Rory Rogers tribute in Blairstown Saturday

Sometimes, people are nervous about meeting a beloved actor or singer face-to-face. What if the performer is the opposite of his stage persona? What if he is crude or boorish? What if he is – to put it bluntly – a jerk?

The four members of the country-comedy band Riders In The Sky are happy to report that such was not the case on those occasions when they met the man they call “the King of the Cowboys,” Roy Rogers.

“We got to meet Roy and work with him,” said Douglas B. Green, the group’s lead singer and guitarist. “He was just the same off-camera as he was on-camera. He was just as affable, just as charming.”

Riders In The Sky are tipping their 10-gallon hats to Rogers, who died in 1998. Last year the band released a tribute CD of songs associated with Rogers.

The group is also currently touring with a Rogers show that will come to Roy’s Hall in Blairstown this Saturday.

The project was a labor of love, according to Green, who introduces himself on stage as “Ranger Doug, the Idol of American Youth.”

(All the band members use pseudonyms. Paul Woodrow Chrisman is “Woody Paul, the King of the Cowboy Fiddlers,” Fred LaBour is “Too Slim, the Man of a Thousand Hats,” and Joey Miskulin is “Joey, the Cowpolka King.”)

“About 10 years ago, we recorded a salute to Gene Autry,” Green said. “We figured it was (right) to do the other end of the bookshelf and record a tribute to Roy.”

In his time, Rogers, born Leonard Slye, was one of the most famous performers in America.

He appeared in over 100 films and numerous radio and TV programs. He merchandised his name on items from action figures to a fast-food chain.

His recording career began in the 1930s as a founding member of the country vocal group Sons of the Pioneers. He released several hits, including his signature song, “Happy Trails,” which was written by wife, Dale Evans.

For their tribute CD and concerts, Riders In The Sky went over Rogers’ complete oeuvre. “We combed through his movies and his RCA records,” Green said.

They chose to record some of Rogers’ most famous songs, including “Blue Shadows on the Trail” and “Don’t Fence Me In.” But they also unearthed some obscurities, such as “Hawaiian Cowboy.”

Riders In The Sky have always danced to their own music. The group started as a trio with Green, Chrisman, and LaBour in 1977. Miskulin, the accordionist, officially joined the group in 1999 after years of producing and playing with the band.

From the beginning, Riders In The Sky were known as a group that played C&W – comedy and western. Their concerts are filled with zingers and anecdotes, and several CDs have been geared to children.

“We’re an outlier and an anomaly,” said Green. “We came out of the acoustic community in Nashville. The idea was that country music was a living, breathing thing.”

The group has released almost 40 CDs, including compilations. They have also performed on film soundtracks, including “Toy Story 2.”

Green said Riders In The Sky are deciding on material for their next CD. “We’ve done an album of inspirational songs, and we’ve done Christmas albums,” Green says. “Woody Paul’s dream is to do an album of TV themes, which would be fun.”

“People come to the shows for the comedy,” said Green. “But they come back for the music. I like to think we’re better musicians now than when we started. We know each other so well, and our vocals are smoother.”

“We put on a fun show,” concluded Green. “It’s not a creation of a 1942 radio broadcast. It’s a show for all ages.”

RIDERS IN THE SKY SALUTE ROY ROGERS

WHEN: 8 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Roy’s Hall (formerly the Historic Blairstown Theatre), 30 Main St.,

Blairstown

TICKETS: $45

INFO: 908-362-1399 or www.royshall.org