For close to 70 years the Flying W Wranglers have been entertaining visitors at Colorado Springs Flying W Ranch. Founded in 1953 by Ranch owners Russ and Marian Wolfe, the band was introduced to provide entertainment at the Ranch.
To date, over 60 musicians have been members of the band at one time or another. Although the musicians have changed throughout the years, the appreciation for classic Western music has stayed consistent.
History of the Flying W Wranglers at Flying W Ranch
The original Wranglers formed in 1953 and entertained visitors at the ranch for over 40 years. “Since that time there has been variations of the band,” explained current band member Michael Amidei. “It’s a deep woven tapestry in that we are all still connected.”
Amidei said he was discovered and hired for the band in 2006. “I grew up listening to Western music but now I was learning from those who were experts,” he added. These mentors included members Tony Ludiker, the only living five-time National Fiddle Champion, Ronnie Cook who is a state flat (guitar) picking champion, and Jayson Jones who is known as an amazing singer from Texas.
In 2012, the Waldo Canyon fire destroyed nearly every part of the ranch. “The re-building of the ranch was a big process and is a true testament to the owners,” Amidei said. “Lasting through the pandemic also showed their spirit, determination, guts, and will. The ranch has rebuilt, and we’ve been looking for the next band to serve as the long-term line-up and I think we have found it.”
The Band
Amidei was raised by a family of musicians and started playing and singing at a very young age. During his late teenage years, he began singing opera and earned a living doing that for a while. He leads worship at church and writes songs and books. Each band member, he said, plays multiple instruments but sticks to one during the shows.
Amidei plays guitar and sings. Bobby Edwards is the band’s drummer and Jason Lee plays lead guitar. Luke Tripp plays the fiddle and mandolin. Together, they create contemporary and classic sounds of great Western music.
“We play classic Western music, not country music,” Amidei explained. “Some are original songs we’ve written. Western music is very complicated and much of it was written for early cowboy movies. The voicing is more complicated with two and three-part harmony, and sometimes there’s even yodeling.”
Amidei said many people know classic Western songs but don’t even realize it. One example of this is the song “Rawhide.” “Something else we are finding is we have this group of teenagers who tell us they’re not fans of country music, but they are fans of Western music.” The band will also be recording one to two albums this year.
The Show
The Flying W Wranglers play over 100 shows yearly at the Ranch. “From the end of May to the beginning of October, we play six nights a week to densely packed crowds,” Amidei said. “The nature of the ranch provides fun for kids and adults, and families make up our favorite crowd,” he added. “There’s nothing like seeing them caught up in the moment. It’s not just a show, it’s truly an experience.” Each show, he explained, is unique. The band also puts on an annual Christmas show. “It’s not just a put-on act when you come to the ranch, it’s very real and authentic,” he said.
“There are so many wonderful musicians in all types of music,” Amidei said. “We’ve gotten our inspiration from so many, including The Sons of The Pioneers and The Riders in the Sky.” Ultimately, he explained, it’s the previous Wranglers that wielded the most influence. “We still reach out to them for advice and counsel,” he added.
Amidei said the vision of what can be in this next chapter is the vision and inspiration of what they are chasing every day. “I think what I’m really looking forward to this year is where the Wranglers can go next. We can step into the 21st century while still preserving our heritage.”
For the band, this includes using communication and technology methods to tell their story and to reach a wider audience. This includes live streaming, the use of Facebook, YouTube videos, and more. “We are in a position to be ambassadors of this type of music,” Amidei explained.
