Photo by Vern Evans

 

Below are appropriate bio's for Sourdough Slim solo followed by bio's with Robert Armstrong and The Saddle Pals

Sourdough Slim

Last Of The Vaudeville Cowboys

Sourdough Slim is a hoot to say the least. The moment this award winning Western showman steps into the spotlight, 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 finds him crooning Western classics, playing accordion, guitar and harmonica, dancing a jig, twirling a lariat, dishing out hilarious comedic sketches and letting loose with his absolutely mind boggling yodeling. His truly astounding yippie-ti-yi style won him the Academy of Western Artists 2001 Will Rogers Award for "Yodeler of the Year" and 2009, 2010 and 2011 nomination for "Entertainer of the Year" from the Western Music Association.

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. A rollicking good time for audiences of all ages.

Roots revivalists Sourdough Slim and Robert Armstrong are passionate about the music they play and the culture from which it springs. Proud torch-bearers of America's rich roots music heritage, the two demonstrate their enthusiasm from the first catchy bars of "My Last Old Dollar" to the last wistful strains of their phenomenal re-creation of Stan Jones' immortal "Riders In The Sky." These showman extraordinaire joyously rekindle the country blues, western classics, vintage jazz and string band repertoire of twentieth century rural America. A fast-paced performance 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, the fun these two cut-ups have on stage leads to a contagious good time for everyone in the house. 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 wherever they perform.

"Sourdough Slim and Robert Armstrong are flat-out-entertaining fun....with perfect comedic timing and showmanship....outstanding abilities on a variety of instruments, they dazzle audiences. Performances are always fresh and different....something for everyone." - Margo Metegrano, CowboyPoetry.Com

"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

"A must see for those that love to be thoroughly entertained." - Charity Maness, Calaveras News

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