The Bar D Wranglers was a western "dude ranch" band started by a trio of friends, Jim Blanton (1912-2001), Cy Scarborough (1927-2020), and Buck Teeter (d. 2001), who had each been part of the Flying W and Flying X ensembles, and performed on several Flying W albums in the late 'Fifties and early 'Sixties. In 1966, they decided to go into business for themselves and bought a 50-acre parcel near Durango, Colorado setting up shop as the Bar D Ranch, creating their own "chuckwagon" entertainment enterprise, complete with a steakhouse, western music and souvenir shops. The Wranglers repertoire was a familiar mix of western oldies, folk tunes, country comedy, gospel and a smidge of more modern stuff as well. They recorded innumerable souvenir albums, some with distinct themes such cowboy songs or gospel material.
The Wranglers performed continuously, albeit with an ever-changing lineup, for over four decades, and I'm sure a lot of talented musicians have passed through their ranks, although I haven't yet researched just who was in the band when -- it's hard enough figuring out when each of these LPs came out! Officially opening in 1969, the Bar D ranch operated continuously into the 21st century. After Jim Blanton and Buck Teeter had passed away, Cy Scarborough kept the ball rolling, although he semi-retired around 2009, performing when he felt like it, but attending all the shows of the younger crew that took over in later years. In 2002 a wildfire nearly burned the Bar D down, though the venue was still going strong in 2020 when Mr. Scarborough passed away.
The Bar D Wranglers "Live At The Bar-D Ranch" (Frontier Records, 19--?) (LP)
The Bar D Wranglers "Movin' Slow" (Frontier Records, 19--?) (LP)
(#1002)
The Bar D Wranglers "Songs Of The West" (Frontier Records, 19--?) (LP)
(#1003)
The Bar D Wranglers "The Wild And The Lonely" (Frontier Records, 19--?) (LP)
(Produced by Marvin "Smokey" Montgomery)
The Bar D Wranglers "Colorado Trail" (Frontier Records, 19--?) (LP)
(#F-1005)
The Bar D Wranglers "Show Time At The Bar D Ranch" (Frontier Records, 19--?) (LP)
The Bar D Wranglers "I Believe" (Frontier Records, 19--?) (LP)
A gospel album, including several western-themed songs... The five musicians are pictured on the back cover, but not identified by name; apparently fiddler Terry Morris (1956-1988) had joined the group, having joined in 1979. A championship fiddler originally from Texas, Morris who also recorded some old-time stringband stuff with his siblings, performing as The Brothers Morris; his brother Dale Morris was also a fiddler, who in the early '80s landed a gig with the Sons Of The Pioneers.
The Bar D Wranglers "A Cowboy Has To Sing" (Frontier Records, 19--?) (LP)
The Bar D Wranglers "Way Out There" (Frontier Records, 19--?) (LP)
The Bar D Wranglers "On Stage" (Frontier Records, 19--?) (LP)
The Bar D Wranglers "Forget Me Not" (Frontier Records, 19--?) (LP)
This album includes he same lineup as the On Stage album above:
The Bar D Wranglers "By Request" (Frontier Records, 20--?) (CD)
The Bar D Wranglers "Colorado" (Frontier Records, 2003-?) (CD)
(Produced by Gary Cook)
The Bar D Wranglers "Our Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys" (Frontier Records, 2005-?) (CD)
(Produced by Joey Miskulin)
The Bar D Wranglers "Rocky Mountain Express" (Frontier Records, 2009-?) (CD)
Cy Scarborough & The Bar D Wranglers "Cy's Comedy Classics" (Frontier Records, 20--?) (CD)
(Produced by Gary Cook & Brigette Cook)
The Bar D Wranglers "Durango" (2015-?) (CD)
