I just finished writing the followup to Kid Russell. This song is about his supportive wife Nancy Cooper Russell. She was only 17 and he was 27 when they met. He was a drunk, stinky cowboy who slept out in the streets of town. A friend of Charlie's told him about this young pretty filly at friend Ben Robert's place. She was an orphan teenager who helped out with the household chores and Ben invited Charlie over and thought they could be a pair. The plan worked and Charlie cleaned up his act in a hurry!
Charlie Russell already had a reputation as a fine artist but didn't know anything else but cowboying. The couple soon married and fondly recalled that on their first Christmas they hadn't but 2 pennies to rub together but Charlie delightedly reached into his Christmas sock and pulled out a knitted pair of slippers Nancy had made.
Nancy quickly saw the earning potential of Charlie's work (he was so gifted and painting was easy for him). He would only ask the bare minimum for his artwork so she took control of his creative endeavors and made him who his is today. So much so, Charlie's drinking friends at the Mint Saloon hated her for taking away their drinking buddy.
Charlie would get up about 4:00 am each morning. Make some grub in his log cabin studio next to his house. His favorite horse, the legendary "Monty", would gaze in on Charlie while he whittled or painted his way until noon. Nancy would make him lunch and add a couple of honey-do's to his work until 2:00 pm when he left to be with his buddies for the rest of the day. Nancy was always at the door as he left signaling two fingers (drinks), Charlie signaling three. She worked her butt off to expose her husband's work for the world to see. As a result, they became quite wealthy and famous in their time traveling aroung the world selling Charlie's cowboy art at the best galleries. Charlie was a rock star in the Great Falls, Montana area!
Men and women alike wanted to be near this likeable guy since he would tell cowboy stories as he molded animals out of beeswax that he carried in his pocket.
He was every bit the painter as Frederic Remington was but actually live the cowboy life. Charlie didn't get quite the fame of his counterpart though.
Nancy needs to be remembered as the woman who put western american art on the map. Her husband was the best in my book! The Charlie Russell project is really coming together. Stay tuned.
Keep the faith!
Cal