Johnson County Community College
Press Release

College Information and Publications
913-469-8500
Julie Haas, Director, ext. 3120
Peggy Graham, Writer, ext. 3425
Tyler Cundith, Sports Information Director, ext. 3122

Draw close to the flickering campfire as America’s favorite cowboys, Riders in the Sky, celebrate Christmas. Ranger Doug (Idol of American Youth), Woody Paul (King of the Cowboy Fiddlers), Joey (the Cowpolka King) and Too Slim (Licensed Driver) will take time from driving the herd down the lonesome road on a cold winter day and put on two big shows for city folk who need to put aside a frenzied pace and lose themselves in the whimsical world of cowboy music.

Riders in the Sky will perform A Cowboy Christmas at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, in Yardley Hall of the Carlsen Center at Johnson County Community College. Wearing Stetson hats and chaps, the foursome will be back in the saddle, delivering their flawless harmonies, off-beat humor (including their mind-bending palindromes) and respect for the adventures of the American West.

A Cowboy Christmas is traditional carols seasoned with the Rider’s quirky western songs like The Christmas Yodel, Sidemeat's Christmas Stew, The Prairie Dog Christmas Ball, The Friendly Beasts and Let It Snow (The Last Christmas Medley You'll Ever Need To Hear). This is a family show in the most responsible “cowboy way.”

Since 1977, Riders in the Sky have faithfully tended a musical tradition kindled by singing cowboy legends such as Sons of the Pioneers, Roy Rogers and Gene Autry. After more than 25 years, the Riders have earned their own star in the sky with more than 30 plus albums, membership in the Grand Ole Opry and Western Music Association Hall of Fame, Grammy Awards, a TV series (TNN and CBS), movie appearances, soundtracks, their own NPR radio show, more than 200 national television appearances and more than 4,500 live performances.

Ranger Doug sings lead baritone. He drives the Riders’ music as a master songwriter, unmatched yodeler and accomplished guitarist. He is also a renowned music historian with a master’s degree in literature and has just published Singing in the Saddle: The History of the Singing Cowboyz.

Too Slim sings lead and harmony and plays the bunkhouse upright bass. He has a degree in wildlife management. Woody Paul sings lead and tenor. His doctorate is in theoretical plasma physics. Woody is also a talented rope trickster. Joey, a multi-instrumentalist especially squeezing the accordion, saddled up with the Riders in 1987. He has toured since age 11 and considers himself a “Road Scholar.”

Recently the Riders have been introducing young cowpokes to “super-dee-duper cowboy music” through a successful relationship with Walt Disney/Pixar Animation. They provided music for Toy Story 2 with the companion album Woody’s Roundup featuring Riders in the Sky, which earned the group a Grammy for Best Music Album for Children in 2001. In 2002 Riders composed the original score to Pixar’s Academy Award-winning short, For the Birds. In 2003, the Riders wrangled another Grammy in the Best Musical Album for children with Monster’s Inc. – Scream Factory Favorites.

So if you’re a fan of the old West, good comedy and stellar harmony geared for the whole family, tickets for Riders in the Sky – A Cowboy Christmas are $25 adults, $12.50 youth (12 and under), available by calling the Carlsen Center box office, 913-469-4445, or online at www.jccc.edu/CarlsenCenter.