Songs about railroads, hobos, cowboys

Suzanne Cronn Herald/Review
Paula Strong and Walt Richards, lead singers of Trails & Rails, perform at the Arizona Folklore Preserve on
Sunday. The four-member group sang songs about cowboys, hobos and the life influenced by the railroad.

Trails & Rails entertains guests at Arizona Folklore Preserve

By Shar Porier
Herald/Review

HEREFORD — When you visit the Arizona Folklore Preserve on a Sunday afternoon for one of the shows, you’re sure to not only have a fun time, but get a bit of a history lesson as well.

Trails & Rails, a four-piece group that sings about the days when the railroad was king, took the standing room only crowd through brief history of railroads through songs about the settlers and supplies they brought West and the cattle and grains it took East, from the 1800s to the 1900s.

“This is one of our favorite groups,” said volunteer emcee and novice cowboy poet Ernie Buhler, as folks settled in for the show.

Walt Richards and Paula Strong started as a duo, but added two more members, Bruce Huntington on bass and Ken Wilcox on vocals, guitar and autoharp, to add a fullness to their sound.

“The railroads opened up this country, yet, in a way, they also closed the country,” Strong explained. “The railroad brought settlers, who fenced in the range.”

Yet, where would America be without its rail lines crossing the nation from coast to coast? It opened up the interior of the country and provided a living for those men who found they just didn’t fit in office jobs. Men like those who worked for railroads building tracks and running trains on rails that could lead them to their death.

“There was quite a competition among the railroad companies to get contracts,” said Wilcox in his lead-in to the song, “Wreck of the Old 97,” written by Charles Noell. “The engineer would lose money if he lost time.”

In the quest for those shipping contracts, railroad companies sometime took chances. They built curves too sharp and banks too steep, added Strong. Sometimes, making that schedule proved deadly as is told in the musical ballad of the train that plunged off of a 75-foot trestle near Danville, Va., killing nine men.

“ ... Now it’s an awful bad road from Lynchburg to Danville, and from Lima it’s a four-mile grade,” sang the group.

“It was on this grade that his air brakes failed him. And look what a jump she made.

“Thirteen falling down this hill at 70 mph, his whistle began to scream

“He was found in the wreck with his hand on the throttle he had scalded to death from the steam ... ”

Richards took a few minutes to jokingly explain the difference between the terms hobo, tramp and bum. “A hobo was a migrant worker,” he said. “A tramp was a migratory non-worker. And a bum was a stationary non-worker.”

Many non-paying passengers rode the rails, and for some it was a dangerous game of riding the rods. The rods, as Strong explained, were found under the boxcars and hobos would take wooden planks and run them through the rods making a small platform on which to ride under the boxcars.

One of the men who sang many songs of the railroad and won the hearts of working folk everywhere was Jimmie Rodgers, a Mississippian who learned about the railroad at an early age, Wilcox said. Rodgers became a brakeman on the New Orleans and Northeastern Railroad and picked up his musical skills from other workers and hobos. While still young, his railroad career ended. He was diagnosed with tuberculosis at the age of 27. Though he lost one love, he was able to find another and began a musical career as the Singing Brakeman. But, that too came to an abrupt end as the tuberculosis took his life in 1933.

Wilcox sang a soulful song Rodgers wrote before he died, “Hobo’s Meditation.”

“Will there be any freight trains in heaven?

“Any box cars on which we can ride?

“Will there be any tough cops or brakemen

“In the land that lies hidden up there ...

“Will the hobo chum with the rich man

“Will we always have money to spare

“Will they have respect for the hobo

“In that land that lies hidden up there.”

Every weekend the Preserve presents artists after they are approved by founder Dolan Ellis. The schedule can be found at arizonafolklore.com. Or call the Preserve at 378-6165.

Herald/Review reporter Shar Porier can be reached at 515-4692 or by e-mail at shar.porier@bisbeereview.net.

Cowboy artists Bud Strom and Tom Chambers
at the Folklore Preserve this weekend

COURTESY OF ARIZONA FOLKLORE PRESERVE
Bud Strom, left, and Tom Chambers, right, will be in concert this Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Folklore Preserve.

The Arizona Folklore Preserve, in partnership with the University of Arizona South, and Dolan Ellis, Arizona’s official state balladeer, present Bud Strom and Tom Chambers in concert at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

This will be a very special Western weekend, featuring two top cowboy artists: Bud Strom, cowboy poet, and Tom Chambers, Western singer/songwriter/guitarist.

Both Strom and Chambers are genuine cowboys who also are great entertainers, with the ability to teach their audiences what it’s like to be an Arizona cowboy.

For Strom, life revolves around his pride in being a rancher and a cowboy, his background as an educator, his Army career, and his family. All of these come together in the poetry he writes and in his widely celebrated presentation skills. Strom’s subject matter ranges from tender topics such as Montana Angels, the story of survival during a blinding blizzard, to historic topics such as “Race on the Wind,” which tells the true story of a horse race run in 1959. The contestants in the race were from Douglas and Naco, Sonora, and quarantine laws kept either from traveling to the other side of the border. As a result, the race was run, literally, along the border.

“My Hat” is an example of an instructive Bud Strom poem; he uses it effectively and with some humor to teach why a cowboy hat is different from other hats, and the many purposes it can serve. A more overtly humorous poem is “On Memorizing.” “Dry Lightning” is a wonderful poem about a big challenge of ranching in Hereford, where rainfall is often scarce.

Strom is invited to perform at cowboy gatherings all over the West, and is also an Arizona ambassador, teaching the Western way of life in locations to the east, including Atlanta and Washington, D.C.

Tom Chambers is a self-taught horse trainer who, while in his early teens, developed his own gentling techniques, when other trainers were primarily using force. He has developed a “Harmony with Horses” program that he teaches at the Tanque Verde Guest Ranch in Tucson, where he also entertains regularly. Chambers also leads a six-day “Women of the West” travel program at the Bellota Ranch.

A Tom Chambers show will include guitar, vocals, harmonica, songs, poetry, storytelling and some of the best yodeling to be heard anywhere, with never a dull moment. Expect some humor: he may sing the story of how the yodel was born, recite his own famous poem, “The Elevator,” or recite the Baxter Black poem, “Cow Attack.” He fights back against the people who claim cattle are responsible for the holes in the ozone layer in his song “Ode to Tofu.”

There are other sides to Chambers, however. He can be romantic, as in his original song, “La Luna de Sonora” or the ultimate love song about an Arizona cowboy and his Sonoran sweetheart, “A Border Affair.” “Thunder Across the Desert” is a powerful song from his Emmy-winning score for the documentary, “A Warning to Beware.” Chambers has performed with both the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra and the Tucson Pops Orchestra.

Both Strom and Chambers have worked to keep the cowboy culture alive through means other than their own performances. Strom served as co-chair of the Cochise Cowboy Poetry and Music Gathering for 10 years, signing on in the second year of the gathering and developing the curriculum for a “poetry in the schools” program for grades third through 12th — for all 20 of Cochise County’s schools.

The Gathering is now a huge event for Sierra Vista and Cochise Country, drawing dozens of talented poets and musicians and thousands of visitors.

Chambers is the founding president of the Western Music Association, which was formed with the mission: “to preserve and promote the traditional and contemporary music of the American West and the American Cowboy.” He continues to serve on the advisory board for the organization.

Strom will be offering two cowboy poetry books for sale: “Dry Lightning and Cowboys & Angels.” He also will offer his CD of cowboy poetry, “Lighting and Angels.”

Chambers will offer three CDs: “Southern Range,” “Ranch Requests” and “Horse Laughs.” ....

BOOST FOR FOLKLORE PRESERVE

SUZANNE CRONN-HERALD/REVIEW

Dolan Ellis, Arizona’s official balladeer, on the far right, shares the spotlight with Jackie Miller
Davidson and Randy Sparks at Buena Performing Arts Center. The New Christy Minstrels, a
folksingers group originally formed 45 years ago, gave a show on Sunday for the benefit of the
Arizona Folklore Preserve.

New Christy Minstrels provide benefit

By Shar Porier
Herald/Review

SIERRA VISTA — “A million tomorrows shall all pass away, ’ere I forget all the joy that is mine today ...”

It was obvious that the members of the New Christy Minstrels singing “Today” on stage were feeling joy, as were the 600-plus people in the audience at Buena High School Sunday afternoon for the Minstrels’ first-ever show in Sierra Vista.

Dolan Ellis, Arizona’s official balladeer, and four other original members, founder Randy Sparks, Art Podell, Clarence Treat and Jackie Miller Davidson joined with new members Buffalo Bill Boycott and Becky Jo Benson for a concert to benefit the Arizona Folklore Preserve. Since the Minstrels were on an Arizona tour, the group agreed to add in the extra date and give a helping hand to the Preserve. They also dropped their booking fees so 100 percent of the ticket cost goes to the preserve.

The board of directors of the preserve were hoping for a sellout, and they got it. There were just a few empty seats scattered here and there. That’s the way it has been, Sparks said, since they went back on tour a few years ago.

Sparks began the show solo and joked, “I’m the opening act — I’m good at that. See, the opening act takes up time and leaves the audience wanting.”

Sparks’ career included working with Burl Ives, Bob Hope and Tennessee Ernie Ford more than 45 years ago. But he said he always thought it would be better to have a bigger sound and more people. So, he started the New Christy Minstrels.

Now, after 45 years of performers joining and leaving the folk group, Sparks thinks they would form a group of 300.

He said, “All of my life I’ve been in the middle of the world’s greatest talent show.”

In the Minstrels, everyone is required to perform solo, whether they’ve done it before or not, whether they think they can sing or not. The format was devised in 1961 and pulled together in 1962 with the first Minstrels show.

Boycott, who plays guitar, banjo, fiddle and mandolin, as well as yodeling, was an old fan who learned to play guitar, he said, by listening to the Minstrels’ album over and over.

“I sent him one of my CDs and started playing with them in Prescott, and I’ve been with them ever since,” he said.

There is one on-stage member who does not have to sing or play an instrument. That is Vecca the stage dog.

“She doesn’t sing, she sleeps,” Benson said with a laugh. “She doesn’t miss a performance. Vecca is our mascot.”

One night when the audience didn’t give the group a standing ovation like normally occurs, Vecca got up and stared at them, said Benson. And occasionally, when she hears some of the animal sounds that go with one of the songs, she barks.

In regard to being just a bit older now than back then and the physical exertion of the stage, Sparks replied, “We have to use it or lose it. We have sung and played every day of our lives for the past 40-some years. We never did drugs, didn’t abuse our bodies. We’ve stayed healthy.”

They sang many of their old songs off the 1962 Grammy-winning album “Presenting The New Christy Minstrels” — “Today,” “Denver” and, of course, “This Land Is Your Land” — as well as some new songs written by the various members and Sparks. The whole show was a witty, entertaining blast from the past, and the crowd loved them.

Ellis said, “I’m having the time of my life. It’s great to be back with my friends ... And it’s fantastic to be doing the old songs. How many people get a chance to relive their lives?”

When asked if groupies follow them around, he replied with a laugh, “Yes, but we can outrun them these days.”

Herald/Review reporter Shar Porier can be reached at 515-4692 or shar.porier@bisbeereview.net.

By Shar Porier
Herald/Review

SIERRA VISTA — Christmas isn’t over until Valentine’s Day, says Dolan Ellis, the state balladeer and founder of the very place he performed Sunday, the Arizona Folklore Preserve.

“Christmas doesn’t end on Christmas Day,” he told the crowd. “ ... It’s a wonderful time to be celebrated.”

The renowned singer-songwriter chose to focus on an Arizona-type of Christmas and featured a few original songs about the season. He showed off his Christmas cards with a beautiful Arizona scene — he’s also a photographer — and inside were the words to one of his songs and a single CD. (And, yes, they are for sale.)

As he sings a song, there is a large screen behind him that displays his beautiful visions of Arizona through photographs he has taken over the years. The words, melodies and visuals create a nostalgic history of his own life and travels through Arizona on his quest for stories that offer a glimpse of Arizona history and the people who once made a living in the unforgiving high desert.

He begins to tell a story of Christmas that may or may not have happened — after all it is folklore. But in Elise’s original tale written 35 years ago, a young cowboy is out on the range tending cattle on Christmas Eve and sees the beauty about him and the lights in the dark sky above as he contemplates the meaning of the night. He sees a bright light and finds himself face-to-face with Jesus Christ who gives him a message to spread to man ...

“Go tell your people my heart is sad and sore

Because my flock can’t hear the warning

Nor see the doom in store.

I see a world of hate and killing.

I just can’t reach the hearts of man.

I feel replaced by the mighty dollar ... ”

Well, the cowboy takes Christ’s words to heart and says,

“And though I’m just a common cowboy,

Well, I ask you friends on this Christmas Day

To take the good that lies within

And keep it in your daily ways.”

Ellis told the hushed audience to keep Christmas every day.

In a trio of songs about the Navajo Nation, he takes one on a journey of discovery through the eyes of another race. Through their hardship, through their perseverance, they continue to define themselves in the old traditions.

“It’s one of the most spiritual places I’ve ever been to,” he said.

A favorite of his and some of the regulars who came to hear him again is “Who’s Gonna Run the Truck Stop in Tuba City When I’m Gone.” It humorously tells of a truck stop at the crossroads of Navajo and Hopi territories and the couple who ran it. Though the truck stop no longer exists, the song and memories live on.

Ellis is also gearing up for the upcoming benefit show for the Arizona Folklore Preserve with the New Christie Minstrels.

Ellis was an original member of the Grammy-winning folk group way back when and said he was excited about bringing the band to Sierra Vista.

“It’ll be an evening I’ll never forget,” he said. “Once we get going, it’ll be like being in college again. What fun it is to sing with my old friends.”

That’s not because of the reunion that will take place, it’s because his bandmates are donating their time for the benefit of the preserve.

“Everybody has been wonderful. They’re donating everything, even lodging,” he added.

The New Christie Minstrels will have six of the original eight members performing.

The big show is set for Jan. 20 at Buena Performing Arts Center. Though all the VIP tickets have been sold out, general admission is still available, said Ann Waters, the new program coordinator of the Arizona Folklore Preserve.

“The preserve is a gem for Arizona,” said Waters. “We have shows every Saturday and Sunday afternoon, and Ellis performs once a month. It’s thanks to him that we have this resource.”

For Ellis, the preserve is a dream come true. He founded the folklore preserve and used to perform in what was called the Moffett House, a 1920’s ranch home on the property of an old goat ranch.

“My ex-wife Rose and I restored the place and we began entertaining there once we had it ready,” explained Ellis.

That was in 1996. Now, thanks to benefactors and the University of Arizona South, the folklore preserve has a bit more space for performances in the new theater.

For more information on the preserve and scheduled performers, call the preserve at 378-6165 or visit arizonafolklore.com.

Herald/Review reporter Shar Porier can be reached at 515-4692 or by e-mail at shar.porier@bisbeereview.net.

Songs about railroads, hobos, cowboys

Trails & Rails entertains guests at Arizona Folklore Preserve

Cowboy artists Bud Strom and Tom Chambers at the Folklore Preserve this weekend

BOOST FOR FOLKLORE PRESERVE

Dolan Ellis keeps Christmas alive

By Shar Porier Herald/Review

Cowboy artists Bud Strom and Tom Chambers
at the Folklore Preserve this weekend

By Shar Porier
Herald/Review