Songs of the Sagebrush…

Setting the Vibe with Ray d’Entremont's Liner Notes: Hits and songs From The Highwaymen, Sons of the Pioneers, Hawkshaw Hawkins, Bill Boyd & His Cowboy Ramblers, Marty Robbins, Diana Krall, Suzy Bogguss, Gogi Grant and Roy Rogers;

Ray d'Entremont , Bio and Archives--July 23, 2026

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1. (Ghost) Riders in the Sky--The Highwaymen:

One night during a thunderstorm, 12-year-old Stan Jones rode into the hills with a grizzled cowhand to bring in the horses. As lightning flashed, the old guy told a tale about cowboys who lived wicked lives--cursing, drinking, fighting, and mistreating their horses--and were doomed to spend eternity riding across the sky, chasing the Devil’s herd. By 1948, Stan had become a Death Valley park ranger. One night his campfire sparked that terrifying memory and he wrote this song.

2. Tumbling Tumbleweeds--Sons of the Pioneers:

Our home in Quispamsis, New Brunswick, looked out on 10 miles of a major salmon river. We were blessed with fiery sunsets, partially due to the particulate matter from Irving’s Pulp Mill 20 miles downstream, I suppose. The cliffs staring back were the Kingston Peninsula, where Bob Nolan had lived with his grandparents. As a teen he went to Arizona to be with his dad. Later he moved to California where he worked as a caddy, a lifeguard, and a singer on the tent-show circuit. He wrote about “tumbling leaves,” but radio listeners kept requesting the “tumbleweeds song.” He had the good sense to change his lyrics accordingly. An ad that appeared in the LA paper: “Yodeler” for old-time act, to travel. Tenor preferred.” Tall and good-looking, with a great voice, Nolan soon became group leader. They had been in many western films, so when Hollywood had a contract dispute with Gene Autry, they offered the cowboy throne to Nolan. Hating the limelight, he suggested Leonard Slye, the guy who’d placed the ad founding Sons of the Pioneers. The studio had good sense too and changed Slye’s name to Roy Rogers. This tune was voted #8 in the Western Writers of America’s Top 100 Western Songs. Nolan’s “Cool Water” did even better, reaching #3.

3. Patanio--Hawkshaw Hawkins:

I grew up country. Teenage Vic Mullin (later the 12-fingered........

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