Riders in the Sky are stepping in for their friend Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, who can’t travel to Livingston. The show will go on at the Shane Lalani Center for the Arts on Saturday, July 20th. Legendary Delta blues guitar master Roy Rogers remains on the bill, and Montana favorite Wylie and the Wild West will end the evening.
Riders in the Sky has released more than 40 full length albums, starred in a single-season self-titled television series on CBS, wrote and starred in an NPR syndicated radio drama Riders Radio Theater, and appeared in television series and films including as featured contributors to Ken Burns‘ Country Music. Their family-friendly style also appeals to children, exemplified in their recordings for Disney and Pixar. They have won two Grammy Awards and have written and performed music for major motion pictures, including “Woody’s Roundup” from Toy Story 2 and Pixar‘s short film, For the Birds. The band also recorded full length companion albums for Toy Story 2 and Monsters, Inc.
“We got word from his manager that Jack had been hiking and had a health issue. He still wants to come to the show, but the doctor has advised against air travel,” said Russell Lewis, artistic director for the Shane Lalani Center for the Arts. “With very little time, we were able to secure Riders in the Sky to take his slot. We can’t wait for this show.”
The Riders in the Sky original take on humor and Western music garnered them membership in the Grand Ole Opry (42 years ago), guest slots on Austin City Limits and performances worldwide. The Riders made their animated debut in 2003, in the Warner Bros. animated series Duck Dodgers, where they played a robot band modeled after themselves. Their second animated appearance was in Disney’s direct-to-DVD animated adventure children’s film titled Stanley’s Dinosaur Round-Up. Their most recent animated role was in the Kickstarter-funded film Cartoon Cowboys by WonderVista Studios. Cartoon Cowboys borrows heavily from Riders Radio Theater, including characters from the show and the Riders having the same personalities as their radio counterparts.
Ranger Doug with the Riders in the Sky said, “Ramblin’ Jack is a friend and living legend, and we know we’ll see him soon. How many 92-year-olds are out hiking? He’s amazing. We look forward to stepping into his boots and doing what we do best… Put on our big hats and deliver good beef to hungry people. After all… It’s the Cowboy Way!”
In addition to the two Grammy Awards, Riders received numerous awards from the Western Music Association, including the highest: membership in the Western Music Hall of Fame; numerous Wrangler awards from the Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Museum; awards from the Academy of Western Artists; enshrinement in the Walkway of Western Stars, and more. What began as a celebration of classic Western Music and an evening of hilarity has become a career, and that career has become a legend, one which, 40 years on, shows no signs of stopping.
Roy Rogers is considered one of the world’s preeminent master Delta slide guitarists and will appear with the Riders in the Sky on July 20th. With over 20 recordings to his credit, Rogers has garnered 8 Grammy nominations for producing Ramblin’ Jack Elliott & John Lee Hooker among others and is also a recording artist and songwriter. After doing 15 shows with Bonnie Raitt last fall, Roy is appearing solo for this very special event.
Guitar Player Magazine says of Roy Rogers, “That’s not a slide on Roy Rogers’ pinky, it’s a time machine. With it, Rogers transports you to the Mississippi Delta’s past and future.”
Wylie Gustafson is an American original. The native Montanan singer/songwriter has recorded 24 albums backed by over 3 decades of performing around the world. He remains distinct in country music as one of the few authentic voices of the genre. Wylie’s muse is the empty sprawl of his native Montana home where he crafts the words and music that reflect his life on the 4th generation family ranch. For over the last 33 years, he and his band, The Wild West, have performed their refreshing blend of cowboy, western, and traditional country. They have performed at such prestigious venues as the National Folk Festival, MerleFest, the Bumbershoot Festival, The Stagecoach Festival, A Prairie Home Companion, The Conan O’Brien Show and the Grand Ole Opry (with over 50 guest appearances).
This very special event is brought to you by the Shane Lalani Center for the Arts in partnership with Colin and Seabring Davis, Mighty Fine Time Live Events, Yellowstone Country Montana, Key Montana Property Management and Vacation Rentals, Hilton Home2Home, KGLT, The Bozone, Yellowstone Public Radio, The Livingston Enterprise, The Main Print Shop and through individual donors.
Tickets are still available for the event, which is raising funds for the new Blake Pavilion at the Shane Center. Should you decide you want a refund, simply reach out to the box office at www.theshanecenter.org or call them at (406) 222-1420. •
