Western Music Legends RIDERS IN THE SKY Celebrate 40 Years, 7,180 Concerts, Launch 40th Anniversary Tour and Announce New Album

“Following in the legendary boot prints of Gene Autry and the Sons of the Pioneers, Riders in the Sky
have kept alive one country music’s essential — but too often forgotten — historical influences: the singing cowboy.
Beneath all the chap-slapping humor is something equally remarkable and enjoyable:
some seriously good musicianship that honors the ‘W’ in C&W.” — Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan

“Hey. The band. Nice job.” —Tom Hanks

“I love what you guys are trying to do.” —Tony Bennett

“They are a talented bunch of sidekicks and any cowboy would be proud to ride with them.” — Gene Autry

“I’ve heard your records. You know what you’re doing.” — Randy Newman

Nashville, Tenn. — GRAMMY-winning Western icons, Riders In The Sky  —Ranger Doug, Too Slim, Woody Paul and Joey the CowPolka King — celebrated 40 years of performing music together on November 12th at Nashville’s City Winery.  That evening marked the legendary band’s 7,180th show and the 40th Anniversary of “The Never-Ending Trail Drive.” At the show, the band announced the release of their 41st album — a 15-track collection called: ‘40 Years The Cowboy Way’ on their own Riders Radio Records (release date forthcoming.)

Riders In The Sky kicked off the “40 Years the Cowboy Way Tour” with songs from their first performance, songs from their first album, and songs from the forthcoming 40th anniversary album, mixed in with favorites, classics, requests, and a good dose of western humor. (For a full list of tour dates, please visit http://www.ridersinthesky.com)

Ranger Doug — who, in addition to being, “The Idol of American Youth,” and the group’s resident historian—says, “40 years? It only seems like 60, and the great trail drive continues unabated!  It’s the Cowboy Way!”

Too Slim, “America’s Favorite Funnyman,” bass player and former second-richest-man-in-Joelton, adds, “As we head out on our 40th Anniversary Tour, it feels like we’re getting into Mick and Keith territory. A celebration of 40-years of laughing, singing, touring, and living life ‘The Cowboy Way.’ But any cowpoke will tell you, it’s not about looking back, it’s about looking ahead and wondering what’s over that next rise, that next mountain range, and we’re looking ahead with our new album, ‘40 years The Cowboy Way.’ New music, a new T-shirt, and, I promise, a new joke.  We’re ready to hit the trail and I believe folks will discover that there is truly “still a little snap in the old soup bone!”

40 years ago, Ranger Doug, Too Slim and the late Windy Bill Collins played that first date on the bitter cold evening of November 11th, 1977 at Herr Harry’s Frank N’ Stein Rathskeller in Nashville, and small listening room dates followed. By August of the following year demand was building, and while Windy Bill left, Woody Paul joined, and the true professional beginnings of the band began at the Kentucky State Fair, where the trio played 10 days for $2500 – and bought their own rooms and meals out of that!

A first wave followed, including appearances on Austin City Limits; recording contracts with Rounder, then MCA, then Columbia; guest appearances on the Grand Ole Opry leading to membership in 1982; and a three-year run on The Nashville Network with a TV show called “Tumbleweed Theater,” which yet in turn led to a seven-year run on public radio with “Riders Radio Theater.  People Magazine, interested in the Riders phenomenon, ran a story which caught the eye of a Hollywood producer.

And so the second wave broke, sending the boys to Hollywood to star in “Riders In The Sky” on CBS for a year on Saturday mornings, introducing them to yet another generation.

More recordings, endless show dates, and television appearances followed for a decade before the fine folks at Pixar called and asked the quartet – by this time they had been joined by Joey the Cowpolka King – to sing a tune called “Woody’s Roundup” in the movie “Toy Story 2.”  Thus, the third wave began, highlighted by a number of projects for Disney, including two albums, both of which won GRAMMY Awards.

The creation of satellite radio gave them a new platform, as they continue to produce episodes of the award-winning “Classic Cowboy Corral” on Sirius/XM.

Still more road dates and recordings (several on their own Riders Radio Records label) and other film and television projects have filled the days and weeks and years, and since the quartet has slowed up very little, the numbers begin to add up:  an astonishing 7,100+ appearances, 35 years as Grand Ole Opry members, 40 albums (well, now CDs,) and tours of all 50 states and all over the world.

Honors accumulated as well.  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 or even slowing down much.

“Seems like 400 on some days, but on others, when the sound is good, the audience is hot, and the boys are playing and singing their hearts out, it feels like that first time. Theatrical cowboy magic is in the air. See you in 10 years for our Golden Jubilee, right here, when we’ll hear Ranger Doug say: “I used to be in Riders In The Sky.” And Too Slim say: “Really? Which one were you?” And Ranger Doug say: “I don’t remember.” And Woody say: “Ask the nice lady at the front desk. She’ll tell you.”  And Joey say: “Where’s Woody?”

‘40 years The Cowboy Way’ (Riders Radio Records) will be available in early 2018 and milestone events in partnership with The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, the Grand Ole Opry, The National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, and numerous celebratory concerts will be announced in December.

‘40 Years The Cowboy Way’ Track Listing: