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Entertainment legends honored here

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Eddie Browning presented the First Annual Western Legends Awards last Friday at the Willcox Community Center.

The awards are meant to "honor contributions made in Western entertainment."

Three of them were presented to one man who called Willcox home - Rex Allen Sr. - and two men who made Willcox home in their hearts -Rex Allen Jr. and Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez. A Western Legends Award was also presented posthumously to Nudie (Conn) The Rodeo Tailor, who fashioned colorf dl suits for both Rex Sr. and Rex Jr.

In his presentation, Browning said that Rex Sr., "known as 'The Arizona Cowboy' and 'Mister Cowboy' was born in Willcox and raised on a ranch outside of town," he said.

"As a boy he played guitar and sang at local functions with his fiddle playing father, Horace Allen, until high school graduation when he started working in radio," Browning said.

"Gifted with a wonderful three octave singing voice, it was only natural that Rex would sign with Mercury Records in 1948 where he recorded a number of successful Western and Country music albums," said Browning, adding that in 1952, he switched to Decca Records, where he continued recording into the late 1970s.

Republic Pictures gave Allen a screen test in 1949 and put him under contract; so Allen starred as himself in 19 Western movies from 1950 to 1954, he said.

"One of the top-ten box office draws, Allen personified the clean-cut American hero who wore a white hat and loved his faithful horse 'KoKo," Browning said.

Late in coming to the industry, his film career was relatively short due to the waning popularity of western movies," he said.

He has the distinction of being "The Last of The Silver Screen Cowboys".

Gifted with a rich, pleasant speaking voice Rex Sr. was "The Voice of Disney" for many ' years in nature films and TV shows, Browning said.

He was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1983.

Rex Sr. passed away in December 1999 of a massive coronary.

"He was cremated, his ashes being scattered near his statue in Railroad Park in Willcox, the town he was always proud to call his home," Browning said.

Siblings Curtis and Bonita Allen accepted the award on behalf of their father, Rex Allen Sr.

An emotional Curtis talked about the upcoming anniversary of his father's death.

Both he and his sister Bonita talked about Willcox as a place their father loved and where his memory will always be treasured.

"No matter where we end up, Willcox will always be home," she told the audience.

In presenting the posthumous award to Pedro Gonzalez-Gonzalez, Browning said that he was born Ramiro Gonzalez Gonzalez in Aguila-ras, Tex., in 1925.

"His appearances with Groucho Marx in the early 50s gave him his big break," he said.

John Wayne liked what he saw and signed him to work in more than 20 of his movies."

"Rex met Pedro in the late 50s and they worked together for many years doing personal appearances and rodeos," he said.

"Pedro never missed a 'Rex Allen Days Celebration' in 54 years," Browning said.

"He loved Willcox and Willcox loved him back."

Accepting the award on behalf of his father, an emotional Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez, Jr. talked about Pedro's love for his adopted home.

Also awarded a posthumous Western Legends Awards is Nudie (Conn) the Rodeo Tailor, "One man, one name is all you need to know about Nudie," said Browning, adding, "He has been referred to in many ways; from the ^Bill Blass of Blue-grass' to the 'Halston of Honky Tonk.'"

"Nudie set rhinestones into fashion for more than 50 years," he said about the man who emigrated from Kiev, Russia at the young age of 11.

The most recognized suite Nudie ever made was the gold lame suit he made for Elvis in 1957.

Accepting the award on behalf of her grandfather was Jamie Nudie, who was wearing a Nudie suit. Members of the Cowgirls Western -Foundation also held a fashion show-wearing vintage Nudie suits.

The only living inductee that evening was Rex Allen Jr.

Browning said, "The eldest son of Rex Allen, Rex Allen Jr. inherited a golden voice and a love for western music from his father."

"He grew up in a show business family and began singing at an early age. Rex Jr. is a singer, songwriter, actor and entertainer, a versatile star in his own right."

Rex Jr. has had more than 40 top singles during his long recording career. "Lonely Street," "Two Less Lonely People," "No, No, No" and "It's Over" to name a few, said Browning, adding that he was honored in 1982 by having his composition and recording of "Arizona" adopted as the official state song.

He was co-host with Jim Stafford on "Nashville on the Road" from 1982 to 1984.

In 1992,, Rex Jr. became a regular on the "Statler Brothers Show," and he was "the best singer in the business," he said.

Two years later, he was offered his own show on TNN called, "Yesteryear."

"In 2006, he became the first American entertainer to perform in China since it was closed to the outside world in the mid 70s," said Browning.

"His shows were sold out months in advance."

In accepting his award, Rex Jr. talked about growing up coming to Willcox with his famous father for Rex Allen Days'.

He listed for the audience all the places he has lived, "but none of those places are home to me," he said.

"When I die, I want to be buried in Texas Canyon."

The Western Legends Awards ceremony is planned again for next year's Rex Allen Days.



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© 2010 Arizona Range News Willcox, Arizona. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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