Individual Biographies

Ranger Doug, the Idol of American Youth, sings lead and baritone. He drives the Riders’ music with his jazzy, solid and unique rhythm guitar style. While his smooth and brilliant vocals complement the western classics, his original music doesn’t just echo the classics but expands and carries on the Western Music tradition. Ranger Doug’s vocal latitude is amazing; he consistently astounds audiences with his crystal-clear, unmatched and seemingly effortless yodeling. In addition to being the front guy of Riders In The Sky, a master songwriter, an unmatched yodeler, and an accomplished guitarist, Ranger Doug is also a renowned music historian - - - the undisputed expert on American Western Music. With a Master’s degree in literature, the Ranger constantly combines his skilled writing with his musical expertise to author everything from articles on Western Music to album liners for giants in the Western and Folk music genres, including Gene Autry.

Too Slim, a Man Aging Like Fine Cheese, sings lead and harmony, and is a bravura player on the bunkhouse (upright) bass. As the comic lead in the crew, he’s the sharpest wit in the West, and he’s penned the scripts for many of the Riders’ comedy acts. Too Slim was working with the Dicky Lee road band way back in ‘77 when a call from Ranger Doug and a night performing at "Herr Harry’s Phranks & Steins" moved him to pursue an uncertain future in the world of Cowboy music. Being perhaps the most over-educated act in showbiz, all three Riders hold graduate degrees. But with a degree in wildlife management, Too Slim has the best opportunity to exercise his academic background . . . simply working with the Riders. When he tires of lugging his bass, he simply plays his face. You have to hear it to believe it!

Woody Paul, King of the Cowboy Fiddlers, sings lead and tenor. The Riders’ instrumentation centers around Woody’s superb fiddle playing. From Tennessee roots in a musical family, Woody spent his teen years hanging out with the likes of country music pioneers the McGees and Roy Acuff. After earning a Ph. D in theoretical plasma physics from MIT, Woody Paul decided to throw a wrench into the centrifuge and opted to play music. Each Rider has written original music for the group, and Woody’s compositions span the gamut of the Riders’ original lineup, including songs in the tradition of the Old West, instrumentals, cowboy ballads and love songs. Woody’s also a talented rope trickster and a part-time brain surgeon.

Joey, the Cowpolka King, is a performer, a multi-instrumental studio musician and a producer who has toured and recorded with hundreds of top artists throughout his career. his accordion music complements the riders’ music both on the road and on recordings, and garnishes the drama in riders Radio Theater. Joey has produced some of Rider’s recent albums, including "A Great Big Western howdy" and the award-winning "Always Drink Upstream From The herd". In his career as a musician and producer, he’s played with everyone from U2 to Roy Rogers, and many Grammy-award winning albums bear Joey’s name.

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