Page 18 Grass & Grain, April 3, 2007

HeY Neighbor for The Loue Of Horses t:S.11 'fran+< J. t3ud;man Last Silver Screen Cowboy Singer Knows Horses Johnny Western is a real my 4-H project, and with the The Pioneers," Western re­ singing cowboy. money I made from them, I called. Many movie and TY · bought my first horse. If I Upon high school gradu­ cowboys hl!ve a difijglilt was going to be a cowboy, I ation, Western began singing time riding horses; and iliey had to have a horse," West­ on television. "I was also · sure don't have any interest ern contended. writing songs and record­ in knowing anything about Before long, he owned ing them as well as some o:r owning a horse. five ·horses. "My main horse cover tunes that were hot at That is definitely not the was a· buckskin gelding that time," Western ex­ case with Johnny Western. named Buckshot," Western plained.

While many are familiar continued. ''He 1 was half By 1954, Western had his with Western as a disc jQ!lk­ Quarter Horse and half Ara' own TV show, Circle 6 ey on KFDI radio ofWichha bian, so he had a beautiful Ranch Time. 'Td ride Buck­ and for his singing appeaf,' head and was really well­ shot in to open every show, ances throughout the coun­ muscled too." where I was the singing try, few realize his ties to During one summer, cowhoy, interviewed guests and knowledge of horses Western had the opportunity and introduced the western and the worldng cowboy. to work as a cowboy for the movie," WeStern comment­ "I saw a Gene Autry famed. King Merritt Ranch, ed. movie, 'Guns and Guitars,' west of Cheyenne, Wyo. Viewer appreciation of when I was five years old in "That was a chance of a life­ the TV show brought re­ 1939. From then on, I want­ time. It was about as close to quests for Western and ed to be a singing cowboy the real west as one can get. Bu.ckshot to appear in pa­ like Gene, 11 remembered It's over 50 miles between rades and other event$ over a Western, who grew up in some of the towns there," wide area. "Buckshot wasn't Minnesota. Western said. "t became life­ a trick horse, but about His first guitar was a 12th long friends with the Merritt everybody knew him from birthday present, and West­ family." my TV show. ern put it right to use accom­ Western's radio job soon "He was a trained. rope panying himself singing expanded to daily appear­ horse when I got him. I calf­ cowboy songs. ances as well as being a roped on him arid won some Popularity entertaining country music disc jockey. of the local jackpots," West­ for his 4-H club and at com­ He was · recognized by ern related. munity events soon had Billboard magazine as the Well-known singing Western in deman!l over a youngest DJ and singer on movie cowboys including wide area and got him his American radio. ;.When I Roy Rogers, Rex Allen and first job singing on the was 16, I started pl~ying Tex. Ritter were guests on radio. on rodeo tours with Western's TV show. "I also "! had Hampshire hogs as my idols, The Sons Of got to open sc.me of their --.' shows and play with them· when they were in the area," he added. The silver screen was calling Western, so he loaded up Buckshot, his Bohlen silver-mounted pa­ rade saddle, along with his guitar, and headed to Holly­ wood to pursue his real goal to be a movie cowboy. "I wanted to have my horse with me, in case I got my own TV western," he in­ sisted. A personal series didn't materialize, so Western sold Buckshot. However, he started playing rhythm gui­ tar and singing backup for Gene Autry's traveling show. "Only Gene and Annie Oak­ ley (Gale Davis) rode hors­ es, while we played from a stage. Gene had always been my hero, so I was happy," · Western said. After two years, Autry re­ tired, bot Western soon had several movie and television acting jobs. "I was._ cast in over 37 · feature films and episodes of television west­ erns," he calculated. Attired in his traditional c;owboy outfit, similar to the one In 1957, the Have Gun, Have Gun, Will Travel, Will Travel TV series went worn t>y Paladin in the TV series into production, and Western silver screen cowboy singer Johnny West!'!rn, Wichita, was in.one episode. "While I shows the Bohlen silver-mounted saddle ridden in was working on the show movies, TV shows, p~rades, rodeos and other .attrac­ with Richard Boone, who tions. was the main star, Paladin, I composed 'The Ballad of for six years and continued more regular television Paladin,' which was adopted to do special sessions with westerns and many cowboy as the show's closing Johnny until he passed movies at that lime," West­ theme," reminisced Western, away," Western confirmed. em noted. · who was signed to the CBS A monthly column, "The Among those he wrote network's Columbia Rec­ Filmland Horsemen," was about were James Amess, ords. written by Johnny Western Richard Boone, Chuck Con­ He was soon either acting for Western Horseman ners, Ben Johnson, Steve or singing on the music magazine for seven years McQueen, Hugh O'Brian, tracks of several series. "I from 1958 through 1964. Dale Robertson and Clint was asked by Johnny Cash "The publisher Dick Walker. "They were all my to join his band· as a guitarist Spencer asked me to profile personal friends and good and singer. I was with him TV and movie cowboys, be­ horsemen," Western empha­ on tour and recording then cause there were a dozen or sized. Busy with personal en­ head trainer. "Trigger, Little Cartwright on Bonanza,'' gagements, Western enter­ Trigger and Trigger Jr. were Western asserted. tained in Las Vegas, Lake all palomino stallions, but Memories of cowboys, Tahoe and throughout the each differently . marked. horses, movies, singers,. country. "I got to sing for the Only Trigger Jr. .was used recording sessions, hit Ben Johnson·. Memorial for breeding," Western clari­ records, songs he's written Steer Roping in Pawhuska,. fied. and shows he's played are Okla., and played the I;>oubles were used for seemingly endless when Cheyenne Frontier Days both Champ and Trigger in Western talks of his life. Rodeo for 17 years," stated some movie scenes, howev­ Recipient of many honors Western, who.l!Qmitted that er Rex Allen's·KoK<>was so including induction into the one. of his .real cowboy he-. uniquely colored that he did Kansas Cowboy Hall of roes was marly-time world not have a double. "His Fame, the Western Music champion calf .!'()per Toots ciJocolate color and snow Hall of Fame, the Country , Mansfield. white · mane and tail were Music Disc Jockey Hall of 'Til never forget the first ~me-of-a-kind. Rex even Fame and the Old Time time .I saw Toots. He was a . fried to raise colts out of Country Music Hall of true cowboy, ta.ll, lanky and KoKo to get that color, but Fame, Western has most re­ wearing those<· shades. He none turned out like their cently had the Johnny West­ was the coolest thing I'd ever dad," Western analyzed. em T!Jeatre named in his seen in my life," Western · Dale Evans was going to honor at the Wild West credited. ride KoKo before Rex Allen World theme park opening Most TV aridmovie cow­ bought him, according to this spring north of boys use com.Pany horses, Western. "But the stallion, Wichita. bnt some cowboys did have also trained by Glenn Ra,n­ While his show outfits their own -horses. "I even dall, was too much horse for ·are -numerous, Western is bad. to use company horses Dale, so she got the gelding often attired in' black cow­ in my TV anti movie appear­ Buttermiik," Western re- boy clothing, similar to that ances," Western admitted. marked. · worn by Paladin, and with­ "Of course, Gene Autry· Jim Amess generally out fail, Western will per­ bad his own .horses. There rode a buckskin in his role as form his Have Gun, Will were actually three Champs, Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke. Travel song in performanc­ and they were somewhat dif­ "There were at least three es. He's a regular at the ferent sorrel color with vari­ different horses, with v3ri­ Prairie Rose chuckwagon ous markings, but the audi­ ous markings, but the view­ suppers near Wichita, open­ ence didn't reaiize ·-that," ers didn't notice. The horses ing headliner shows and in Western descnbed. Jim rode had to be big, be­ appearances across the Autry did some of his cause he was 6 feet, 7 inches . country. Don't miss an op­ own horse training, and re­ taJI. One of those he rode portunity to see the last sil­ ceived assistance from train­ was the same buckskin that ver screen singing cowboy; ers Johnny ·Agee and Jay Lome Green used as Ben he's a real one. Berry. Only one of the · Champs was a trick horse, and only one was a stallion. "Gene was also a rodeo : contractor with Harry Knight and kept the live­ stock on his Flying A Ranch at GeneAutry,.Okla.," West­ em confirmed. Roy Rogers had three Triggers, all with Tennessee Walking Horse lineage, and also did much of the train­ ing, with Glenn Randall as Last Silver Screen Cowboy Singer Knows Horses

Johnny Western is a real singing cowboy. Many movie and TV cowboys have a difficult time riding horses, and they sure don't have any interest in knowing anything about or owning a horse. That is definitely not the case with Johnny Western. While many are familiar with Western as a disc jockey on KFDI radio of Wichita and for his singing appear­ ances throughout the country, few realize his ties to and knowledge of horses and the working cowboy. "I saw a Gene Autry movie, 'Guns and Guitars,' when I was five years old in 1939. From then on, I wanted to be a singing cowboy like Gene," remembered Western, who grew up in Minnesota. His first guitar was a 12th birthday present, and Western put it right to use accompanying himself singing cowboy songs. Popularity entertaining for his 4-H club and at community events soon had Western in demand over a wide area and got him his first job singing on the radio. "I had Hampshire hogs as my 4-H project, and with the money I made from them, I bought my first horse. If I was going to be a cowboy, I had to have a horse," Western contended. Before long, he owned five horses. "My main horse was a buckskin gelding named Buckshot," Western con­ tinued. "He was half Quarter Horse and half Arabian, so he had a beautiful head and was really well-muscled too. 11 During one summer, Western had the opportunity to work as a cowboy for the famed King Merritt Ranch, west of Cheyenne, Wyo. "That was a chance of a lifetime. It was about as close to the real west as one can get. It's over 50 miles between some of the towns there," Western said. "I became lifelong friends with the Mer­ ritt family." Western's radio job soon expanded to daily appearances as well as being a country music disc jockey. He was recognized by Billboard magazine as the youngest DJ and singer on American radio. "When I was 16, I started playing on rodeo tours with my idols, The Sons Of The Pioneers," Western recalled. Upon high school graduation, Western began singing on television. "I was also writing songs and recording thern as well as some cover tunes that were hot at that time," Western explained. By 1954, Western had his own TV show, Circle 6 Ranch Time. "I'd ride Buckshot in to open every show, where I was the singing cowboy, interviewed guests and introduced the western movie," Western commented. Viewer appreciation of the TV show brought requests for Western and Buckshot to appear in parades and other events over a wide area. "Buckshot wasn't a trick horse, but about everybody knew him from my TV show. "He was a trained rope horse when I got him. I calf-roped on him and won some of the local jackpots," West­ ern related. Well-known singing movie cowboys including Roy Rogers, Rex Allen and Tex Ritter were guests on West­ ern's TV show. "I also got to open sorne of their shows and play with thern when they were in the area," he added. The silver screen was calling Western, so he loaded up Buckshot, his Bohlen silver-mounted parade sad­ dle, along with his guitar, and headed to Hollywood to pursue his real goal to be a movie cowboy. "I wanted to have my horse with me, in case I got my own TV western," he insisted. A personal series didn't materialize, so Western sold Buckshot. However, he started playing rhythm guitar and singing backup for Gene Autry's traveling show. "Only Gene and Annie Oakley (Gale Davis) rode horses, while we played from a stage. Gene had always been my hero, so I was happy," Western said. After two years, Autry retired, but Western soon had several movie and television acting jobs. "I was cast in 37 feature films and episodes of television westerns," he calculated. In 1957, the Have Gun, Will Travel TV series went into production, and Western was in one episode. "While I was working on the show with Richard Boone, who was the main star, Paladin, I composed 'The Ballad of Paladin,' which was adopted as the show's closing theme," reminisced Western, who was signed to the CBS network's Columbia Records. He was soon either acting or singing on the music tracks of several series. "I was asked by Johnny Cash to join his band as a guitarist and singer. I was with him on tour and recording then for six years and continued to do special sessions with Johnny until he passed away," Western confirmed. A monthly column, "The Film land Horsemen," was written by Johnny Western for Western Horseman mag­ azine for seven years from 1958 through 1964. "The publisher Dick Spencer asked me to profile TV and movie cowboys, because there were a dozen or more regular television westerns and many cowboy movies at that tirne," Western noted. Among those he wrote about were James Arness, Richard Boone, Chuck Conners, Ben Johnson, Steve McQueen, Hugh O'Brian, Dale Robertson and Clint Walker. "They were all my personal friends and good horsemen," Western emphasized. Busy with personal engagements, Western entertained in Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe and throughout the coun­ try. "I got to sing for the Ben Johnson Memorial Steer Roping in Pawhuska, Okla., and played the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo for 17 years," stated Western, who admitted that one of his real cowboy heroes was many-time world champion calf roper Toots Mansfield. "I'll never forget the first time I saw Toots. He was a true cowboy, tall, lanky and wearing those shades. He was the coolest thing I'd ever seen in my life," Western credited. Most TV and movie cowboys use company horses, but some cowboys did have their own horses. "I even had to use company horses in my TV and movie appearances," Western admitted. "Of course, Gene Autry had his own horses. There were actually three Champs, and they were somewhat different sorrel color with various markings, but the audience didn't realize that," Western described. Autry did some of his own horse training, and received assistance from trainers Johnny Agee and Jay Berry. Only one of the Champs was a trick horse, and only one was a stallion. "Gene was also a rodeo contractor with Harry Knight and kept the livestock on his Flying A Ranch at Gene Autry, Okla.," Western confirmed. Roy Rogers had three Triggers, all with Tennessee Walking Horse lineage, and also did much of the train­ ing, with Glenn Randall as head trainer. "Trigger, Little Trigger and Trigger Jr. were all palomino stallions, but each differently marked. Only Trigger Jr. was used for breeding," Western clarified. Doubles were used for both Champ and Trigger in some movie scenes, however Rex Allen's KoKo was so uniquely colored that he did not have a double. "His chocolate color and snow white mane and tail were one­ of-a-kind. Rex even tried to raise colts out of KoKo to get that color, but none turned out like their dad," West­ ern analyzed. Dale Evans was going to ride KoKo before Rex Allen bought him, according to Western. "But the stallion, also trained by Glenn Randall, was too much horse for Dale, so she got the gelding Buttermilk," Western remarked. Jim Arness generally rode a buckskin in his role as Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke. "There were at least three dif­ ferent horses, with various markings, but the viewers didn't notice. The horses Jim rode had to be big, because he was 6 feet, 7 inches tall. One of those he rode was the same buckskin that Lorne Green used as Ben Cartwright on Bonanza," Western asserted. Memories of cowboys, horses, movies, singers, recording sessions, hit records, songs he's written and shows he's played are seemingly endless when Western talks of his life. Recipient of many honors including induction into the Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame, the Western Music Hall of Fame, the Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame and the Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame, West­ ern has most recently had the Johnny Western Theatre named in his honor at the Wild West World theme park opening this spring north of Wichita. While his show outfits are numerous, Western is often attired in black cowboy clothing, similar to that worn by Paladin, and without fail, Western will perform his Have Gun, Will Travel song in performances. He's a reg­ ular at the Prairie Rose chuckwagon suppers near Wichita, opening headliner shows and in appearances across the country. Don't miss an opportunity to see the last silver screen singing cowboy; he's a real one. Attired in his traditional cowboy outfit, similar to the one worn by Paladin in the TV series Have Gun, Will Travel, silver screen cowboy singer Johnny Western, Wichita, shows the Bohlen silver­ mounted saddle ridden in movies, TV shows, parades, rodeos and other attractions.