Roy Rogers & Dale Evans

When Michael M. Murphey dove headfirst into performing cowboy songs, he gained a couple of fans named Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. We were on a California tour and had a "fill-in" show booked at a nightclub in Victorville, CA, which was Roy and Dale's hometown. The club was just a couple of blocks from their museum, but because of their religious beliefs they had not set foot in a bar in over forty years. For Michael Murphey though, they decided to break their usual rules and come to the show. The club was smoky just before the show and I was standing outside the back door, waiting until the last minute to step onstage. The parking lot was gravel, with cinder blocks, bricks, and beer bottles strewn around. Although I had heard that Roy and Dale might show up, I'd forgotten about it and was surprised to look up and see a familiar old cowboy step around the back corner of the building with his trusty cowgirl clutching his arm. Two American icons, now quite old and stepping carefully through the scattered debris. And just as they rounded the corner and before they had noticed me, I heard Roy say to Dale, "Now, watch yer step, Mom. If you break a leg, I'll have to shoot ya."