While the days of the cowboy may seem long-gone, you'll find this frontiersman still alive and "kickin" in Branson!
As the only show of its kind, your cowboy -- "Joe Texas" (portrayed by R.J. Vandygriff), puts to rest those nasty rumors about the cowboy being a dying breed. Through his unique array of stories, poems, and songs, Joe Texas makes you feel as if you're experiencing the days of the cowboy first hand. His descriptions of the land and sky and the cowboy's work are so vivid. When you hear a phrase such as "it gets so hot in Texas, I've seen a rattlesnake crawl into a campfire, just to get in the shade of the fryin' pan," you'll know exactly what he's talking about!
Joe Texas shares his recollections on a simple set -- complete with campfire, saddle, corral fence, tumbleweeds and a couple of steer heads. The background sky changes from starlit to stormy night, and offers a beautiful sunrise and sunset. And the subtle sound effects are the perfect compliment to this cowboy's words, singing, and guitar!
So, how did "Joe Texas" come to be? Well, when R.J. Vandygriff decided to come to Branson, he didn't want to "ride the same horse that everyone else rode." And that he didn't! After doing extensive research, R.J. developed and launched this hit show. Although (he admits) some of the stories he relates are a bit far-fetched, they are widespread with cowboy humor. As Joe Texas says, "Cowboys aren't liars...but they do enhance the truth from time to time."
R.J. is a singer and songwriter with a rich baritone voice that adds a new dimension to the many traditional cowboy tunes, a couple of which he wrote himself. His background includes appearances with some of the biggest names in country music including Garth Brooks, The Judd's, George Jones, Alabama, Merle Haggard and Randy Travis. R.J. received a Grammy nomination for songwriting in 1990, and has completed 5 albums of his own. His song, Big Blue Diamonds, went to number 8 on the Country Music Chart in 1970.
But keeping the cowboy alive isn't all R.J. does. He is also an actor who has performed in numerous movies and commercials. In fact, he has appeared in over 100 episodes of the CBS TV hit, Walker Texas Ranger -- playing Ranger Mike.
So what makes R.J. an "expert" on cowboys? Because he is one! As a real cowboy who trains horses on his Texas ranch, R.J. was also a broncos and bulls rider (in his younger days) in the rodeo. He also tried his hand at being a rodeo clown before deciding that the entertainment business was his primary calling.
Whether or not you're a fan of western history, "The Cowboy Ain't Dead Yet" is sure to give you some insight into the colorful life of what all those little boys dreamed of!
