Prairie Rose Wranglers coming to Chadron after singing in China

They were the star performers at Carnegie Hall in New York City in May 2003 at the first all-Western concert ever at that famed venue. They were invited back for a second concert 13 months later.

This past year, the Wranglers to what they call “The Great American Cowboy” to China. They also have recorded and performed backup for stars such as Rex Allen Jr., and Roy Rogers Jr.

The Wranglers perform classic Western music dating back to the silver-screen cowboy era. Some of their favorite numbers include “Born to be a Cowboy,” “There’s a Goldmine in the Sky,” “Cool Clear Water” and “Tumbling Tumbleweeds.” They also sing other classic cowboy trail songs and some original numbers, all the while blending in plenty of clean humor.

Their concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets purchased in advance through the Memorial Hall box office are $10 to adults, $9 for senior citizens and $6 for youths 18 and under. All tickets at the door will be $11.

Prior to the Prairie Rose Wranglers show, the Bald Mountain Rounders from Chadron will be performing in Memorial Hall from 5 to 7 p.m.

All of the Wranglers are veteran musicians whose careers have “taken off” since they joined forces.

Friesen grew up on a farm in the York area in eastern Nebraska. While in college he began playing a guitar and launched his career in broadcasting. He has sung on KFDI in Wichita, one of America’s premiere country music radio stations, since 1977. He’s been selected Broadcaster of the Year by the International Bluegrass Music Association and has been nominated several times for Disc Jockey of the Year by the Academy of Western Artists. He was recently inducted into the Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame. He plays the bass fiddle and harmonica.

Farrell, as his nickname indicates, is from Tennessee. He was born and raised in Nashville and has used his singing, guitar playing and engineering skills to help produce hundreds of recordings in Nashville. He has produced albums for the Wranglers and others in the Prairie Rose Recording Studio. Besides the guitar, he also plays the banjo.

Stuart grew up working on ranches not far from the Prairie Rose. He began his musical career in 1966 and has performed all over the U.S. and Canada with many of the biggest names in country and western music. He has been involved in dozens of recordings, including seven albums with his own bands. Stuart plays the guitar, fiddle, mandolin and viola and is the lead vocalist with the Wranglers.