By Tom Smith
March 9th 2005, The rodeo world lost a great friend. The passing of Chris LeDoux sent cell phones ringing through out the United States and Canada. I received the call from film producer Ann Lukacs. Ann had recently worked with Chris on her rodeo documentary. I quickly passed the news on to World Champion Bull Rider, Jerome Davis. Saddened by his passing. We discussed the influence that Chris�s music had played in both of our lives. Jerome commented that Chris�s book �Gold Buckle Dreams� played a role in his career. I doubt that there isn�t a rough stock rider under the age of 50 that Chris LeDoux�s music didn�t affect.
Chris LeDoux documented and preserved the rodeo lifestyle in song. The lyrics in his songs are as relevant today as they were in the early 70s when they were written. The early albums if played in chronological order tell the story of a young man just starting out on the rodeo trail. The songs followed a veteran bronc rider as he strived to make the finals, and they spoke of the glory and satisfaction of reaching dreams and winning a world championship. The songs continued as a rodeo career faded and was replaced by ranching. They speak of life, love of family, and the importance of following your dreams.
My father is from Wyoming and I have many childhood memories spent in Cheyenne behind the chutes helping or aggravating the cowboys. I remember fetching drinks for guys like Larry Mahan and Hawkeye Henson. I helped Quail Dobbs drag barrels to his trailer, and helped Chris LeDoux tote his rigging bag to his car. I purchased 8 track tapes from his truck and the booth that his brother manned. In my early teens I would conjure up an excuse every couple of months to telephone Chris. I�d ask questions like; what should you do with a sprained wrist or a bruised tail bone or how do you properly set a rigging? Looking back now it amazes me that he took the time to talk with a pesky rodeo crazy kid.
My peers were holed up in bed rooms banging heads and listening to Black Sabbath and Ozzy. I was holed up in mine listening to Chris LeDoux� hour after hour� My father will tell you that I was brained washed by him. He�s probably right. Generations of cowboys have spent hours on the road listening to his music. Boys have grown into men knowing the words to practically every song. I can�t think of a better role model. Chris succeeded in almost everything that he attempted. He was a champion cowboy at every level, an accomplished singer / song writer, acclaimed sculpture, a devoted husband and a doting father.
The grit that allowed him a long rodeo career helped him survive a liver transplant. He was back on tour performing full force stage shows six months following the surgery. Late last year Chris was diagnosed with cancer of the bile duct. He passed away in Casper Wyoming at the age of 56 due to complications from the ongoing treatment. He was surrounded by family and friends at the time of his death.
In the early 80s I asked him which of the songs he had written meant the most to him. He told me that the song �Time� was one of his personal favorites.
I�ll close with the lyrics from that song�
�TIME� by Chris LeDoux
The cool fall breeze is blowin' and the leaves are turnin' gold
And the smell of wood smoke takes me back to days of long ago
I think about my childhood, pumpkin pie and Halloween
And the magic in a young boy's hopes and dreams.
CHORUS
Time, time, goes on endlessly
Just like a river runnin' surely to the sea
Time, time, you've left your mark on me
But time, we've had a good time, haven't we?
But the years went by too quickly
And the leaves fall from the trees
And the winds a little colder now
Than what it used to be
And I feel kind of saddened that the summer now is gone
And a little scared of what now lies beyond.
CHORUS
I pull in off the highway to another rodeo
To another crowd of people
Think it's just a wild west show
I'll ride my bronc and drive away
And head on down the road
It's a hell of a way to make a buck
But it's the only life I've known.
CHORUS
But time, we've had a good time, haven't we?