[charlene]

“Another time, Kris said, ‘Man, can you believe it? We were really there during just the most amazing time, when the best songs were being written, the best movies were coming out, just an amazing time.’ Ronnie says, ‘I know, baby, shoot, I got to witness it’ and Kris says, ‘You didn’t witness it, you ran it.’ Just seeing the way Kris and Gordon really hold Ronnie in such high regard was pretty special.”

It’s not lost on Ryan that with the singers’ advanced ages, an opportunity like this may not come around again.

These are true greats. I'm hoping that one more time, everyone can hear that and go, 'OK, this is how you're supposed to do it.' I'm really excited for people to hear it.

As for the song itself, which relates the story of two drifters (the narrator and his girlfriend Bobby McGee) who hitched a ride from a truck driver and sang as they drove through the American south before parting ways in California, Ryan explains it was the perfect catalyst for this project.

“The best songs evoke a feeling and go right to the emotion; you feel good, you feel sad, whatever emotion they go for, they really nail it,” he says.

“It’s one of those tunes that does that right off the bat. Of course, it has great lyrics and, of course, it’s a great story, but the overall feel, as soon as you hear the first word of it, you’re in. It grabs you.”

So enthused is Ryan for this recording that he thinks it has serious Grammy Award potential.

“I know there’s a category for best collaboration,” he says. “I don’t know how you can find a better collaboration than those four guys.”

“And this recording is a historical one because, as far as I know, there has never been a Willie Nelson and Gordon Lightfoot recording, or Willie Nelson and Ronnie Hawkins recording together, or a Gordon and Ronnie recording for that matter. It’s truly a historical recording — and The Weber Brothers are on there too.”

This recording is a historical one because, as far as I know, there has never been a Willie Nelson and Gordon Lightfoot recording, or Willie Nelson and Ronnie Hawkins recording together, or a Gordon and Ronnie recording for that matter.

Ahead for The Weber Brothers is work on a new CD with their band — Emily Burgess (guitar), Rico Browne (keyboards/guitar/percussion), Marcus Browne (drums) and Prufrock Shadowrunner (percussion/turntables) — as well as “something really cool coming out around Christmas.”

In the meantime, reflecting on the “Me And Bobby McGee” recording experience has Ryan him more convinced than ever of one undeniable truth.

“If any one of those guys wanted us to do anything, I would be into it,” he says. “They’ve all given so much.”

“It’s always going to be an opportunity, even just to hang out with them. Anytime Ronnie asks, I’m there.”

About “Me And Bobby McGee”
Written by Kris Kristofferson and songwriter/producer Fred Foster; released in July 1969.
First recorded by Roger Miller and released in 1969.

Recorded most famously by the late Janis Joplin, her posthumously released version topping the U.S. singles chart in 1971.

Other notable recordings done by Gordon Lightfoot, Kris Kristofferson, Kenny Rogers and The First Edition, The Grateful Dead, Johnny Cash, Joan Baez, Melissa Etheridge, Lee Ann Rimes, Ann Murray, and Pink … to name but a few.

In 2004, was ranked #148 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs All Time.