Rainbow Rocker

He was a Rainbow Rocker from way back when...

Many of you know the tune and the story of the man behind the song. Andy Rainwater.

A man I never got the chance to know in person, but he lives in bright swirling colors in my mind. A man bigger than life, big enough to write a song about and live forever in music. Every time I twirl in the grass thru space and time to that song, I think of him, and know I would have loved him as a friend... the moment I hear that funky bass line I know what's coming and my shoes instantly come off, no matter if it is a summer festival and my feet are immersed in dewey green grass, or they land under a tent during Ocktoberfest in bitter cold. Most happily the spring loaded wooden dance floor of the Cains Ballroom is where my feet become denuded the moment this song commences. With the almost stern photos of Bob Wills and other Oklahoma music legends looking on to my antics, I dance and twirl to one of my favorite songs ever. No matter, I know they watched him dancing in the same spot and certainly must approve of my personal celebration of his life.

My husband knew Andy well, and I have heard many stories from him, so many that I feel like I knew him back in the day. The Rangers and Medicine Show played many, many shows together and Andy was a huge supporter of the early Red Dirt scene and his presence was as constant as the music itself.

My good friend Lee, who I met thru the Red Dirt Sisterhood, happens to be John Coopers cousin. This is a fact I didn't discover until she spent the night this past weekend. She is a kind soul and a beautiful person. She used to live in the same apartment building in Stillwater as Medicine Show, bless her soul, and somehow she still manages to be friends with the guys. I have heard many stories of Lee showing up in her mud masks at the door of the Medicine Show apartment and asking the guys to "turn it down"....Donnie still feels guilt when he thinks of how they must have tortured her....

Lee is brought into this story because she gave me a special gift, I don't know really how many other people would appreciate this as much as I do.... unless they are Medicine show folks, but I am so very grateful she chose to bestow it upon me. She called a few months ago and asked if I had a Med Show t shirt and I told her I did, but it disappeared a few months back. She said "well I have one for you, and it was a very dear friend's of mine...." I paused for a minute knowing that there was much meaning behind what she was about to say and she said...

"Did you ever know Andy Rainwater?"

No I never got the chance, but I feel like I did...

Well, I want you to have his shirt.....

Are you sure?

Yes, I want you to wear it!

I could never....."

I couldn't believe it then, and still don't to this day and the thing is sitting right next to me. I held it in my hands earlier today and imagined him in it dancing to his song... I wish he had known such a wonderful song was written about him, because I know I certainly would appreciate a good song in my honour and would hope I would get to hear it if I were so lucky. I remember the time Bob Childers dedicated "Red Dirt Girl" to Amy Evans and I one night and I think I lived off that for a month..... so a whole song written about him? Tragic he never heard it.

So now I have the shirt. What to do with it? I called Ben Han and asked him who all wrote the song.. who was THERE? He says Bob and Coop. So I call Coop and leave a message, Bob I get right away. I ask him about the song and he tells me the story. Bob is a storyteller and this would have been a good conversation to record for history's sake, but he tells me how the song was written. He said he had been working on it a while and came to a stopping point, he then called Coop and Said "I have a hit record for you I want you to finish it" so he sent it to the Rangers camp.

I'm going to leave off on Bobs part of the story and go with what Coop had to say when he called me....

He said he had the song for a three weeks and messed with it a little, then Andy was tragically killed on his motorcycle. The next time Bob and John saw each other, they knew that they had been writing that song for Andy all along and it was finished right away.

Andy's presence has been felt many times while performing Rainbow Rocker. Amps have blown up, rainstorms form abruptly and speakers have blown over. His presence was felt by the Rangers in a time of great need for guidance and is given credit for giving hope when it was needed most.... Andy must have been a hell of a man.

So now...My project.... I am waiting for a few more items to make this all complete... Bob is going to write out the lyrics and Coop is going to write whatever he feels should be included with these treasures.... Bob said a long time ago he had some RR posters made up that would work well, but he lost them in the fire.....Does anyone out there still have one? I could really use a photo of Andy so I can make a wonderful framed and matted display that I and Donnie will treasure greatly.....

I am in no hurry, I want to make it right, so let me know if you think you have what I need. Until then, and from now on, understand when you see me dancing like a wild woman in a pasture or dusty field to this wonderful song, that I am celebrating a great mans life, and cherishing my own....