Photo by Vern Evans

 

Sourdough Slim

Last Of The Vaudeville Cowboys

Totally retro. Hilariously entertaining. Sourdough Slim is a hoot to say the least. From the moment this accordion squeezin' Will Rogers swaggers on stage, it's apparent to everyone that they're in for a rollicking good time. Ten gallon funny-man Sourdough Slim, transports us to a whimsical world where vaudevillian camp and cowboy lore intermingle to produce grins galore.

Slim, aka Rick Crowder, is a well traveled veteran of stages ranging from The National Cowboy Poetry Gathering to The Lincoln Center's Roots of American Music Festival and the Carnegie Hall Folk Festival. His fast-paced stage show combines cowboy singing, award winning yodeling and comedy, accompaniment on accordion, guitar, ukulele and harmonica and a keen knowledge of the traditional Western repertoire. His truly astounding yippie-ti-yi style won him the 2001 Will Rogers Award for Yodeler of the Year.

As Cowboy Magazine editor Darrell Arnold puts it, "There's no one else out there like Sourdough Slim. An accordion playing, yodeling, tongue-in-cheek, cowboy-dressed entertainer deluxe. Catchy, uplifting, irresistible, jolly fun." The Allentown Morning Call proclaims him to be a "One-man Western extravaganza!" The East Bay Express calls him "The most entertaining cowboy singer-yodeler-accordionist extant!" And Via Magazine heralds him "Entertainer extraordinaire!"

Born in Hollywood, California, Rick Crowder spent much of his childhood on a family cattle ranch in the Sierra foothills. But as he explains, "my true calling as a cowboy was not on the range but rather, on the stage." A childhood cut-up, he developed his comic character, honed his musical and yodeling skills and garnered the nick name "Slim" while performing in several traveling western bands in the 1970's and 80's. Sourdough Slim emerged in 1988 when he came up with the idea to meld his experiences into a solo act based on a comical accordion playing yodeling cowhand. He has never looked back.

His seasoned gift for connecting with audiences from the Autry Museum to The Kennedy Center is a true testament to the irrepressible talent and dedication of this unique entertainer.

A performance by Sourdough Slim a.k.a. Rick Crowder is a hoot to say the least. This savvy performer with a seasoned gift for connecting with audiences transports us to a whimsical world where vaudevillian camp intermingles with cowboy lore, producing grins galore. Since 1988 he has gained national recognition performing at events across the country including; The National Cowboy Gathering in Elko, Nevada, The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC and Carnegie Hall and The Lincoln Center in New York. His fast-paced stage show combines cowboy singing, award winning yodeling, timeless humor, accompaniment on accordion, guitar, ukulele and harmonica and a keen knowledge of the traditional Western repertoire.


Audiences step back in time with an authentic vaudeville style cowboy show in the Will Rogers tradition. Sourdough Slim is a veritable "one man Western extravaganza", crooning Western classics, playing accordion, guitar and harmonica, dancing a jig, twirling a lariat, dishing out hilarious comedic sketches and letting loose with award winning yippie-ti-yi-yodeling. A favorite entertainer at cowboy gatherings and county fairs around the country, he's also played the big time, wowing audiences at venues including Carnegie Hall and The Kennedy Center. This show promises a rollicking good time for audiences of all ages.

A marvel of musical ingenuity, yodeling cowboy Sourdough Slim and string instrument wizard Robert Armstrong joyously rekindle the country blues, cowboy classics and string band repertoire of pre-WWII America. A fast-paced performance of music and comedy that showcases their seasoned gift for connecting with audiences. Whether capturing the haunting refrain of a Jimmie Rodgers blue yodel or swinging out a hot novelty number, everyone gets caught up in the fun these two cut-ups have on stage. Long time fans will remember them as founding members of two of California's favorite acoustic combo's, "8th Avenue String Band" and "R. Crumb's Cheap Suit Serenaders." Between them they share a provocative array of period instruments including: flat-top guitar, national steel guitar, baritone and soprano ukulele, musical saw, accordion, six-string banjo and harmonica.

Well traveled veterans of stages ranging from Carnegie Hall and The Lincoln Center to The Strawberry Music Festival, The National Cowboy Gathering and Prairie Home Companion, these modern day vaudevillians capture a sound and moment in time that consistently delights fun loving music fans of all walks of life.

"A delightfully entertaining show. Real deal Americana." - Diane Brinkman, Seattle Times

"You won't find better authentic Country or Western music being played anywhere." - David Barnes, British Archive of Country Music

"Much more invigorating than 9/10ths of the stuff you hear from the current cadre of Western revivalists." - Ronald Lankford, Jr., Sing Out! magazine

"Goof Stuff!" - Dallas Dobro, Master of Ceremonies, Strawberry Music Festival

Totally retro and immensely entertaining, Sourdough Slim & The Saddle Pals are a hoot to say the least. When yodeling cowboy sensation Sourdough Slim joins forces with the fiddling, wise cracking Cactus Bob and the lovely bass thumping Prairie Flower, magic happens. The chemistry between these purveyors of fine Western music is a real marvel of musical ingenuity.

Veterans of two of California's most popular acoustic combo's (8th Avenue String Band and Fiddlestix) they came together as a group in 1988 and since then have entertained audiences from The National Cowboy Gathering to The Strawberry Music Festival with their wacky brand of Western entertainment.

The band features three part harmony, fiddle, accordion, guitar, mandolin, banjo, standup bass and a repertoire of catchy cowboy classics and old time music.

"When you listen to this group you prepare yourself for pure fun." - Darrell Arnold, Cowboy Magazine

"Some of the funniest improvised stage banter you'll ever hear." - Bill Jacobson, Song of the West Magazine

"Much more invigorating than 9/10ths of the stuff you hear from the current cadre of western revivalists." - Ronald Lankford, Jr., Dirty Linen Magazine