Official Site of True West Magazine, Since 1953
Its MY blog and I'll cry if I want to....
Several years ago this radio thing began as a respite from other radio 'careers' and from my full time back-breaking career as a full time farrier ( I actually had a young lady ask "what is a farrier?" the other day! Can you believe that???) and so now at this juncture i find myself wondering where the heck the time went and howcome all this has grown so much. All I wanted was to have a place to play WESTERN music and enjoy myself! Shoot in the early days it wasnt even a talk show, just a show and since I owned an online local classifieds website, many was the day in which I read classified ads onair, to the undying amusement of many, many people.
I would read ads for 'Truck for sale. No windsheild, no motor, no tires, no wheels. In good shape!" & "1 milk cow for sale, good for milking once a week, not good for eating as is too skinney" People seemed to like these and just to give my voice a rest now and agian I had some WESTERN music cd's laying around and began plaing them and I began to get emails encouraging us to play more WESTERN music so we did and then this radio thing took off and kinda wrapped itself around our hearts.
On January 1 two years ago we were hanging around the office thinking up mischeif and i said something to the effect, "I'd give a dollar bill if I could CALL western artists and bug 'em!" Tamara mentioned that, although I couldnt call out....others could call IN....and the little cartoon lightbulb went off over my head! Tamara and I both enjoyed talking to people, well, to be fair about I love bringing people's emotions and passions to a boil and watching what spills over the kettle, so I ran for the nearest phone and dialed the first person I could find who was a western artist.
I often wonder what would have become of us and the Back Porch if that guy hadnt answered. Fletcher Jowers DID answer. On New years Day, of all things and he was cordial, not rude and promised to come on the show. I was green as new grass ran though a young cow! I had no idea what to ask these people but my instinct told me to ask them real stuff, not the made up scripted schlock I had heard on other shows and had been forced to ask in other radio venues.
Fletcher has yet to come on the show. I know why. I certainly didnt impress the guy! But........I called the Gillette Bros in Crockett, texas and during the conversation Pip Gillette mentioned he could call Don Edwards and ask if Don wanted to say a few words and so....I asked THE Don Edwards what he sang in the shower.
The rest is, as they say...history! we have had a two year run on this show, Ralphs Back Porch and we've had a lot of fun! We've talked to hundreds of major WESTERN stars and had the opportunity to do live remotes from the Western Music Association get together in New Mexico and several other wonderful cowboy gatherings, rodeos, & festivals.
We've made some people mad (wicked chuckle here) we've made people sad and happy and joyful and we've done good and sometimes we've sucked at all this but overall it's been a few laughs and a lot of work and we are looking forward to many years on the radio in some form broadcasting WESTERN music, cowboy poetry and havin fun!
Thanks for tuning in, yall!
Ralph
www.ralphsbackporch.com
www.blogtalkradio.com/ralphsbackporch LIVE show link on Mon & fri night 7 until 9 pm TEXAS time!
I would read ads for 'Truck for sale. No windsheild, no motor, no tires, no wheels. In good shape!" & "1 milk cow for sale, good for milking once a week, not good for eating as is too skinney" People seemed to like these and just to give my voice a rest now and agian I had some WESTERN music cd's laying around and began plaing them and I began to get emails encouraging us to play more WESTERN music so we did and then this radio thing took off and kinda wrapped itself around our hearts.
On January 1 two years ago we were hanging around the office thinking up mischeif and i said something to the effect, "I'd give a dollar bill if I could CALL western artists and bug 'em!" Tamara mentioned that, although I couldnt call out....others could call IN....and the little cartoon lightbulb went off over my head! Tamara and I both enjoyed talking to people, well, to be fair about I love bringing people's emotions and passions to a boil and watching what spills over the kettle, so I ran for the nearest phone and dialed the first person I could find who was a western artist.
I often wonder what would have become of us and the Back Porch if that guy hadnt answered. Fletcher Jowers DID answer. On New years Day, of all things and he was cordial, not rude and promised to come on the show. I was green as new grass ran though a young cow! I had no idea what to ask these people but my instinct told me to ask them real stuff, not the made up scripted schlock I had heard on other shows and had been forced to ask in other radio venues.
Fletcher has yet to come on the show. I know why. I certainly didnt impress the guy! But........I called the Gillette Bros in Crockett, texas and during the conversation Pip Gillette mentioned he could call Don Edwards and ask if Don wanted to say a few words and so....I asked THE Don Edwards what he sang in the shower.
The rest is, as they say...history! we have had a two year run on this show, Ralphs Back Porch and we've had a lot of fun! We've talked to hundreds of major WESTERN stars and had the opportunity to do live remotes from the Western Music Association get together in New Mexico and several other wonderful cowboy gatherings, rodeos, & festivals.
We've made some people mad (wicked chuckle here) we've made people sad and happy and joyful and we've done good and sometimes we've sucked at all this but overall it's been a few laughs and a lot of work and we are looking forward to many years on the radio in some form broadcasting WESTERN music, cowboy poetry and havin fun!
Thanks for tuning in, yall!
Ralph
www.ralphsbackporch.com
www.blogtalkradio.com/ralphsbackporch LIVE show link on Mon & fri night 7 until 9 pm TEXAS time!
-
Comment by John Bergstrom on August 4, 2009 at 9:50am -
Good Blog Start... You've certainly added to the western experience of many of us. Keeping it real and personal is a giant part of your credibility. You're 2,000 miles or so from my home, yet I feel like you and Tamara are old friends... what ever causes that is a major contribution to the fun of the Backporch. Keep it up...
-
Comment by Cindy Smith on August 4, 2009 at 10:20am -
I REALLY appreciate your efforts at keeping the western music alive and well out there. I was honored to be a guest on your show a few weeks ago. You made me feel very welcome and important. I was a little nervous, (my first live interview!) but you both made me feel comfortable and really swelled my head with you playing three of my songs! So as far as I'm concerned, I'm pretty happy that 'light bulb' went off in your head and I hope it stays charged! I'll be out there listening. Thanks so much!!!
-
Comment by Linda Kirkpatrick on August 4, 2009 at 11:31am -
ok, I am feeding back---now what?!?!?!?!lol If one feeds back then how does one feed up???? Thanks for all you have done for the west and us old cowboy poets!! I do 'preciate it. xxoolinda
-
Comment by Ralphs Backporch on August 4, 2009 at 7:27pm -
tamara here... you purty much summed it up here... has it really been 2 years?
-
Comment by Ralphs Backporch on August 4, 2009 at 7:51pm
-
Oh Lord, yall it HAs been two fun-filled years! I would like to thank each and everyone of you for commenting....heck for taking time out to even read what lil ol me wrote///blush, blush....
As for feeling friendly, well, I truly believe we are all out there...somewhere..on some back porch talking to folks like I remember us doing when I was a kid. The fireflies, the grubby faced kidds giggling and running around, the soft night like a warm comforting thing all around, the laughter and tears.
The most important thing about the Back Porch is YOU! The most important!
We never forget that it is YOU ALL out there that keep us on the air. Thanks
Comment
© 2013 Created by True West.
You need to be a member of True West Historical Society to add comments!
Join True West Historical Society