Let’s recap where we are on Godwinks. (1) Jerald gave me
Saddle Songs CD) (2) I met Dorrance and Farnsworth at Cowboy Hall of Fame (3) My
first issue of Cowboy Magazine had painting of Saddle Songs singer Don Edwards by
Bob Moline on the cover. Now back to the Bard and Balladeer.
The painting introduced an article called “Too
Good for the Mainstream” about Don Edwards. By this time, I knew that Don had grown up in
New England. He was not a real cowboy, but had adapted the cowboy lifestyle
well, even trying his luck at rodeos before deciding that playing and singing
suited him better. I fully understand that.
In the article, he explained what cowboy music is and what it isn't:
"The best explanation I‘ve heard was by the
famous old-time cowboy Andy Adams.
'There is no such thing as cowboy music. It is a hybrid between the
weirdness of an Indian cry and the croon of
the darky mammy. It expresses the open, the prairie, the immutable desert.”
In a footnote to the article, Don said this about the above
statement:
" I refuse to succumb to the mindless
stupidity of political correctness. This is a direct quote from Andy Adams back in the later
1800’s and not meant to insult the red man or the black man, both of whom played monumental roles in the
making of western history. I hold all peoples of the West in the highest esteem, regardless of race, color
or creed."
"If anyone reading this has a problem
with this colorful and picturesque language of the old time masters, then all I
will say in the matter is
lighten up, grab holt of yourself and get a life."
Attaboy, Don. I was beginning to like this balladeer more
and more. But the Godwinks were just beginning.
Another cowboy magazine back in those days was called Yippy-Yi-Yea. Sounds corny, I know, but
it was a good magazine that did an excellent job of covering the real western
lifestyle. No glamor shots of models wearing so-called cowboy gear. When models
doesn’t normally dress western, they always look like the hats on their heads
and the boots on their feet are garish costumes.
My first issue had Buck Taylor on the cover over a caption
that said “From Gunsmoke to Brushstroke”. Buck, best known for his role as
Newly O’Brien on Gunsmoke, was doing more paintings than movies then and I was
interested in his transition. Also, I had been mistaken for Buck on at least
one occasion and more were to come. Sorta hurts my feelings, because he is a
lot older.
The Godwink came inside, however, where I found a feature
article on Bob Moline (remember the guy who painted Don’s portrait for the
cover of Cowboy?) Are you following
the trail here? From Saddle Songs to
seeing Don in Cowboy magazine and
then seeing a feature article on Bob Moline (the guy who drew Don’s portrait
for Cowboy) in my first issue of Yippy Yi Yea that had Buck Taylor (my
sometime twin) on the cover.
We’re all going to wind up in
Commerce at my old roping arena and the saloon that Jerald built (yes, the guy
who gave me the CD that started it all). So stay with us.
This review is from: Go Down Looking (Perfect Paperback)
Jim Ainsworth's deep, quiet voice rumbles around your chest in yet
another fast-paced Rivers family saga. You experience the thrilling
guilt of a youth's dangerous liaisons, the helpless longings of a young
father, the angst of their parents' witness. You taste their cowboy
coffee, smell the bacon frying, and feel the sturdy rumble of their
trucks. This family clings to a hard-earned life as the music we all
hear inside, whether stirred by the patriarch's violin or the clink of
bottles in trunk of a fast car, resonates straight into your heart. Do
yourself a favor and read this book. And if you've not read his others,
add all of them in your Amazon order! As a writer myself, I admire Jim's
style, voice and dedication to picking us up and plunking us down in
the middle of his flying East Texas pages. Thanks again, Jim. Donna G.
Paul, 
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