February 13, 2025 • 36 mins
Legendary group Riders In The Sky have been in the music business for many years! Ranger Doug dropped by the show to talk about the band's career and lots more! We played some songs and talk about a group that is still today of the must see acts in country music! Tune in on KKTC True Country 99.9!
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, mighty fine and a great big Western Howdy. This
is Ranger Doug with the world famous Riders in the Sky.
You're listening to the backstage past exclusive. I'm KKTC True
Country ninety nine point nine because it's the Cowboy way.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Hey, welcome inside the backstage pass and of course it's
a few days out from Country Radio Seminar Beautiful Nashville, Tennessee.
There at the Omni Hotel, February nineteenth and twenty first
coverage right there on the very station KKTC True Country
ninety nine point nine. Brandon Morel here is. We're presented
by and broadcasting from the clay Airy Studios Dclayair dot
com and of course out there two presented by the
(00:36):
Caden gordonshow dot Com Today's Best Country Mix. I always
love to go back when music, when I say, was
music back then in traditional country, neo traditional. They've got
a little bit of everything, and they've been doing it
for a long time. And uh, Ranger Duck kind enough
to join us here Riders in the Sky. Ranger Dug,
how you doing, my friend?
Speaker 1 (00:54):
I'm doing wonderfully. Thank you good to.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Have you here to talk a little. Riders in the Sky.
Over the next twenty five thirty minutes of our conversation,
we're gonna play a little bit of music today too,
from Throw a Saddle on a Star and some of
the great music there. Let's talk about this. You know, Doug,
y'all have been in this for a long time, and
I'm sure it never gets old. To get out there
synonymous obviously with the Grand Ole Opry and so many
different projects through forty years of this band or if
(01:19):
not more, it is crazy to think that Riders in
the Sky still doing their thing out there, And for me,
I guess it's not crazy to think, but legends or
legends still doing their thing. Talk about just what it
was like when you guys got started in this business
and now to see it here forty years later, you're
still going strong.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
Well, it never should have worked in nineteen seventy seven
when the three of us got together to play music
that was antique then it felt like but we just
put on an entertaining show and instead of feeling completely
retro people were seeing young people I was young ones,
(01:55):
you know, seeing young people preserve this beautiful music and
create music in that style. The songs we wrote were
and Right are very much within the tradition, but they're
new too.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
When you talk about the harmonies of a group, you know,
anytime you know, anybody comes together to put together a
band or a sound, things like that, talk about just
working on the harmonies and kind of delegating out the
responsibilities of the group.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
Since Joey joined us in nineteen eighty eight, he's pretty
much in charge of arrangements. But from the start, Slim
and I swapped off between the middle voice and low voice,
and Woody was always the tenor and still is. And
we just emulated the sons of the Pioneers and Foy
(02:45):
Willing and the writers of the Purple Sage, Andy Parker
and the Plainsman. We just did that style of harmony.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
When you look at You mentioned the Grand Ole Opry too.
We did a slew of shows on the Opry station
they're AM six fifty WSM last fall and really enjoyed
our time with the station. They're hoping to get back
onto a slut shows coming up for the spring summer calendar.
I've been to there so many times. It was the
one thing I hadn't done up until probably four or
five years ago when we finally got back out there
and I said, I'm doing this.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
I'm making a bucket list a deal here.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
I'm going to go there see some of my friends
in the business. And I'm sure for you guys stepping
on that stage, it never gets old of getting out
there and again entertaining country Music's fine, it's coming from
the greatest stage of country music.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
Yes, we have played the Opry's We're done over twenty
three hundred Opry spots over forty two years, and it
is still the thrill every time when we can make
the audience laugh and when we can let him hear
something that know another artist on the show is doing.
(03:48):
It's just you know, it adds to the texture of
the show. And of course the Opry is celebrating their
one hundred year this year, so that they're doing over
one hundred and fifty shows and it's a sort of
Gala jubilee year.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
That is determined, Gala jubilee type of year. Well, let's
talk about jubilee because I was going to go there
and one of the first few albums you guys who
put out out there that love was Silver Jubilee across
all the platforms out there. I love this one. So
many great songs on there too. Talk about just that
body of work and memories from that particular album that
(04:24):
really shot through the moon if the stars out there
for writers in the sky, because I love this album
that's always synonymous with you guys.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Well, we had at that point celebrated twenty five years
and it was our mixture. It's very much like the
show we put on in the year after year. It
is a mixture of classic tunes like Back in the
Saddle and Riders in the Sky and things that people
want to hear, and our original songs, which we've always
(04:54):
felt is very important to our career to create songs
in the tradition, as I said, and the comedy, which
is you know, it's always a joy to make people laugh,
get their troubles off, their overdue mortgage and surly teenager
and you know, just come and laugh with us.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
Yeah, it's a great album of doubt. And of course
that Back in the Saddle again, just one of those
you turn on any type of station these days out
there to old school country, neo traditional back there. I
love the yodling too, because to me, yogling has just
been around for a long time. Too, and you see
people kind of taking off just doing yodling itself or
(05:35):
mixing that now into the different type of genre that
country music is because it's such such a smorgash board
of everything out there, because it incorporates so many different
styles of music. Talk about just the yodling and kind
of when that started for you guys, and kind of
how that's affected the performance today, because I love it well.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
It became really popular in the twenties when Jimmy Rodgers
brought it to the songs he was singing. And then
a whole slew of people like Elton Britt, who was
my yodeling guru, and Roy Rogers and Montana Slim and
just so many great yodlers came out of the thirties
and forties and it waned in popularity. But we like
(06:17):
to think we brought it back quite a bit. My
two uncles listened to old time country music on the
National Barn Dance out of Chicago, and they both sang,
and they both played the guitar and arvid yodel and
I just screw up with it. We spent some time
(06:38):
in California when I was a kid, and you know,
there was yodling and cowboys on TV every day, joey
Odell and town Hall Party, and I mean it was
just cowboys were everywhere in those days.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
Sure word, no doubt.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
Well to ask you about one of my favorite TV
shows of all time, and you guys had a connection
there too. But I loved it because as you had
just so many different things, many pearl and all these
great things with he Hall. And I loved it so
much because I grew up Saturdays on television too. You
watch it or Friday nights in prime time too. I'm
sure you guys everybody in the band had to be
a huge fan of that too, because he Hall kind
(07:14):
of reminds me of that little bit of you mentioned
that comedy, a little bit of music and just a
little bit of way to entertain people have fun.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
I think we did he Haw three times, possibly four,
But the most memorable one was when we sang Texas
Plains with Roy Rogers.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
That was one of my favorite performances did too, And
just to say the day Roy Rodgers and country music
too had to be a thrill for you guys back there, right.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
That's the favorite person I've ever played or recorded with.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
Yeah, No, doubt too.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Hey, let's build on collaborations a little before we play
a little bit of music here on this show today.
Collaboration is becoming more of that theme we mentioned in
the business today too, with some of so much crossover
things that are going on in country music, with some
of the artists that are coming from different genres to
pull their brand of music into country. Give me some
thoughts on collaborations and it kind of build on it
with that. How streaming now has really impacted the.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
Industry, Well, it certainly put a huge dent in my
songwriting royalties. I'll tell you that as far as collaborations go,
we've we've been fortunate to sing with a few of
our favorites like Amy Lou Harris on record and Kathy
Mattea and Michael Martin Murphy. It's not something we've done
(08:27):
a whole lot, but we enjoy it. Johnny Western.
Speaker 4 (08:33):
Susie Bogas, I was gonna say she had a nerve
there too.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
She's one of the sweetest ladies I've ever got a
chance to talk to here on the program. Love me some,
Susie Boccas, right, the.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
Best of the best. I love her to always add well.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Again our guests Ranger Doug here Riders in the Sky.
You can check them out to the very website, Writers
in the Sky dot com and of course out there.
We gonna play a little music here and take you
back a little bit to one of their best albums
out there too. Of course, all the music is available
for streaming. Us came out July of twenty twenty three.
This one's throw a Saddle on a Star here. It
is for Riders in the Sky here exclusive KKTC True
(09:08):
Country ninety nine point nine and of course powered by
the Sports Guys podcast dot com. Back in the Flash, Stay.
Speaker 5 (09:14):
Tuned, Throw us saddle on his storm.
Speaker 4 (09:20):
Tie your dreams to a rainbow. Watch the rain and
the clouds go. When the stars break through, throw us
haddle on.
Speaker 6 (09:35):
His stom there will be sunshine tomorrow.
Speaker 5 (09:42):
All the troubles you oh U will listen. Team show
you And if the dream.
Speaker 6 (09:54):
Then you've been dreaming should ever fade.
Speaker 7 (09:58):
With the.
Speaker 5 (10:01):
Don't let that up you from the dream. There'll be starlight.
Speaker 6 (10:06):
One day light is.
Speaker 4 (10:08):
Gone, brow a saddle on the star, All the clouds
have gone over.
Speaker 5 (10:17):
There will be sunshine and clover along the train for you.
Speaker 6 (11:02):
And it's a dream. Then you've been dreaming. You should
ever fade with.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
The dumb.
Speaker 5 (11:11):
Don't let that up. You're from dreaming. There'll be starlight
one day night is gone. Throw a saddle on the star.
All the clouds have gone over. There will be sunshine
and along the trail for you, Throw a saddle on
(11:40):
a star.
Speaker 8 (11:46):
Hey, this is Court Shill recording artist Joe Nichols, and
you're listening to the backstage past Howard about the Sportscas
podcast dot com exclusively KKTC True Country nine to nine
point nine in Tallas, New Mexico.
Speaker 7 (12:00):
The Caiden Gordon Show is a two hour show playing
the best in country music. So check it out at
the Kadangordon Show dot com. Again, that is the Kaden
Gordon Show dot com.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
And this part of the program is brought to you
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Speaker 5 (12:25):
Around tower playing the EU Thank You to Me, I
Gotta no.
Speaker 9 (12:38):
Nail too long longing.
Speaker 10 (12:42):
You should know.
Speaker 11 (12:46):
If you're going good.
Speaker 12 (12:50):
Rat Hey, y'all, this is the Castellos and you're listening
to the award nominated Backstage Past podcast powered by the
Sports Guys podcast dot exclusively on KKTC True Country ninety
nine point nine in Taos, New Mexico.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
Add back you with the Ranger Doug the Backstage Pass
again powered by the Sports Guys podcast dot Com Riders
in the Sky talking some legendary music there too and
throwing it back a little bit to what sixty seventies,
eighties country, maybe a little bit before then too. So
I love this one too. That was the title of
that particular record, Ranger Doug throw a Saddle on a Star.
Where did this idea come from?
Speaker 1 (13:27):
Well, that was a song that we discovered that Andy
Parker and the Plainsman did. It was a relatively popular
record for them in about nineteen forty eight or nine,
but it never became a classic, and we just thought
it was so beautiful it was time to rerecord it.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
When it comes to the songwriting, you mentioned that I
put a dent songwriting too in that particular question there too.
Look at all the streaming, how it's changed at things
like that, and how the business has changed so much
over the last twenty five thirty years. Tech me to
the school. I guess one oh one Rids in the Sky.
Songwriting and just a nutshell favorite part of the process
of songwriting.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
Well, we have mostly written about the west Wood. He's
written some outlaw songs that are really good and people
still enjoy. The song I wrote on the Throw of
Saddle on a Star album was the Shelter of the
Wildwood and that, as you can tell, it's about the outdoors.
(14:27):
It won the Wrangler Award for Outstanding Traditional Western Music
of twenty twenty three. So we've collected some awards along
the way. I guess the song that's been most successful
of mine was on the Disney album that won the
Grammy Award called Jesse the Odlin Cowgirl, but I had
written three songs I think for that album as well.
(14:50):
Songwriting has always been very important to us because we
didn't ever want to be a museum piece, you know.
We wanted to create in the style that we love.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
Well, it's a great style too. It it's unique and
I love it out there too because you're not going
to find anything else like this out there when it
comes down to it. I mean, I think there's a
little bit of you know, traditional country, you know, kind
of paving the way to come back. Some artists like
Zach Top they're trying to bring it back now to
of course what you know Cody Johnson has done over
the last seven, eight, ten years of his career, and
then so many traditional guys Ryan Larkins, you know, trying
(15:25):
to stick to it today too, and really, you know,
three chords in the truth. That's hard to do because
of like I said, this ever changing you know business
right now too. But I think it needs to be done.
And I think there's a sound that you guys, you know,
still provide even forty two years later, that people are
just not going to find anywhere else.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
Right, No, I think we're we're kind of unique in
our genre, and it's wonderful that it appeals to kids
and to people for whom it's nostalgia and the people
in the middle just like to laugh and have fun
with us.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
From that record too, for throw a Saddle on a Stock,
I love that Old Calpolke and that really took me
back to the Western fact things watching one of my
favorite John Wayne movies or something like that too. But
tell me about Old Calpoke and how that came about.
Speaker 1 (16:10):
Well, one of our friends is named Gary McMahon, who's
just this year was inducted into the Western Music Hall
of Fame. And he wrote that song way back in
the seventies and we recorded it, i think, on our
second album, and then we've come back and recorded it
on Throw a Saddle on a Star, our forty fifth album,
(16:30):
and it's just a fun song. There's nothing deep about it.
It's just enjoyable.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
Y'all put so much great music out there too. I
got to go talk about this one too, from the
same record there too, Cherokee Strip, give me all theory
this one.
Speaker 3 (16:46):
I love that one.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
Yeah. Glenn Spencer was the brother of Tim Spencer, who
was the founder, one of the three founders with Roy
Rogers and Bob Nolan of the Sons of the Pioneers,
and he and Tim both wrote a whole bunch of songs,
as did Bob Nolan, and that's one of Glenn Spencer's
finest Cherokee Strimp.
Speaker 2 (17:08):
There's so much good stuff here and it's like watching
just a great Western too. The Shelter of the wild Wood.
We got a touch face a little bit on that too.
But that's the one you were talking about writing to
love that one. So much, and then I always love
bonus tracks on there too, But being from Texas, I
have to bring us up because back on those Texas planes.
You got to talk about that one well.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
Stuart Hamlin wrote that about nineteen thirty two and Rex
Allen used it for a theme song for a long
time and we've used it for a theme song for many,
many years to open the show. And that was one
of the songs we got to sing with Roy Rodgers
on Heathaw and that's where that clip was taken from.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
That's such a bringing that name, Roy Rodgers synonymous out
there for so much. You mentioned that Rogers in the
Sky salute Roy Rodgers King of the Cowboys record too,
so we got to go there and talk about this one.
Just overall, great body of work and Don't Fence me in.
I felt one of the ones that stood out on
that record too.
Speaker 1 (18:02):
Yeah, that was probably Roy Rogers' biggest record as far
as record success. Of course he had much more success
as a movie and TV star, but yeah, it was
great to salute him with some of his best known
songs and some that weren't so well known and was
fun to dig up. We also did an album like
that about Gene Audrey.
Speaker 3 (18:23):
Paying tribute to some of the greats there too.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
Yeah, I love it too, because if you guys don't
have it already, there's this thing called the Country Music
Hall of Fame, there's gonna be there's all these wings there,
which I'm sure you already do, but there's gonna be
more stuff added to the writers in the sky Country
Music Hall of Fame wing. Talk to me about this,
and you guys have left again that legacy behind and
so much of that you know, meaningful power on country
music too. Because you mentioned the style is so unique.
(18:46):
I know there's a spot in that Country Music Hall
of Fame. If there's not already, it hasn't happened. But
I know for me, I can't wait to tour it.
Every time I go there, they're gonna say I'm gonna
have time to do it, but I never do.
Speaker 1 (18:57):
There is ah. We just played there on Saturday, or
a week ago Saturday did a kid show. I have
donated most of my library three or four years ago
of album songbooks and all kinds of memorabilia to the
Hall of Fame. And so there's a wing in the
library from Anger Doug, but no wing in the museum itself.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
You know, you mentioned one of the all time greats
out there too. But I gotta go here because I
love it so much, and y'all put so much into
the project with TV, film and animation. But what he's
round up, I talk about this project so much great
music on that particular record too. Of course I love
the story of Woody and Toy Story and all the
great stuff with Jesse. My kid got addicted to that,
(19:46):
you know, from a young age, but naturally, and of
course the title track itself there too, Jesse the yodling Cowgirl,
talk about just how this came about, because man, this
project will be remembered and synonymous with everyone out there
who loved Toy Story.
Speaker 1 (20:00):
Well, it came as a surprise to us. As they
told the story. They were sitting around the having a
conference on how to proceed with the project, and they
had realized that they wanted a theme song for Woody.
But so Randy Newman wrote all the music for the movie,
and they they sound They wanted a band that sounded
(20:23):
like an old time band, And luckily for us, one
of the producers, a young man named Ash Brandon, said, oh,
I know, just the guys, and he downloaded some yodling,
and they all looked around with their eyes as big
as saucers and said, those are the guys. They called
us up and said would you be interested in singing
a song called Woodies Roundup in the New Toy Story movie?
(20:44):
And we thought it over for an eighth of a
second and said yes. That led to the album that
won our first Grammy, and then they didn't forget about us.
We after Monsters Incorporated came out, they asked us to
do an album that we could write all of the
songs about monsters. And I dare say that's the only
(21:09):
album and recorded music history by an all entirely Western
band entirely about monsters. But it went on to win
a second Grammy.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
You know what, Like I said, Proof of the Pudding,
no doubt, my friend. Let's go back a little bit
too with was this twenty thirteen. I love this one too,
Home on the Range because again that's anonymous song with
country music out there too. If you love camping, you
love the outdoors, and you love just your residence in general,
or you just love, like I said, being Home on
the Range too, that one great body of work out
there for this album too, and just so many great
(21:42):
songs that Rangeer Doug that people can you know, take
with them forever.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
Yeah, we run into many fans who tell us there
is a it's their tradition when they take a holiday
out West, play writers in the sky all the way
through the West.
Speaker 5 (22:01):
You know.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
Bill Malone, the pre eminent country music scholar, and his
wife Bobby have written a biography of us, and this
will be out in April, we understand from the Texas
A and M University Press. So I hope everybody will
be on the lookout for that because it tells our
four individual stories as well as the story of the
(22:25):
arc of the band, you know.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
Speaking of that, I can't wait to see that too.
What's it been like, as you mentioned too, just to
go through forty two years of doing this but at
the same time to have that same chemistry as a group,
because everybody has to work together, cohesiveness and things like
that that have to really gel well for this thing
to work too, because it's not just a name and
a brand and the type of music which makes you
guys unique, but talk about that camaraderie you have to
(22:50):
have as a group collectively.
Speaker 1 (22:52):
Well, First off, it's forty seven years, forty two years
on the operating and second of all, the secret is
separate hotel rooms. We learned very early not to bunk together.
But yeah, we have a great chemistry. It shows. I
(23:12):
think that's part of the appeal of this group is
that people can see grown men just having a great time.
And now we're senior citizens and really having a great
time doing what we love and sharing it.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
Dude, what you love to do, no doubt about it too.
I love this one off that Home on the Range record,
just because a wife is from San Antonio, Texas and
loved going there, just spending a lot of time up there,
two vacations across the alley from the Alamo. How did
this one come about?
Speaker 1 (23:41):
Well, we played a show in what is it? Buffalo, Wyoming?
Every year the late and great actor Wilford Rinley puts
put on a benefit show and he invited us to
be part of it. And he's such a wonderful guy.
(24:03):
We had the best time with him. He has stories
from here to Tucson. And he asked us, uh, we
asked him, say, you know, would you do an album
with us? And he's no singer, but he has a
style and it was a lot of fun. He was.
He was great to record with, great to work with,
and we miss him a lot.
Speaker 2 (24:26):
It's such a great song, no doubt too. We're gonna
take you back a little bit to that throw a
sidal on a star record too. And of course I
got to pick the songs to that guy, so you
know I was gonna pick great songs either way. There's
somebody I could have chose, but I chose the second
one today to tell a story.
Speaker 3 (24:38):
And it's gonna tell a story.
Speaker 2 (24:39):
Since we're played up there in Pueblo, Colorado, it's time
for the Colorado Trail. Here on, Yes, Riders in the Sky,
Rangel dug here too, be back in a flash kk
TC True Country ninety nine point nine had powered by
the Sports Guys podcast dot com. Stay tuned and you
know what correct this one up.
Speaker 11 (25:10):
Eyes like a morning star, cheeks like roads.
Speaker 5 (25:19):
Or walls, a pretty girl, God, almighty.
Speaker 7 (25:25):
No.
Speaker 1 (25:29):
Lolly little raids, sway.
Speaker 5 (25:34):
Sway all long, long long.
Speaker 11 (25:41):
The color Battle Trade, ride all the lonely night, ride
through the day, heep heard and moving.
Speaker 3 (26:01):
In on its way.
Speaker 11 (26:05):
We ball you little rains ways, we sway.
Speaker 4 (26:14):
All along along.
Speaker 5 (26:17):
A long Come Radio Train. Don is the Lonely Night
(27:08):
dot is the sky.
Speaker 3 (27:12):
Were shot stayed.
Speaker 11 (27:14):
In Albly, nice and warm and dry. We bought you
little rains square.
Speaker 9 (27:27):
Sway all long, long.
Speaker 1 (27:33):
Long, The car rode.
Speaker 11 (27:39):
A long, long long the Car Road Train.
Speaker 13 (27:53):
Hy Everyone, This is Corey Marks and you're listening to
the award nominated Backstage Past podcast however by the Sports
Guys Podcast dot Com exclusively on kk TC True Country
ninety nine point nine.
Speaker 7 (28:05):
The Kaden Gordon Show Today's Best Country Mix is a
two hour show playing independent and mainstream country music you
know and love. Be sure to check it out at
the Kangordonshow dot com for more information on the show.
Speaker 2 (28:21):
And of course broadcasting from the clay Airy Studios v
Clayair dot com com.
Speaker 9 (28:29):
Gon Way.
Speaker 7 (28:47):
Long come.
Speaker 11 (28:52):
At your.
Speaker 10 (28:55):
Hey, y'all, This is national recording artist Christian Bush and
you're listening to the Backstage Past pod cast powered by
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Country ninety nine point nine from.
Speaker 2 (29:08):
The clay Airy Studios The Clayairy dot Com. Time for
that the latest single across all those digital streaming platforms.
Back here with Rager Duck on the program Throw a
Saddle on a Star and of course hell of a
career two forty seven years for Riders in the Sky
out there too, Riders in the Sky dot com and
of course Anonymous with the grand Old Opery. So I
mentioned since it's KKTC True Country in Taos and it's
(29:28):
one hundred thousand WAT station that goes from Taus, New
Mexico up into Playblo of Colorado. I hope I picked
a great song for people to tell a story with
the Colorado Trail. I know you guys love this one.
Speaker 1 (29:38):
Right, Yeah, we do.
Speaker 3 (29:40):
Tell us all about it.
Speaker 1 (29:41):
Well, Joey uh We we like to get Joey in
there to sing. He really he produces the records and
does our arrangements as well as play the accordion for
thirty some years with us. He's a new kid. We'd
like to get him to sing at least one or
two on every record. And this this is the voice
of Joey the kW Polka King.
Speaker 3 (30:05):
I just love your time you say, caw polk.
Speaker 2 (30:06):
It just makes me think of so many great songs
there too, And I love it so much great music
out there because I love those old Westerns growing up
my dad used to just in front of the TV.
And John Wayne was one of his heroes and he
loved those old westerns and that's something that to be
synonymous with that is just amazing. Let's talk about another
one off there too, and I love this title, Golden
Lockets off that same record, Throw a Satellite a Star.
Speaker 1 (30:30):
Yeah, that song really means a lot to me. I
wrote that it's one of the very few historical, you know,
kind of a story song and said in a time
and place and it was just a different song for me.
Is a sad tale. I had trouble singing it the
first few times, but if you play it there, I
(30:53):
think I hope folks will like it. People seem to
really enjoy the tale of a couple who had to
part but gave their lockets to each other as he
had to go west and she had to stay in Tennessee.
Speaker 2 (31:06):
Let's talk about you know twenty twenty five, Doug. You
know again, you guys have done it all in the
industry at Grammy Award Winners and the opera. You mentioned
forty two years forty seven of doing this plans goals
thing that you guys have mapped out that you want
to accomplish here for the new year. Tell us all
about it.
Speaker 1 (31:21):
Well, we're going to continue to bring Western music to
America and the world. We hope and play the Grand
Ole Opry a lot because we're sort of cutting down
our road schedule at our age. But we still love
our Opry and I'll still be playing with the Time
Jumpers every Monday night. People come to Nashville. If you've
got nothing to do on a Monday night, come down
(31:43):
to Third and Lensley see the Time Jumpers. We don't
have any recording plans for the future, but you never know.
We have a couple of young groups that have asked
us to sing on their records, you know, to collaborate.
But as far as the writers and I knew recording,
we don't have any plans right now, but you never know.
Speaker 2 (32:05):
Good change put a TBA to that too as well,
to be announced if it does happen again, we'll let
you know here on KKTC True Country ninety nine point
nine out there hot as we get out of here too.
Let's have a little fun with this one. If you
never become a working musician for Ranger Doug, what other
career path would you have chosen.
Speaker 1 (32:22):
I'd probably been a writer of some sort, a journalist. Maybe.
I don't think I could have become an academic. It's
just not my nature. But I did go to graduate school,
you know. I mean it was a path that was
open to me, I think, but I didn't want to
follow it. Music was always in my heart. I grew
up with it with my uncles and grew up singing,
(32:47):
acting in the school plays.
Speaker 5 (32:48):
You know.
Speaker 1 (32:48):
I'm just a show off, enjoyed being in front of
people and entertaining. And I found three other guys who,
you know, share my sensibility and share a deep love
for this tradition that you know, if all of us
didn't love it, it wouldn't work. But people can see
(33:11):
that we're devoted to it and creating it too.
Speaker 3 (33:16):
I'll just talk some food, because I don't just like me.
You've got to be a foodie too. At the same time. Yeah, restaurants,
when it comes down to it.
Speaker 2 (33:23):
I got to try this place called Bar Taco when
I go there for the CRS week coming up there
as we'll broadcast live from the Omni Hotel. Or your
favorite restaurants when you go out, What do you like
to eat? Where and what type of food in Nashville.
Speaker 1 (33:34):
I go to go to Judge Bean's Barbecue. I go
to Taco Bamba. I go to La la Sienda, No
no la Teasa the Nolansville Road. We go to Sweats.
(33:56):
That's soul food. And my wife and too slim loves sweats.
Barbecue or it's not barbecue restaurants. That's some choices for you.
Martin's barbecue is good. Martin's is really good.
Speaker 2 (34:09):
That's what the once that was first introduced to when
we got there a few years ago doing this very
radio show there from there. But Sweats is something I've
heard good soul food. You're right, Look, that's gonna have
to be something we we end up doing, no doubt.
Speaker 1 (34:22):
Those pork chops are hard to beat.
Speaker 3 (34:25):
Monel Sweats is gonna give you this sweat, So it
come down to it.
Speaker 1 (34:30):
Maybe, Yeah, Monel's downtown is really good, dude on Sixth
Avenue North. Sixth Avenue North, all right, it's just we
don't even fancy restaurants normally. My wife and I.
Speaker 3 (34:44):
Like a little bit of everything, right, that's yeah, we do.
Speaker 5 (34:46):
We do.
Speaker 1 (34:47):
There's a terrific Indian restaurant called the Golden Pizza. It's
a horrible name, Golden Pizza, but it's really it's just
excellent Indian food. If you like Indian food, which I
do to.
Speaker 2 (34:58):
Try that to like all kinds of so I'm always
open for all that good stuff out there too. At
the same time, and always love this group Riders in
the Sky. You can check them out Riders in the
Sky dot com. And of course if you're out there Nashville,
Tennessee on a Monday night, Third and Lensley, you can
check him out there, the Time Jumpers. He's performing there
and forty seven years with the group Riders in the
Sky and still doing their thing out there. Ranger Doug
(35:19):
here on KKTC True Country ninety nine point nine, My friend,
appreciate you stopping by making time for us to tell
the story of a great group that lives on forever
in the history of country music. And we appreciate you
being with us.
Speaker 3 (35:30):
Thanks so much.
Speaker 1 (35:31):
Well, we sure appreciate you taking the time with me.
I'd love to talk about our music and our career,
and I appreciate you spreading the word about the best
in the West because its the cowboy way.
Speaker 2 (35:43):
The cowboy way, the best in the West, the Riders
in the Sky dot com and I've seen them on
the Opera. If you guys are ever in Nashville, get
those tickets opery dot com and go out there and
make it a nine out there that you'll never forget to.
As well, we're back again broadcasting live from the clay
Are Studios d clay Airy dot com and of course
presented by the Kaden Gordon showed today's best country mix.
We'll see you guys back in the flash and of
course don't forget coming up next month another show with
(36:05):
the all time greats Brentley Gilbert right here on the
backstage pass here. Coming up in March, we'll talk about
his new album Tattoos, and of course the big tour
out there too for Brentley Gilbert. It's coming through Texas
hopefully again here at twenty twenty five. We'll see you
guys on the flip side. Until then, God Bless, take
care exclusive here KKTC True Country ninety nine point nine
and powered by the Sports Guys podcast dot com. Until then,
(36:27):
take care. We'll see you soon. Hey, y'all, this is
tarn Papa and you're listening to the backstage pass with
Brandon exclusively on KKTC True
Speaker 3 (36:36):
Country ninety nine point nine in Taos, New Mexico,
Well, mighty fine and a great big Western Howdy. This
is Ranger Doug with the world famous Riders in the Sky.
You're listening to the backstage past exclusive. I'm KKTC True
Country ninety nine point nine because it's the Cowboy way.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Hey, welcome inside the backstage pass and of course it's
a few days out from Country Radio Seminar Beautiful Nashville, Tennessee.
There at the Omni Hotel, February nineteenth and twenty first
coverage right there on the very station KKTC True Country
ninety nine point nine. Brandon Morel here is. We're presented
by and broadcasting from the clay Airy Studios Dclayair dot
com and of course out there two presented by the
(00:36):
Caden gordonshow dot Com Today's Best Country Mix. I always
love to go back when music, when I say, was
music back then in traditional country, neo traditional. They've got
a little bit of everything, and they've been doing it
for a long time. And uh, Ranger Duck kind enough
to join us here Riders in the Sky. Ranger Dug,
how you doing, my friend?
Speaker 1 (00:54):
I'm doing wonderfully. Thank you good to.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Have you here to talk a little. Riders in the Sky.
Over the next twenty five thirty minutes of our conversation,
we're gonna play a little bit of music today too,
from Throw a Saddle on a Star and some of
the great music there. Let's talk about this. You know, Doug,
y'all have been in this for a long time, and
I'm sure it never gets old. To get out there
synonymous obviously with the Grand Ole Opry and so many
different projects through forty years of this band or if
(01:19):
not more, it is crazy to think that Riders in
the Sky still doing their thing out there, And for me,
I guess it's not crazy to think, but legends or
legends still doing their thing. Talk about just what it
was like when you guys got started in this business
and now to see it here forty years later, you're
still going strong.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
Well, it never should have worked in nineteen seventy seven
when the three of us got together to play music
that was antique then it felt like but we just
put on an entertaining show and instead of feeling completely
retro people were seeing young people I was young ones,
(01:55):
you know, seeing young people preserve this beautiful music and
create music in that style. The songs we wrote were
and Right are very much within the tradition, but they're
new too.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
When you talk about the harmonies of a group, you know,
anytime you know, anybody comes together to put together a
band or a sound, things like that, talk about just
working on the harmonies and kind of delegating out the
responsibilities of the group.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
Since Joey joined us in nineteen eighty eight, he's pretty
much in charge of arrangements. But from the start, Slim
and I swapped off between the middle voice and low voice,
and Woody was always the tenor and still is. And
we just emulated the sons of the Pioneers and Foy
(02:45):
Willing and the writers of the Purple Sage, Andy Parker
and the Plainsman. We just did that style of harmony.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
When you look at You mentioned the Grand Ole Opry too.
We did a slew of shows on the Opry station
they're AM six fifty WSM last fall and really enjoyed
our time with the station. They're hoping to get back
onto a slut shows coming up for the spring summer calendar.
I've been to there so many times. It was the
one thing I hadn't done up until probably four or
five years ago when we finally got back out there
and I said, I'm doing this.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
I'm making a bucket list a deal here.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
I'm going to go there see some of my friends
in the business. And I'm sure for you guys stepping
on that stage, it never gets old of getting out
there and again entertaining country Music's fine, it's coming from
the greatest stage of country music.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
Yes, we have played the Opry's We're done over twenty
three hundred Opry spots over forty two years, and it
is still the thrill every time when we can make
the audience laugh and when we can let him hear
something that know another artist on the show is doing.
(03:48):
It's just you know, it adds to the texture of
the show. And of course the Opry is celebrating their
one hundred year this year, so that they're doing over
one hundred and fifty shows and it's a sort of
Gala jubilee year.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
That is determined, Gala jubilee type of year. Well, let's
talk about jubilee because I was going to go there
and one of the first few albums you guys who
put out out there that love was Silver Jubilee across
all the platforms out there. I love this one. So
many great songs on there too. Talk about just that
body of work and memories from that particular album that
(04:24):
really shot through the moon if the stars out there
for writers in the sky, because I love this album
that's always synonymous with you guys.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Well, we had at that point celebrated twenty five years
and it was our mixture. It's very much like the
show we put on in the year after year. It
is a mixture of classic tunes like Back in the
Saddle and Riders in the Sky and things that people
want to hear, and our original songs, which we've always
(04:54):
felt is very important to our career to create songs
in the tradition, as I said, and the comedy, which
is you know, it's always a joy to make people laugh,
get their troubles off, their overdue mortgage and surly teenager
and you know, just come and laugh with us.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
Yeah, it's a great album of doubt. And of course
that Back in the Saddle again, just one of those
you turn on any type of station these days out
there to old school country, neo traditional back there. I
love the yodling too, because to me, yogling has just
been around for a long time. Too, and you see
people kind of taking off just doing yodling itself or
(05:35):
mixing that now into the different type of genre that
country music is because it's such such a smorgash board
of everything out there, because it incorporates so many different
styles of music. Talk about just the yodling and kind
of when that started for you guys, and kind of
how that's affected the performance today, because I love it well.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
It became really popular in the twenties when Jimmy Rodgers
brought it to the songs he was singing. And then
a whole slew of people like Elton Britt, who was
my yodeling guru, and Roy Rogers and Montana Slim and
just so many great yodlers came out of the thirties
and forties and it waned in popularity. But we like
(06:17):
to think we brought it back quite a bit. My
two uncles listened to old time country music on the
National Barn Dance out of Chicago, and they both sang,
and they both played the guitar and arvid yodel and
I just screw up with it. We spent some time
(06:38):
in California when I was a kid, and you know,
there was yodling and cowboys on TV every day, joey
Odell and town Hall Party, and I mean it was
just cowboys were everywhere in those days.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
Sure word, no doubt.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
Well to ask you about one of my favorite TV
shows of all time, and you guys had a connection
there too. But I loved it because as you had
just so many different things, many pearl and all these
great things with he Hall. And I loved it so
much because I grew up Saturdays on television too. You
watch it or Friday nights in prime time too. I'm
sure you guys everybody in the band had to be
a huge fan of that too, because he Hall kind
(07:14):
of reminds me of that little bit of you mentioned
that comedy, a little bit of music and just a
little bit of way to entertain people have fun.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
I think we did he Haw three times, possibly four,
But the most memorable one was when we sang Texas
Plains with Roy Rogers.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
That was one of my favorite performances did too, And
just to say the day Roy Rodgers and country music
too had to be a thrill for you guys back there, right.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
That's the favorite person I've ever played or recorded with.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
Yeah, No, doubt too.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Hey, let's build on collaborations a little before we play
a little bit of music here on this show today.
Collaboration is becoming more of that theme we mentioned in
the business today too, with some of so much crossover
things that are going on in country music, with some
of the artists that are coming from different genres to
pull their brand of music into country. Give me some
thoughts on collaborations and it kind of build on it
with that. How streaming now has really impacted the.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
Industry, Well, it certainly put a huge dent in my
songwriting royalties. I'll tell you that as far as collaborations go,
we've we've been fortunate to sing with a few of
our favorites like Amy Lou Harris on record and Kathy
Mattea and Michael Martin Murphy. It's not something we've done
(08:27):
a whole lot, but we enjoy it. Johnny Western.
Speaker 4 (08:33):
Susie Bogas, I was gonna say she had a nerve
there too.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
She's one of the sweetest ladies I've ever got a
chance to talk to here on the program. Love me some,
Susie Boccas, right, the.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
Best of the best. I love her to always add well.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Again our guests Ranger Doug here Riders in the Sky.
You can check them out to the very website, Writers
in the Sky dot com and of course out there.
We gonna play a little music here and take you
back a little bit to one of their best albums
out there too. Of course, all the music is available
for streaming. Us came out July of twenty twenty three.
This one's throw a Saddle on a Star here. It
is for Riders in the Sky here exclusive KKTC True
(09:08):
Country ninety nine point nine and of course powered by
the Sports Guys podcast dot com. Back in the Flash, Stay.
Speaker 5 (09:14):
Tuned, Throw us saddle on his storm.
Speaker 4 (09:20):
Tie your dreams to a rainbow. Watch the rain and
the clouds go. When the stars break through, throw us
haddle on.
Speaker 6 (09:35):
His stom there will be sunshine tomorrow.
Speaker 5 (09:42):
All the troubles you oh U will listen. Team show
you And if the dream.
Speaker 6 (09:54):
Then you've been dreaming should ever fade.
Speaker 7 (09:58):
With the.
Speaker 5 (10:01):
Don't let that up you from the dream. There'll be starlight.
Speaker 6 (10:06):
One day light is.
Speaker 4 (10:08):
Gone, brow a saddle on the star, All the clouds
have gone over.
Speaker 5 (10:17):
There will be sunshine and clover along the train for you.
Speaker 6 (11:02):
And it's a dream. Then you've been dreaming. You should
ever fade with.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
The dumb.
Speaker 5 (11:11):
Don't let that up. You're from dreaming. There'll be starlight
one day night is gone. Throw a saddle on the star.
All the clouds have gone over. There will be sunshine
and along the trail for you, Throw a saddle on
(11:40):
a star.
Speaker 8 (11:46):
Hey, this is Court Shill recording artist Joe Nichols, and
you're listening to the backstage past Howard about the Sportscas
podcast dot com exclusively KKTC True Country nine to nine
point nine in Tallas, New Mexico.
Speaker 7 (12:00):
The Caiden Gordon Show is a two hour show playing
the best in country music. So check it out at
the Kadangordon Show dot com. Again, that is the Kaden
Gordon Show dot com.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
And this part of the program is brought to you
by the Clay Airy dot Com. Check out Clay's news
single across all those digital streaming platforms. Clay Airy right
here on kk TC True Country ninety nine point nine.
Speaker 5 (12:25):
Around tower playing the EU Thank You to Me, I
Gotta no.
Speaker 9 (12:38):
Nail too long longing.
Speaker 10 (12:42):
You should know.
Speaker 11 (12:46):
If you're going good.
Speaker 12 (12:50):
Rat Hey, y'all, this is the Castellos and you're listening
to the award nominated Backstage Past podcast powered by the
Sports Guys podcast dot exclusively on KKTC True Country ninety
nine point nine in Taos, New Mexico.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
Add back you with the Ranger Doug the Backstage Pass
again powered by the Sports Guys podcast dot Com Riders
in the Sky talking some legendary music there too and
throwing it back a little bit to what sixty seventies,
eighties country, maybe a little bit before then too. So
I love this one too. That was the title of
that particular record, Ranger Doug throw a Saddle on a Star.
Where did this idea come from?
Speaker 1 (13:27):
Well, that was a song that we discovered that Andy
Parker and the Plainsman did. It was a relatively popular
record for them in about nineteen forty eight or nine,
but it never became a classic, and we just thought
it was so beautiful it was time to rerecord it.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
When it comes to the songwriting, you mentioned that I
put a dent songwriting too in that particular question there too.
Look at all the streaming, how it's changed at things
like that, and how the business has changed so much
over the last twenty five thirty years. Tech me to
the school. I guess one oh one Rids in the Sky.
Songwriting and just a nutshell favorite part of the process
of songwriting.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
Well, we have mostly written about the west Wood. He's
written some outlaw songs that are really good and people
still enjoy. The song I wrote on the Throw of
Saddle on a Star album was the Shelter of the
Wildwood and that, as you can tell, it's about the outdoors.
(14:27):
It won the Wrangler Award for Outstanding Traditional Western Music
of twenty twenty three. So we've collected some awards along
the way. I guess the song that's been most successful
of mine was on the Disney album that won the
Grammy Award called Jesse the Odlin Cowgirl, but I had
written three songs I think for that album as well.
(14:50):
Songwriting has always been very important to us because we
didn't ever want to be a museum piece, you know.
We wanted to create in the style that we love.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
Well, it's a great style too. It it's unique and
I love it out there too because you're not going
to find anything else like this out there when it
comes down to it. I mean, I think there's a
little bit of you know, traditional country, you know, kind
of paving the way to come back. Some artists like
Zach Top they're trying to bring it back now to
of course what you know Cody Johnson has done over
the last seven, eight, ten years of his career, and
then so many traditional guys Ryan Larkins, you know, trying
(15:25):
to stick to it today too, and really, you know,
three chords in the truth. That's hard to do because
of like I said, this ever changing you know business
right now too. But I think it needs to be done.
And I think there's a sound that you guys, you know,
still provide even forty two years later, that people are
just not going to find anywhere else.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
Right, No, I think we're we're kind of unique in
our genre, and it's wonderful that it appeals to kids
and to people for whom it's nostalgia and the people
in the middle just like to laugh and have fun
with us.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
From that record too, for throw a Saddle on a Stock,
I love that Old Calpolke and that really took me
back to the Western fact things watching one of my
favorite John Wayne movies or something like that too. But
tell me about Old Calpoke and how that came about.
Speaker 1 (16:10):
Well, one of our friends is named Gary McMahon, who's
just this year was inducted into the Western Music Hall
of Fame. And he wrote that song way back in
the seventies and we recorded it, i think, on our
second album, and then we've come back and recorded it
on Throw a Saddle on a Star, our forty fifth album,
(16:30):
and it's just a fun song. There's nothing deep about it.
It's just enjoyable.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
Y'all put so much great music out there too. I
got to go talk about this one too, from the
same record there too, Cherokee Strip, give me all theory
this one.
Speaker 3 (16:46):
I love that one.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
Yeah. Glenn Spencer was the brother of Tim Spencer, who
was the founder, one of the three founders with Roy
Rogers and Bob Nolan of the Sons of the Pioneers,
and he and Tim both wrote a whole bunch of songs,
as did Bob Nolan, and that's one of Glenn Spencer's
finest Cherokee Strimp.
Speaker 2 (17:08):
There's so much good stuff here and it's like watching
just a great Western too. The Shelter of the wild Wood.
We got a touch face a little bit on that too.
But that's the one you were talking about writing to
love that one. So much, and then I always love
bonus tracks on there too, But being from Texas, I
have to bring us up because back on those Texas planes.
You got to talk about that one well.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
Stuart Hamlin wrote that about nineteen thirty two and Rex
Allen used it for a theme song for a long
time and we've used it for a theme song for many,
many years to open the show. And that was one
of the songs we got to sing with Roy Rodgers
on Heathaw and that's where that clip was taken from.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
That's such a bringing that name, Roy Rodgers synonymous out
there for so much. You mentioned that Rogers in the
Sky salute Roy Rodgers King of the Cowboys record too,
so we got to go there and talk about this one.
Just overall, great body of work and Don't Fence me in.
I felt one of the ones that stood out on
that record too.
Speaker 1 (18:02):
Yeah, that was probably Roy Rogers' biggest record as far
as record success. Of course he had much more success
as a movie and TV star, but yeah, it was
great to salute him with some of his best known
songs and some that weren't so well known and was
fun to dig up. We also did an album like
that about Gene Audrey.
Speaker 3 (18:23):
Paying tribute to some of the greats there too.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
Yeah, I love it too, because if you guys don't
have it already, there's this thing called the Country Music
Hall of Fame, there's gonna be there's all these wings there,
which I'm sure you already do, but there's gonna be
more stuff added to the writers in the sky Country
Music Hall of Fame wing. Talk to me about this,
and you guys have left again that legacy behind and
so much of that you know, meaningful power on country
music too. Because you mentioned the style is so unique.
(18:46):
I know there's a spot in that Country Music Hall
of Fame. If there's not already, it hasn't happened. But
I know for me, I can't wait to tour it.
Every time I go there, they're gonna say I'm gonna
have time to do it, but I never do.
Speaker 1 (18:57):
There is ah. We just played there on Saturday, or
a week ago Saturday did a kid show. I have
donated most of my library three or four years ago
of album songbooks and all kinds of memorabilia to the
Hall of Fame. And so there's a wing in the
library from Anger Doug, but no wing in the museum itself.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
You know, you mentioned one of the all time greats
out there too. But I gotta go here because I
love it so much, and y'all put so much into
the project with TV, film and animation. But what he's
round up, I talk about this project so much great
music on that particular record too. Of course I love
the story of Woody and Toy Story and all the
great stuff with Jesse. My kid got addicted to that,
(19:46):
you know, from a young age, but naturally, and of
course the title track itself there too, Jesse the yodling Cowgirl,
talk about just how this came about, because man, this
project will be remembered and synonymous with everyone out there
who loved Toy Story.
Speaker 1 (20:00):
Well, it came as a surprise to us. As they
told the story. They were sitting around the having a
conference on how to proceed with the project, and they
had realized that they wanted a theme song for Woody.
But so Randy Newman wrote all the music for the movie,
and they they sound They wanted a band that sounded
(20:23):
like an old time band, And luckily for us, one
of the producers, a young man named Ash Brandon, said, oh,
I know, just the guys, and he downloaded some yodling,
and they all looked around with their eyes as big
as saucers and said, those are the guys. They called
us up and said would you be interested in singing
a song called Woodies Roundup in the New Toy Story movie?
(20:44):
And we thought it over for an eighth of a
second and said yes. That led to the album that
won our first Grammy, and then they didn't forget about us.
We after Monsters Incorporated came out, they asked us to
do an album that we could write all of the
songs about monsters. And I dare say that's the only
(21:09):
album and recorded music history by an all entirely Western
band entirely about monsters. But it went on to win
a second Grammy.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
You know what, Like I said, Proof of the Pudding,
no doubt, my friend. Let's go back a little bit
too with was this twenty thirteen. I love this one too,
Home on the Range because again that's anonymous song with
country music out there too. If you love camping, you
love the outdoors, and you love just your residence in general,
or you just love, like I said, being Home on
the Range too, that one great body of work out
there for this album too, and just so many great
(21:42):
songs that Rangeer Doug that people can you know, take
with them forever.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
Yeah, we run into many fans who tell us there
is a it's their tradition when they take a holiday
out West, play writers in the sky all the way
through the West.
Speaker 5 (22:01):
You know.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
Bill Malone, the pre eminent country music scholar, and his
wife Bobby have written a biography of us, and this
will be out in April, we understand from the Texas
A and M University Press. So I hope everybody will
be on the lookout for that because it tells our
four individual stories as well as the story of the
(22:25):
arc of the band, you know.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
Speaking of that, I can't wait to see that too.
What's it been like, as you mentioned too, just to
go through forty two years of doing this but at
the same time to have that same chemistry as a group,
because everybody has to work together, cohesiveness and things like
that that have to really gel well for this thing
to work too, because it's not just a name and
a brand and the type of music which makes you
guys unique, but talk about that camaraderie you have to
(22:50):
have as a group collectively.
Speaker 1 (22:52):
Well, First off, it's forty seven years, forty two years
on the operating and second of all, the secret is
separate hotel rooms. We learned very early not to bunk together.
But yeah, we have a great chemistry. It shows. I
(23:12):
think that's part of the appeal of this group is
that people can see grown men just having a great time.
And now we're senior citizens and really having a great
time doing what we love and sharing it.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
Dude, what you love to do, no doubt about it too.
I love this one off that Home on the Range record,
just because a wife is from San Antonio, Texas and
loved going there, just spending a lot of time up there,
two vacations across the alley from the Alamo. How did
this one come about?
Speaker 1 (23:41):
Well, we played a show in what is it? Buffalo, Wyoming?
Every year the late and great actor Wilford Rinley puts
put on a benefit show and he invited us to
be part of it. And he's such a wonderful guy.
(24:03):
We had the best time with him. He has stories
from here to Tucson. And he asked us, uh, we
asked him, say, you know, would you do an album
with us? And he's no singer, but he has a
style and it was a lot of fun. He was.
He was great to record with, great to work with,
and we miss him a lot.
Speaker 2 (24:26):
It's such a great song, no doubt too. We're gonna
take you back a little bit to that throw a
sidal on a star record too. And of course I
got to pick the songs to that guy, so you
know I was gonna pick great songs either way. There's
somebody I could have chose, but I chose the second
one today to tell a story.
Speaker 3 (24:38):
And it's gonna tell a story.
Speaker 2 (24:39):
Since we're played up there in Pueblo, Colorado, it's time
for the Colorado Trail. Here on, Yes, Riders in the Sky,
Rangel dug here too, be back in a flash kk
TC True Country ninety nine point nine had powered by
the Sports Guys podcast dot com. Stay tuned and you
know what correct this one up.
Speaker 11 (25:10):
Eyes like a morning star, cheeks like roads.
Speaker 5 (25:19):
Or walls, a pretty girl, God, almighty.
Speaker 7 (25:25):
No.
Speaker 1 (25:29):
Lolly little raids, sway.
Speaker 5 (25:34):
Sway all long, long long.
Speaker 11 (25:41):
The color Battle Trade, ride all the lonely night, ride
through the day, heep heard and moving.
Speaker 3 (26:01):
In on its way.
Speaker 11 (26:05):
We ball you little rains ways, we sway.
Speaker 4 (26:14):
All along along.
Speaker 5 (26:17):
A long Come Radio Train. Don is the Lonely Night
(27:08):
dot is the sky.
Speaker 3 (27:12):
Were shot stayed.
Speaker 11 (27:14):
In Albly, nice and warm and dry. We bought you
little rains square.
Speaker 9 (27:27):
Sway all long, long.
Speaker 1 (27:33):
Long, The car rode.
Speaker 11 (27:39):
A long, long long the Car Road Train.
Speaker 13 (27:53):
Hy Everyone, This is Corey Marks and you're listening to
the award nominated Backstage Past podcast however by the Sports
Guys Podcast dot Com exclusively on kk TC True Country
ninety nine point nine.
Speaker 7 (28:05):
The Kaden Gordon Show Today's Best Country Mix is a
two hour show playing independent and mainstream country music you
know and love. Be sure to check it out at
the Kangordonshow dot com for more information on the show.
Speaker 2 (28:21):
And of course broadcasting from the clay Airy Studios v
Clayair dot com com.
Speaker 9 (28:29):
Gon Way.
Speaker 7 (28:47):
Long come.
Speaker 11 (28:52):
At your.
Speaker 10 (28:55):
Hey, y'all, This is national recording artist Christian Bush and
you're listening to the Backstage Past pod cast powered by
the Sports Guys Podcast dot Com exclusively on KKTC True
Country ninety nine point nine from.
Speaker 2 (29:08):
The clay Airy Studios The Clayairy dot Com. Time for
that the latest single across all those digital streaming platforms.
Back here with Rager Duck on the program Throw a
Saddle on a Star and of course hell of a
career two forty seven years for Riders in the Sky
out there too, Riders in the Sky dot com and
of course Anonymous with the grand Old Opery. So I
mentioned since it's KKTC True Country in Taos and it's
(29:28):
one hundred thousand WAT station that goes from Taus, New
Mexico up into Playblo of Colorado. I hope I picked
a great song for people to tell a story with
the Colorado Trail. I know you guys love this one.
Speaker 1 (29:38):
Right, Yeah, we do.
Speaker 3 (29:40):
Tell us all about it.
Speaker 1 (29:41):
Well, Joey uh We we like to get Joey in
there to sing. He really he produces the records and
does our arrangements as well as play the accordion for
thirty some years with us. He's a new kid. We'd
like to get him to sing at least one or
two on every record. And this this is the voice
of Joey the kW Polka King.
Speaker 3 (30:05):
I just love your time you say, caw polk.
Speaker 2 (30:06):
It just makes me think of so many great songs
there too, And I love it so much great music
out there because I love those old Westerns growing up
my dad used to just in front of the TV.
And John Wayne was one of his heroes and he
loved those old westerns and that's something that to be
synonymous with that is just amazing. Let's talk about another
one off there too, and I love this title, Golden
Lockets off that same record, Throw a Satellite a Star.
Speaker 1 (30:30):
Yeah, that song really means a lot to me. I
wrote that it's one of the very few historical, you know,
kind of a story song and said in a time
and place and it was just a different song for me.
Is a sad tale. I had trouble singing it the
first few times, but if you play it there, I
(30:53):
think I hope folks will like it. People seem to
really enjoy the tale of a couple who had to
part but gave their lockets to each other as he
had to go west and she had to stay in Tennessee.
Speaker 2 (31:06):
Let's talk about you know twenty twenty five, Doug. You
know again, you guys have done it all in the
industry at Grammy Award Winners and the opera. You mentioned
forty two years forty seven of doing this plans goals
thing that you guys have mapped out that you want
to accomplish here for the new year. Tell us all
about it.
Speaker 1 (31:21):
Well, we're going to continue to bring Western music to
America and the world. We hope and play the Grand
Ole Opry a lot because we're sort of cutting down
our road schedule at our age. But we still love
our Opry and I'll still be playing with the Time
Jumpers every Monday night. People come to Nashville. If you've
got nothing to do on a Monday night, come down
(31:43):
to Third and Lensley see the Time Jumpers. We don't
have any recording plans for the future, but you never know.
We have a couple of young groups that have asked
us to sing on their records, you know, to collaborate.
But as far as the writers and I knew recording,
we don't have any plans right now, but you never know.
Speaker 2 (32:05):
Good change put a TBA to that too as well,
to be announced if it does happen again, we'll let
you know here on KKTC True Country ninety nine point
nine out there hot as we get out of here too.
Let's have a little fun with this one. If you
never become a working musician for Ranger Doug, what other
career path would you have chosen.
Speaker 1 (32:22):
I'd probably been a writer of some sort, a journalist. Maybe.
I don't think I could have become an academic. It's
just not my nature. But I did go to graduate school,
you know. I mean it was a path that was
open to me, I think, but I didn't want to
follow it. Music was always in my heart. I grew
up with it with my uncles and grew up singing,
(32:47):
acting in the school plays.
Speaker 5 (32:48):
You know.
Speaker 1 (32:48):
I'm just a show off, enjoyed being in front of
people and entertaining. And I found three other guys who,
you know, share my sensibility and share a deep love
for this tradition that you know, if all of us
didn't love it, it wouldn't work. But people can see
(33:11):
that we're devoted to it and creating it too.
Speaker 3 (33:16):
I'll just talk some food, because I don't just like me.
You've got to be a foodie too. At the same time. Yeah, restaurants,
when it comes down to it.
Speaker 2 (33:23):
I got to try this place called Bar Taco when
I go there for the CRS week coming up there
as we'll broadcast live from the Omni Hotel. Or your
favorite restaurants when you go out, What do you like
to eat? Where and what type of food in Nashville.
Speaker 1 (33:34):
I go to go to Judge Bean's Barbecue. I go
to Taco Bamba. I go to La la Sienda, No
no la Teasa the Nolansville Road. We go to Sweats.
(33:56):
That's soul food. And my wife and too slim loves sweats.
Barbecue or it's not barbecue restaurants. That's some choices for you.
Martin's barbecue is good. Martin's is really good.
Speaker 2 (34:09):
That's what the once that was first introduced to when
we got there a few years ago doing this very
radio show there from there. But Sweats is something I've
heard good soul food. You're right, Look, that's gonna have
to be something we we end up doing, no doubt.
Speaker 1 (34:22):
Those pork chops are hard to beat.
Speaker 3 (34:25):
Monel Sweats is gonna give you this sweat, So it
come down to it.
Speaker 1 (34:30):
Maybe, Yeah, Monel's downtown is really good, dude on Sixth
Avenue North. Sixth Avenue North, all right, it's just we
don't even fancy restaurants normally. My wife and I.
Speaker 3 (34:44):
Like a little bit of everything, right, that's yeah, we do.
Speaker 5 (34:46):
We do.
Speaker 1 (34:47):
There's a terrific Indian restaurant called the Golden Pizza. It's
a horrible name, Golden Pizza, but it's really it's just
excellent Indian food. If you like Indian food, which I
do to.
Speaker 2 (34:58):
Try that to like all kinds of so I'm always
open for all that good stuff out there too. At
the same time, and always love this group Riders in
the Sky. You can check them out Riders in the
Sky dot com. And of course if you're out there Nashville,
Tennessee on a Monday night, Third and Lensley, you can
check him out there, the Time Jumpers. He's performing there
and forty seven years with the group Riders in the
Sky and still doing their thing out there. Ranger Doug
(35:19):
here on KKTC True Country ninety nine point nine, My friend,
appreciate you stopping by making time for us to tell
the story of a great group that lives on forever
in the history of country music. And we appreciate you
being with us.
Speaker 3 (35:30):
Thanks so much.
Speaker 1 (35:31):
Well, we sure appreciate you taking the time with me.
I'd love to talk about our music and our career,
and I appreciate you spreading the word about the best
in the West because its the cowboy way.
Speaker 2 (35:43):
The cowboy way, the best in the West, the Riders
in the Sky dot com and I've seen them on
the Opera. If you guys are ever in Nashville, get
those tickets opery dot com and go out there and
make it a nine out there that you'll never forget to.
As well, we're back again broadcasting live from the clay
Are Studios d clay Airy dot com and of course
presented by the Kaden Gordon showed today's best country mix.
We'll see you guys back in the flash and of
course don't forget coming up next month another show with
(36:05):
the all time greats Brentley Gilbert right here on the
backstage pass here. Coming up in March, we'll talk about
his new album Tattoos, and of course the big tour
out there too for Brentley Gilbert. It's coming through Texas
hopefully again here at twenty twenty five. We'll see you
guys on the flip side. Until then, God Bless, take
care exclusive here KKTC True Country ninety nine point nine
and powered by the Sports Guys podcast dot com. Until then,
(36:27):
take care. We'll see you soon. Hey, y'all, this is
tarn Papa and you're listening to the backstage pass with
Brandon exclusively on KKTC True
Speaker 3 (36:36):
Country ninety nine point nine in Taos, New Mexico,
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