News
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — The “comedy” and Western band Riders in the Sky return to Grand Junction Friday, Jan. 20, for a performance at the Avalon Theatre.
Comprised of award-winning Western music songwriter and guitarist Doug “Ranger Doug” Green, who sings lead vocals and yodels; accordionist Joey “the Cowpolka King” Miskulin, who has performed with Roy Rogers and the band U2; Paul “Woody Paul” Chrisman, who sings lead and fiddles; and upright bassist Frederick “Too Slim” LaBour, who is credited with being the “comic genius” of the group, Riders in the Sky have won two Grammys and numerous other music awards over their 34-year career.
“We've made a career of keeping alive the grand tradition of romantic Western music, presented in such a way it brings a lot of laughs as well,” Green said.
Green was in Nashville when he rediscovered the Western music he had loved as a child. He, LaBour and Chrisman formed Riders in the Sky, and added accordionist Miskulin in 1988.
“He's only been with us for 24 years,” Green said.
Riders in the Sky joined the Grand Ol' Opry radio show in 1982, have been inducted in the Western Music Association's Hall of Fame, the Country Music Foundation's Walkway of Stars, and the Walk of Western Stars along with other cowboy legends Gene Autry, Roy Rogers and John Wayne.
Riders have also won Traditional Group of the Year seven times and Traditional Album of the Year multiple times. They were named Western Music Group of the Year twice in five years by the Academy of Western Artists.
Riders tour the world and have performed at the White House, Carnegie Hall, and with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra.
The band has produced at least 35 albums, the most recent, released in the fall is a collection of inspirational songs “The Land Beyond the Sun” — an album long-requested by their fans, Green said. Many of the songs were written by Stan Jones and Bob Nolan, a founding member of Sons of the Pioneers and “one of the great American composers of the 20th century,” Green said.
They have two new albums in the works — one a collection of traditional songs from the cowboy movie era of Autry and Rogers.
The group is also working on a “regular” Riders album of old-time classic Western songs of which they do their own version.
“Western music was quite a national fad in the 1930s and 1940s,” Green said.
Riders aim to keep the tradition alive and contribute to it, he said.
Comprised of award-winning Western music songwriter and guitarist Doug “Ranger Doug” Green, who sings lead vocals and yodels; accordionist Joey “the Cowpolka King” Miskulin, who has performed with Roy Rogers and the band U2; Paul “Woody Paul” Chrisman, who sings lead and fiddles; and upright bassist Frederick “Too Slim” LaBour, who is credited with being the “comic genius” of the group, Riders in the Sky have won two Grammys and numerous other music awards over their 34-year career.
“We've made a career of keeping alive the grand tradition of romantic Western music, presented in such a way it brings a lot of laughs as well,” Green said.
Green was in Nashville when he rediscovered the Western music he had loved as a child. He, LaBour and Chrisman formed Riders in the Sky, and added accordionist Miskulin in 1988.
“He's only been with us for 24 years,” Green said.
Riders in the Sky joined the Grand Ol' Opry radio show in 1982, have been inducted in the Western Music Association's Hall of Fame, the Country Music Foundation's Walkway of Stars, and the Walk of Western Stars along with other cowboy legends Gene Autry, Roy Rogers and John Wayne.
Riders have also won Traditional Group of the Year seven times and Traditional Album of the Year multiple times. They were named Western Music Group of the Year twice in five years by the Academy of Western Artists.
Riders tour the world and have performed at the White House, Carnegie Hall, and with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra.
The band has produced at least 35 albums, the most recent, released in the fall is a collection of inspirational songs “The Land Beyond the Sun” — an album long-requested by their fans, Green said. Many of the songs were written by Stan Jones and Bob Nolan, a founding member of Sons of the Pioneers and “one of the great American composers of the 20th century,” Green said.
They have two new albums in the works — one a collection of traditional songs from the cowboy movie era of Autry and Rogers.
The group is also working on a “regular” Riders album of old-time classic Western songs of which they do their own version.
“Western music was quite a national fad in the 1930s and 1940s,” Green said.
Riders aim to keep the tradition alive and contribute to it, he said.
GO&DO
What: Riders in the Sky concert
When: 7 p.m. Fri., Jan 20 Where: Avalon Theatre, 645 Main St. Cost: $20, $25, $35 - all seats reserved Info: Tickets available at Grand Junction City Markets, and Back Porch Music, or by phone at 243-8497 |
