COTTAGE GROVE – David Munsell and fellow Windy Ridge guitar player Joe Tennis got quite a laugh when they first met Cowboy Buck.
“The first time we met Buck, he said he used to be with The New Christy Minstrels, and Joe’s comment was: “Who hasn’t?”
It’s true, The New Christy Minstrels have run through a revolving door of members, a list that includes the likes of Kenny Rogers, John Denver, Steve Martin, Roger McGuinn, Mickey Jones, Gene Clark, and Kim Carnes. Three other members split off to become The First Edition.
The New Christy Minstrels became highly popular in the early 60s, but they didn’t fit the mold of the folk music revolution that started taking over the country. In 1965, the group started shifting toward becoming more of a variety and comedy act, even putting out a Billboard Top 100 hit that year with a cover of “Chim Chim Cher-ee” from Mary Poppins.
And now, Cowboy Buck travels around the country, mixing in music and comedy, going to schools, and doing what he does best – entertaining, with a New Christy Minstrel-type of attitude.
“I’m on tour, I do children’s music,” said Cowboy Buck, whose real name is Paul Stierle. “My wife does a Patsy Cline show, she’s a ventriloquist, and I’m a dummy.”
“His work with the schools is what got us started with him,” Munsell said. “He does a tremendous job of going into schools and getting kids interested – they write a song together and Buck records it, and they have a show 3-4 days afterward.”
Cowboy Buck started Saturday’s show by doing a few Bob Dylan covers, then ended it with a heartfelt “Knocking On Heaven’s Door.”
“I only have 67 books and 100 CDs so I’m not really a (Dylan) fanatic,” Buck said, when asked if he considers himself a Dylan fanatic. “I’ve got the book on fanatics, and I’m probably in the lower 10 percent. I’m just a historian.”
It was easy to see why Buck refers to Tennis as “the Jerry Garcia of Cottage Grove,” as his smooth lead-guitar playing stood out in the crowd.
“I’m like a 100 million guys who grew up in the 60s – a little Jeff Beck, a little Carlos Santana, a little bit here, a little bit there – that’s what guitar playing is all about. You try to add your own little thing to it,” Tennis said.
Somber tribute
After doing his regular comedy-music act on Friday, Cowboy Buck wanted to play with the crowd a little bit Saturday. But it was also a day to be serious. Buck said it was a great opportunity for his Windy Ridge buddies to pay tribute to Munsell’s brother-in-law Ken Bachelder and Munsell’s brother Curt, who both passed away recently. Ken played bass, and Curt was the lead singer in the five-man band.
“We’ve all been so close for so long, then to lose both of those guys, it’s been pretty devastating,” Munsell said.
Mike Brewer left L.A. in 1977 to move to Eugene.
“I was 23 and trying to make it, had a lot of rough times, but it’s been a good life,” Brewer said. “I’ve been playing guitar since I was 12. But now my wrists have arthritis, so eventually it’s going to get me. But I want to play as long as I can.”
Nearly 50 years later, Brewer is still bringing it – playing guitar for the Eugene-based Brew Kats.
“This is the 23rd band I’ve worked in – I’ve never had a regular job,” the 73-year-old guitar player said. “I’ve been working as a musician for 59 years.”
He never made it big, but at least there were brushes with greatness.
“My claim to fame is a 60s record album by Mary Butterworth that ended up majorly famous around the planet, and one of my songs ended up in the Top 5 movie of the year, the Bill Murray movie ‘Lost in Translation.’ I sing in that movie for 47 seconds, and that’s something I did in the 60s of all the things I’ve done,” Brewer said. “The original record sold for $5 apiece to our friends in high school. The last one sold for $4,400. For five bucks – that’s what the kids bought them for. There’s six songs total. It’s been bootlegged now so many times, but the bootlegs are even making money.”
Tim Donahue, the original Cherry Poppin’ Daddies drummer, gave the crowd a double treat Saturday night, playing for the Brew Kats and then staying to play for Hank Shreve.
“Tim’s a great drummer; we’re lucky to have him,” Brewer said.
Cowboy Buck and Windy Ridge Joe were the opening act Thursday on the Heritage Stage. Other Thursday highlights included local indie-folk singer-songwriter Geoffrey Koch, local cover band The Regulars, and Skip Jones, who plays New Orleans-style music.
On Friday, the Porch Ramblers livened up the afternoon, as Rich Spence, along with Corrina and Dan Bilderback, joined forces with Gregg Biller and Johnny Schiller. Then fans could rock the night away with Inner Limits guitar player Olem Alves and Rock N Roll Rewind.
Saturday also featured perhaps one of the last live shows The Huckleberrys will ever perform. Together more than 20 years, the Cottage Grove-area band is calling it quits this summer.
And the crowd really loved the country-bluegrass-folk mix of the Annie Mae Rhodes Band.
Rhodes is another longtime Cottage Grove resident.
“It’s a good vibe. People are here to have a good time and relax,” Brewer said. “Every town should have a festival like this.”
