Elk Bugles: Russ Wolfe and the Flying W Wranglers

Thursday, April 4, 2019

Russ Wolfe and the Flying W Wranglers

Got word, late last night, that Russ Wolfe, the co-founder of the Flying W Ranch, passed away, at the age of 94. You can see his amazing biography, along with his obituary, here.

The Flying W Ranch has put out numerous LP and 45rpm souvenirs (and later cassettes and CDs), in its history. Several of the LPs started off with an introduction, by Russ Wolfe.

Russ Wolfe's Introduction
(audio sample taken from Volume 1, below)

As I mentioned above, these chuck wagon musical mementos were plentiful, as one always manages to find one (or more) at a neighborhood garage sale, or local thrift store, around these here parts. Here are the ones I managed to corral (See what I did there? - heheh). Some of the last names are missing, in this story. If you can provide any info, drop me a line. Also, you will obviously see the label numbers and volumes are hard to keep track of, as you will note the inconsistency in the discography.

An Evening at the Flying W Ranch (Vol. 1)
Year unknown (label is marked FW-1000)

Members: Russ Wolfe, Cy Scarborough, Jack Smith, Bob Minser, Babe Humphrey, Chuck Camp, and Laramie Jordan (who was later replaced by Buck Teeter)

Echo Valley

FW-5705 (no year, possibly 1957)
Members are not noted

Folk Songs of the Western Frontier

FW-5750 (no year, possibly 1957)

The back of this LP promotes "Vol. 1" and Echo Valley, but no other LP, which indicates this is (possibly) the third release for the group.

Members (introduced in the recorded intro): Russ Wolfe, Chuck Camp, Babe Humphrey, Bob Minser, Buck Teeter, and Cy Scarborough

The Rostvit Sisters Sing

FW-5760 (no year, possibly 1957 or 1960)
(Fay, Sharon, Janice and Lora Jean, accompanied by the Flying W Wranglers)

An Evening at the Flying W Ranch (Vol. 2)

7961 could indicate "1961"
Members (introduced in the recorded intro): Jim Blanton, Chuck Camp, George Jackson, Buck Teeter, Cy Scarborough, and Russ Wolfe

An Evening at the Flying W Ranch (Vol. 2)

(label is marked FW 1001)
NOTE: This LP also says "Volume 2".
Members (shown in order on LP cover): Cy Scarborough, Buck Teeter, George Jackson, Chuck Camp, Jim (J.B.) Blanton, and Russ Wolfe

An Evening at the Famous Flying W

NOTE: LP uses the same cover photo as Vol. 2, directly above, but the back cover shows a different photo (with the same members as above). The songs are the same as those on the "first" Volume 2.

SR4S-050 (no year)

Winter Swing

FWWS 140
(no year, but the subtitle is "Dance Album Volume One")
Members: Russ Wolfe, Sam Nicola, Rick Martinez, Scott Vaughn, and Denny Peter

The Place Where I Worship

SW-4 (no year listed)
Members names not listed

An Evening at the Flying W Ranch (Vol. 3)

Year unknown (label marked LPFW 420)
Members: Russ Wolfe, Sam Nicola, Babe Humphrey,
Larry Humphrey, J.B. Blanton, and Larry Mahan

An Evening at the Flying W Ranch (Vol. 4)
FWS-1970

Label is marked 1970, and thus starting a new label numbering system, indicating year.
Members: Russ Wolfe, Sam Nicola, Babe Humphrey,
Larry Humphrey, J.B. Blanton, and Larry Mahan

Cow Country Styles (Vol. 5)

FWR-1973
Members: Russ Wolfe, Sam Nicola, Babe Humphrey, Larry Humphrey, Terry Martin,
J.B. Blanton, and Larry Mahan

Centennial Show (Vol. 8)

FWR-1976
Members: Russ Wolfe, Sam Nicola, J.B. Blanton, Babe Humphrey, Larry Humphrey, Denny Peter, and Bill___

This is Flying W Country (Vol. 9)

FWR-1977
Members: Russ Wolfe, Sam Nicola, J.B. Blanton, Babe Humphrey, Larry Humphrey, Denny Peter, and Scott Vaughn

This is Flying W Country (Vol. 11)
FWR-1979

Members: Russ Wolfe, Sam Nicola, Vern Thomson,

Scott Vaughn, Jim Blanton, Denny Peter, and Rick Martinez

This is Flying W Country (Vol. 12)
FWR-1980
Members: Russ Wolfe, Sam Nicola, VernThomson, Scott Vaughn, Jim Blanton, Denny Peter, Rick Martinez, and LarryMahan