Pop : Cowboy Tribute Sings a Little Off-Key

An A for effort at the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum’s salute Saturday night to the singing cowboys?

Well, maybe B-minus.

The tribute/concert--honoring such heroes of the silver screen as Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, Rex Allen and Autry himself--was blessed with the sweet, nostalgic spirit that you’d want on a night devoted to wondrous childhood memories.

Host Dennis Weaver was enthusiastic, country stars Clint Black, Emmylou Harris and Dwight Yoakam were respectful and the estimated 4,000 fans were receptive.

Another plus: Even on a chilly, overcast night, the lawn setting outside the museum in Griffith Park contributed to an open-spaces feel that was most appropriate given all the time the cowboy heroes spent on horseback chasing desperadoes or serenading sweethearts.

But the pacing fell victim to a series of TV taping delays, causing what should have been a two-hour program to run almost twice that length. Black, who didn’t reach the stage until 11 p.m., was so annoyed by yet another glitch during his set that he refused to wait until he got the OK signal from the director. To the cheers of an impatient crowd, Black simply went ahead with another song.

Other problems of design that should be addressed next year if the weekend festival is to become an annual event: The film clips of the heroes in action all those decades ago should be longer than just a few seconds; the large screen on which the clips are shown should be better illuminated, and the country singers in their brief acoustic sets should tailor their selections to the music of the honored singing cowboys and cowgirls, who also included Eddie Dean, Monte Hale, Herb Jeffries, Patsy Montana and the Sons of the Pioneers.

Yoakam, joined by guitarist Ry Cooder, did break away from his concert fare for some Western material, including “Streets of Laredo.” Harris, backed by two musicians, sang cowboy-type tunes from her repertoire, including “Even Cowgirls Get the Blues.” And Black, appearing solo, offered such surprises as James Taylor’s “Sweet Baby James.”

The real treat would have been hearing the three offer their interpretations of such songs as “Be Honest With Me” or “I’m Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes,” two of Autry’s dozens of country and pop hits.

The Sons of the Pioneers brought some of that old Western flavor to the evening, performing “Cool Water” and “Tumbling Tumbleweeds.” They also joined in a closing tribute to Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, who were unable to attend because Evans was hospitalized in Apple Valley after a May 10 heart attack.

With the lessons learned, a tribute next year could match in form what this one offered only in spirit.