Branson, Missouri has a lot of slick performers, both country and otherwise. Beatles impersonators, formerly famous rock bands, wild comedians.

They have elaborate stage acts, fancy hairdressers and all sorts of pyrotechnics. It’s all entertaining, if you go in for that sort of thing.

But, for my money, the best act in town is Roy Rogers Jr. and his band, the High Riders.

Roy Jr., better known as Dusty, comes out on stage at the Happy Trails Theater with his band behind him and just sings. No fancy stuff, just some old-time songs you probably heard your parents or your grandparents sing: Tumbling Tumbleweed, I’ll Fly Away, as well as some of his favorites you might not have heard.

He’s an affable sort, just like his father, and he has the same sort of personality, without the ego. He always lets the band members take their turn in the spotlight, and stops the show about midway through to walk down to the ground floor and talk to the audience about what it was like to grow up with his famous father.

I didn’t realize Roy Sr. was an original member of the Sons of the Pioneers. Roy Jr. does a lot of their songs in his act.

So, my recommendation is if you go to Branson, make sure you see Roy Rogers’ son and his band.

Bonus: You can see a stuffed Trigger in the Roy Rogers and Dale Evans museum, along with Bullet. Who among us who grew up in the 1960s wouldn’t want to see that?

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