In the Summer of 2005 when we set about putting together a vocal harmony group in tribute to Bob Nolan and The Sons of the Pioneers here in Southern California we felt like lone pioneers ourselves here in the metropolis.
We had a burning desire to bring this music back to life so that younger audiences of today could have a glimpse of what the Cowboy Hero was about and to partake in the vicarious thrill that was the American West. What better way too then with the gloriously rich and beautiful sound of Cowboy Harmony?
Our task of course was not only to nail those tight, sometimes complicated harmonies but also to stir up enough interest in what we were doing to stay busy. We went for months explaining to those who asked, “Now what type of music do you do again?” that we were a Western Music group and that although “Country” Musicians had adopted the use of the Cowboy Hat they weren’t in fact doing Cowboy Music, we were.
After some head scratching most people would just nod and say, “Oh, ok” but it wasn’t until they actually heard and saw us that they would not only “get it” but would actually say, “hey, I remember that song!” In fact, Western Music was so deeply ingrained into their psyche that they had an affection for it they had either forgotten or weren’t even really aware of until that moment. As far as we felt, mission accomplished! There was of course, much more work to do than we even knew.
You see finding a market for Western Music in Southern California amidst the hip-hop and the indie rock and rap was proving to be a little tricky. Where was our audience?! Well as with most “revivals” it turns out we had to build one or at least make the audience find us. We set about doing that by scouring the Internet for Western and Cowboy events, companies, restaurants or like organizations. That is what finally led us to the Western Music Association.
I was doing a random search on line and found “westernmusic.org.” “What?!”, I thought. An entire organization dedicated to not just the love of Western Music but the “preservation and perpetuation” of it!? This was just too much to be possible. I felt like an “alien being” who had just found evidence of other life forms like me on this desolate planet. “You mean, there are others!?” Then I clicked on the site and right on the front page was Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, Gene Autry, Marty Robbins! It was like striking gold! I suddenly felt a huge weight lift off of me. This wasn’t just some strange fever I had been experiencing. In fact, this organization had been in existence for over twenty years! The genre of Western Music was REAL!
I immediately went to the page that explained how membership worked. We joined that day!
After we received confirmation that our membership had been accepted I contacted the President of the California Chapter, Lindalee Green who explained to me that there was a “jam” that took place at the Autry Museum once every month and she encouraged us to come and join in and stay for the chapter meeting. Well, we had done some local community events and a few private parties but, an opportunity to perform for and with people who knew and understood Western Music? Heck yeah!
When we arrived at the Autry that warm May afternoon in our best Western finery we didn’t know what to expect. We were instantly put at ease by a very nice dark haired gentleman with a rich deep voice who said, “It’s a very casual jam.” The organizers had placed several folding chairs in a semi-circle in the courtyard of the Autry in front of a huge bronze sculpture of Mr. Autry himself, where we were to sit and wait for our turn to sing. After the last gentleman before us sang it was our turn. We sang The Timber Trail and when we were done the group of gentlemen said, “Wow! Do another one!” We sang several more times throughout the two hours we were there and when we were done the gentleman with the dark hair came right for us and said,”You guys are like a breath of fresh air!” He turned out to be Paul Hendel, a great singer and songwriter who has since passed away. The other gents who were there and were equally encouraging were Les Buffham, Rodger Maxwell and John Bergstrom who have since, like Paul become great friends and comrades of ours. Needless to say, this was way more than we expected to find!
In the following months I attended several California Chapter meetings at the Autry and would find myself marveling at the fact that only a short time before I’d felt so alone in my love for Western Music and suddenly I was in a room filled with people who had been actively involved in it for decades.
This is an organization that loves music, culture and our Nation’s traditions but more than that, they love this Country and the part that the American West has played in making this a unique and wonderful land.
So, where is our audience? It’s everywhere there is an American who has a heart filled with love and pride for this land. Everywhere there is anyone who feels affection for the brash adventurous nature of “The American.” It is anywhere there is anyone who is a lover of the great outdoors. Wherever there is anyone who is tired of the predictability of the formulas that today’s modern pop culture has strangulated them with. Anyone tired of the same pop-culture that has been influenced by greed, corruption and quick self-satisfaction. Anywhere there is anyone who wants a return to the simpler, sweeter, more genuine things in life. A clean and simple sound, clear and yet haunting enough to take you away from the hustle and bustle of what life is like today.
What? That’s you, you say? Well, that’s our point. Our audience is YOU and like us, you’re not alone. There’s a ground-swell happening and it’s coming on strong. After all, just like the Cowboy, Western Music has always been here, it’s just us that have to catch up with it, again!