'Echoes' of the old west heard in Fort Scott

The 72-year-old western singer and songwriter was the featured performer at the 15th annual Echoes of the Trail at the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center at Fort Scott Community College. Also performing were Johnny Kendrick and his sons Jackson and Sam, known as the Branchy Boys.

Historian Arnold Schofield, who devised Echoes of the Trail with Kendrick, did some recitation and singing himself. "We don't really care who had this idea, we're just glad it was laid and hatched," said featured poet Ken Lorton, who has performed at many Echoes celebrations.

The Warsaw, Mo., resident told the story of his friend D.J. Fry who was in a bad tractor accident about three years ago and almost died. Lorton was in Fort Worth at the Red Steagall Cowboy Gathering and Western Swing Festival when he and his wife purchased a get-well card for Fry.

They decided to try and get well-wishes from Edwards and Steagall because those were two of Fry's favorite performers.

Fry, of Orongo, Mo., attended Saturday's performance and had the card with him.

Steagall and Edwards both advised Fry to get rid of the tractor, but he still has it. When he got the card, Fry said he had been hospitalized for 12 weeks. "It was something that at the time seemed like a dream," he said.

He was thrilled to see Edwards live on stage. "It's a great feeling to see him here tonight and hear him," added Fry.

Renditions of Carson Robison, Marty Robbins, Gene Autry and Emmett Miller songs -- to name a few -- were performed by Edwards, who said he had heard of Echoes of the Trail for several years but never attended before.

Edwards said he doesn't have a set list, he just plays what comes into his head.

"I don't do it for the money. I learned a long time ago money thought I was dead," he said.

Inspired by western author Will James and movie heroes Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Steagall and many others, Edwards has devoted his life to taking people back to simpler times when a man's word was his bond and people looked each other in the eye. His tunes also point out that life on the prairie is not always rosy with songs like "Little Joe the Wrangler" about a boy who runs away from home to run cattle and dies in a stampede.

Fort Scott Tribune: Local News: 'Echoes' of the old west heard in ...

At least 250 people got to spend some time on the lone prairie Saturday night as renowned balladeer Don Edwards painted a musical portrait of life in the old west -- with a smattering of gospel and folk thrown in.

The 72-year-old western singer and songwriter was the featured performer at the 15th annual Echoes of the Trail at the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center at Fort Scott Community College. Also performing were Johnny Kendrick and his sons Jackson and Sam, known as the Branchy Boys.

Historian Arnold Schofield, who devised Echoes of the Trail with Kendrick, did some recitation and singing himself. "We don't really care who had this idea, we're just glad it was laid and hatched," said featured poet Ken Lorton, who has performed at many Echoes celebrations.

The Warsaw, Mo., resident told the story of his friend D.J. Fry who was in a bad tractor accident about three years ago and almost died. Lorton was in Fort Worth at the Red Steagall Cowboy Gathering and Western Swing Festival when he and his wife purchased a get-well card for Fry.

They decided to try and get well-wishes from Edwards and Steagall because those were two of Fry's favorite performers.

Fry, of Orongo, Mo., attended Saturday's performance and had the card with him.

Steagall and Edwards both advised Fry to get rid of the tractor, but he still has it. When he got the card, Fry said he had been hospitalized for 12 weeks. "It was something that at the time seemed like a dream," he said.

He was thrilled to see Edwards live on stage. "It's a great feeling to see him here tonight and hear him," added Fry.

Renditions of Carson Robison, Marty Robbins, Gene Autry and Emmett Miller songs -- to name a few -- were performed by Edwards, who said he had heard of Echoes of the Trail for several years but never attended before.

Edwards said he doesn't have a set list, he just plays what comes into his head.

"I don't do it for the money. I learned a long time ago money thought I was dead," he said.

Inspired by western author Will James and movie heroes Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Steagall and many others, Edwards has devoted his life to taking people back to simpler times when a man's word was his bond and people looked each other in the eye. His tunes also point out that life on the prairie is not always rosy with songs like "Little Joe the Wrangler" about a boy who runs away from home to run cattle and dies in a stampede.

Songs of the great American west

Songs of the cowboys

The Whorehouse Bells Were Ringing and Other Songs Cowboys Sing

Old-Time Cowboy Songs

Little Joe Wrangler