Artist's Statement

In 1986, Ben Johnson invited me to participate in a Pro-Celebrity Rodeo created by a friend of his, Jerry Nalls. I had no idea what I was getting into. At the time, I didn't know who Jerry Nalls was and I had known Ben for only a year, but I trusted him and accepted his invitation. It was held in Ft. Worth, Texas and I was impressed by the many celebrities that were on hand. Most of the guys you see in this print I met for the first time at this event. Some I already knew and it was good to see 'em again.

Saturday afternoon the Rodeo took place at the Will Rogers Coliseum, then that night a dinner, auction and dance was held to raise more money for the charity. At the beginning of the dance, Ben got up on stage and thanked the audience for their support of the auction and the money they raised. He then announced that Craig Carter and his "Spur of the Moment" band would play any requests from the audience if they would drop a few dollars for the charity into a cowboy hat that was placed on stage by the dance floor.

A man yelled at Ben from the audience and requested the Willie Nelson/Ray Charles song, "Seven Spanish Angels". Ben turned to Craig and asked "Do ya'll know that one?" Craig replied "Yeah, we do it." Then the man yelled back "No, Ben, I want to hear YOU do it!" Ben said, "Why Hell, feller...I can't sing!" Then the man pulled out ten one hundred dollar bills... a THOUSAND dollars!... and Ben said "Well OK. Then I guess I'll sing like a bird!" The audience laughed, and Ben then called for some help. He named off Jerry Nalls, Bum Phillips, Wilford Brimley, Buck Taylor, Johnny Crawford and several others. They all joined Ben and Craig on stage and sang the song.

I stayed in the audience and listened to this deal. In my opinion, they sounded like a bunch of wounded apes, but the audience loved it! The next rodeo was held in Houston about three months later that year, and this time they even got me up there with them when the dance started, because that same man was there with another $1,000.00 and we filled the stage. The audience and the media went crazy because what they were seeing and hearing was spectacular to them!

Singing that particular song became a tradition at all the Pro-Celebrity Rodeos we did in Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, Nevada and Los Angeles. Then in 1987, I began working on the idea of "Singing 'Seven Spanish Angels' ". In 1989, I finished the painting and released the prints, and to date it's estimated that sales of these prints have benefited the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation with well over $100,000.00.

Even though our beloved Uncle Ben is gone now, proceeds from the sales of the remaining prints will continue to benefit CF and any children's charities that bear his name.  
(See "Ben Johnson" on "Friends of Jimmy Don")