714 Eldorado Blvd. Palm Springs, CA Barbara Richhart Western Belle of KSJD CowTrails Show CO RD P Mancos, CO Studio: Sundays 12:00-2: PM Studio Home: Cell: Streaming bfboston@fone.net O.J. Sikes 327 Westview Ave. Leonia, NJ osikes@nj.rr.com Totsie Slover* The Real West From The Old West 220 S. Gold Ave. Deming, NM cell realwestoldwest@live.com Tommy Tucker KRLC Radio 805 Stewart Ave. Lewiston, ID tommy@idavend.com 60 Fall 2011 The WESTERN WAY

61 In Memoriam: Ken Graydon Ken Graydon of Fallbrook, CA died at home Saturday evening, July 30, following a hard fought battle with metastasized melanoma diagnosed last November. Ken was best known as a cowboy poet and singer appearing in cowboy events in the Southwest including Prescott and Sierra Vista for many years. He also specialized in custom auto repairs and particularly enjoyed work, as he put it, on other people s hot rods. He enjoyed nothing more than sitting in a circle of friends with guitars and trading songs. A handful of those friends were with him singing him home shortly before his death. He wrote many songs, some of which were recorded by various artists, among them, Tommy Makem and Ken Graydon Glen Yarbrough. Ken had a combined interest in cowboy songs, lore, and poetry as well as an interest in songs of the sea, particularly the chanteys used to coordinate the human effort that ran the ship. Ken s view was that cowboys and sailors have something in common life in the outdoors and using the stars as guides. He wrote a good number of songs and poems of the sea. Ken is survived by his wife, Phee Sherline who was his musical partner for many years, a brother, Don Graydon and three step children, Drew Sherline, Reid Sherline and Monica Stapleton plus six grandchildren. A memorial will be scheduled later in the summer. Gene Culkin He was an affable, smiling presence. Still, a bit of the western legend was there: he came from the East where you knew he d done well, but you never quite knew at what? Once Gene Culkin followed his dream, moving West, he earned his way into the heart of the western music community. Always organizing, he rounded up props and stage decorations that, more often than not, came right off some horse s back or out of somebody s tack shed. Gene the musician was always there. He was a welcome addition to every figurative campfire, from the annual Western Music Conference in Albuquerque to the monthly in-the-round at the Autry Museum to the weekly Gene Culkin western song circles at the El Trocadero restaurant, a long ride from his home. Most recently he was a member of the Coyote Creek Ramblers, performing in three states. Gene had also begun to perform in the schools, educating students about the history and lore of the Old West. Gene died June 17, His family is making it possible for us to keep Gene s musical legacy, enjoy both his CDs, and get his new album to radio. Through a dinner theater where he performed during his years in the East, and through the Western Music Association that Gene loved so much, his CDs will soon be available. The purchase will support the outlet selling it, so Gene s voice will continue to support the WMA. Larry Wines Mike Puhallo Dick Hopalong Cassidy Mike Puhallo, popular poet, cowboy artist, and Kamloops Cowboy Festival organizer, passed away peacefully in his sleep early the morning of June 24 at the age of 58. He had been battling brain cancer. Mike was a tireless supporter of cowboy poetry, Western music, and Western heritage. In an announcement in April, Mark McMillan wrote, Mike Puhallo could be referred to as Mr. Kamloops Cowboy Festival, Mr. BC Cowboy Hall of Fame, and Mr. BC Cowboy Heritage Society. Mike is one of the founders of all three and has put a big chunk of his life over the last 15 years towards the betterment Mike Puhallo of all three and everything connected to them. He s put on many Cowboy Concerts over the years, many of which have been benefit concerts for others... A few years ago, Mike sold his part of a ranch shared with his brother so that he could do what he said he always wanted to do: Just cowboy. And, he enjoyed doing just that. Dick Hopalong Cassidy passed away Saturday night, July 23, at the age of 67. He had suffered from dementia for a number of years. He probably had more friends than anyone in the WMA! Known as Hoppy, Dick Cassidy, of Ballwin, Missouri, joined the WMA in 1991 and became one of the organization s first Life Members. His video tapes of early workshops, showcases and concerts were carefully annotated and donated to the WMA s archives. They contain an important record of the history and growth of the organization. For years he was a contributor Dick Cassidy to the WMA s early journal, The Advocate, and promoted the WMA at every concert, festival and gathering he attended. Although Hoppy was not a registered performer, he was one of the organization s best-known and most appreciated members. He received the Bill Wiley Award in O.J. Sikes The WESTERN WAY Fall

62 In Memoriam: Fred Walker Fred Walker, DJ and longtime WMA member, passed away July 20 in Owosso, Michigan. Fred was employed by General Motors for 38 years and in his youth worked part time as a DJ at weddings and parties. He enjoyed fishing, camping, and studying history. He had a love for trains and model railroading. With the help of his children, Fred built an elaborate model layout at his home which Fred Walker his grandchildren still enjoy today. Hard work continued into his retirement. Fred built an in-home studio where he hosted the Big Fred Walker Show for approximately 10 years. His grassroots show promoted independent Western Swing artists across the country. Musicians as far away as New Zealand sent in their music to be played on his show. Fred was highly respected for the quality and simplicity of the Big Fred Walker Show and was chronicled in several nationwide publications. He is survived by his wife, Mary Helen, four children and six grandchildren. Joseph Kimbro Joseph Ruston Kimbro died June 30, 2011, after a lengthy illness. Joe was a mentor for several California based Bluegrass bands and a member of the western band Lone Prairie. He was born August 29, 1943 in Birmingham, AL. He attended Ohio State University and the U.S. Army Defense Language School in Monterey, CA. He worked in the wine business and founded the Monterey Joseph Kimbro Bay Wine Company. He is pre-deceased by his wife Edna (2005). Survivors include his sister, Sylvia Kimbro Buckner, sons David Rushton Kimbro and Joseph Buie Kimbro and grandchild Sakura Kimbro. He was surrounded by many loving, caring friends who sustained him. He will be sorely missed. 62 Fall 2011 The WESTERN WAY

63 The WESTERN WAY Fall

64 P.O. Box Coppell, TX NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID NASHVILLE TN PERMIT NO Taylor Guitars is proud to ride alongside the Western Music Association. 64 Fall The WESTERN WAY