This article is about the group. For the song, see (Ghost) Riders in the Sky: A Cowboy Legend.

Riders in the Sky appearing at the Ponca Theatre in Ponca City, Oklahoma on September 29, 2007 at a concert commemorating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Gene Autry. From left to right are Joey the Cow Polka King, Woody Paul, Ranger Doug and Too Slim.

Ranger Doug (Douglas B. Green) performs at the Poncan Theater in Ponca City, Oklahoma on November 7, 2008. Photo: Hugh Pickens

Woody Paul (Paul Woodrow Chrisman) Photo: Hugh Pickens

Too Slim (Fred LaBour) Photo: Hugh Pickens

Joey the Cowpolka King (Joey Miskulin) Photo: Hugh Pickens

Riders In The Sky is a Western music and comedy group which began performing in 1977. They have won two Grammy Awards and have written and performed music for major motion pictures, including Toy Story 2's "Woody's Roundup" and Pixar's short film, "For the Birds". For some of this time, the group was a trio, Ranger Doug (Douglas B. Green), Woody Paul (Paul Woodrow Chrisman), and Too Slim (Fred LaBour). In the 1990's, the group re-added Joey the Cowpolka King Joey Miskulin on accordion (he had been with the group for a time prior to the 1990's). They bill themselves as Ranger Doug ("The Idol of American Youth"), Woody Paul ("King of the Cowboy Fiddlers"), Too Slim ("a Righteous Tater"/"The Man of a Thousand Hats"), and Joey ("the Cowpolka King").

History

The group is one of the hardest working musical acts in showbiz, and one of the most educated. Douglas "Ranger Doug" Green has a Masters degree in literature, Fred "Too Slim" Labour has a Masters degree in Wildlife Management, and Paul "Woody Paul" Chrisman has a Ph.D. in theoretical plasma physics from MIT. In their first 25 years, they have performed in over 5200 live performances, almost 300 national television appearances, over 200 public radio shows, 700 Grand Ole Opry appearances, three television series (including a 1991-92 CBS Saturday morning show), an appearance on a "Duck Dodgers" cartoon on the Cartoon Network and more than 30 albums. The group has also written and appeared in numerous Christmas specials on CMT/TNN in the 1990's. They are based and managed from Nashville, Tennessee.

Riders in the Sky perform authentic renditions of old classic cowboy and Western songs, as well as original works and various comedic skits and songs. Their combination of gentle parody and true respect for the genre, as well as their great skill as musicians and clever wit is a major reason for their popularity and endurance. Their sketches often include the catch phrase, "That'd be the easy way, but it wouldn't be the cowboy way!"

Riders In The Sky performed with America's Got Talent finalist Taylor Ware at the Grand Ole Opry when she was nine years old.

The Riders in the Sky's radio show Riders Radio Theater was performed live in Cincinnatti, Ohio and can now be heard on the WMKV 89.3 FM radio station.

Awards

Riders In The Sky were named Western Music Group of the Year during the Academy of Western Artists 2006 Will Rogers Awards.

Cowboy Jubilee

• This CD was featured on The New York Times' Best Ten List for 1982.
• Best Independent Country Album of the Year

Saddle Pals

• Best Independent Children's Album of the Year

Always Drink Upstream from the Herd

• 1995 Cowboy Hall of Fame Wrangler Award for Outstanding Western Recording!

Woody's Roundup: A Rootin' Tootin' Collection of Woody's Favorite Songs

• 2001 Grammy Award Winner: "Best Musical Album For Children"

Monsters, Inc. Scream Factory Favorites

• 2003 Grammy Award Winner: "Best Musical Album For Children"

Discography

External links

• Riders In The Sky... America's Favorite Cowboys
• Riders in the Sky at Allmusic

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