“You can take the boy out of the country,
but you can’t take the country out of the boy…”
That even rings true for those born in the Big Apple.
Just ask Hopalong Andrew. While he might not come off as the cowboy-type upon first glance given that he was born and raised in Manhattan, Hopalong Andrew was influenced by the cowboys of the silver screen, iconic country singers such as Hank Williams and Hank Snow and classic parody singers such as Allan Sherman and “Weird Al” Yankovic. Aside from his music aspirations this Urban Cowpoke, born Andrew Vladeck, held a job as an NYC Park Ranger stationed in Central Park, which provided him with plenty of material for storytelling lyrics. And as most country artists do, Hopalong Andrew wrote songs about what he is familiar with. His family-friendly album Howdy Do! Songs of the Urban Cowpoke, released on 9/21, showcases his playful, clever lyrics and reworkings of a few well known songs for a fun album that provides a few NYC history lessons told from a different perspective that people of all ages from all 50 states can enjoy .
Take “I’ve Been Everywhere in New York City” a play on Johnny Cash’s “I’ve Been Everywhere” where Hopalong Andrew gets in all 105 NYC neighborhoods within the three minute song limit. “Outside” mimics the theme song of the western TV series Rawhide. “Thank God I’m A City Boy” and “Home on the Town” are urban takes on obvious classics. And then there’s the song that brought western music to one of the most famous locations in all of the Big Apple: the American Museum of Natural History. “Tyrannosaurus (Night at the Museum)” tells the story of a young cowboy who makes friends with a dinosaur and their nighttime adventures during a sleepover at the museum (which New Yorkers know is a very high-demand event that only happens every so often).
For more information on Hopalong Andrew, including dates to performances, classes and other family events, visit his website at: http://hopalongandrew.com/ and follow him on Facebook and Instagram.
Howdy Do! Songs of the Urban Cowpoke Track Listing:
Howdy Do!
Back In The City Again
I’ve Been Everywhere in New York City
Tyrannosaurus (Night at the Museum)
Thank God I’m a City Boy
The Yodeling Ranger of Central Park
Outside!
Broadway was a Native American Trail
Ice Cream Dude (Jingle, Jangle)
Buffalo, Buffalo
Home on the Town
Bring Back My Cowgirl to Me