Urban Cowboy Turns 35 This Year

Sissy "Are you a real cowboy?"

Bud "Depends on what you think a real cowboy is?"

Sissy "Know how to 2-step?"

Bud "You bet"

Sissy "Wanna prove it?"

The year was 1979, and a little known honky tonk in Pasadena, Tx was about to become the talk of the nation.  After a small expose' in Esquire Magazine, Hollywood stood up and took notice of the country-music movement.  Disco was moving out, boots and belt buckles were moving in.  The story was loosely based on real live Gilley rats (self-named by the patrons of Gilley's) Dew and Betty, who met and fell in love at Gilley's, like so many other couples.  "Urban Cowboy" refers to an individual who dresses and acts like a cowboy, but works in Industrial or "urban" like settings.  Much like the cowboys of Gilley's, many of the "urban cowboys" worked by day at local refineries and by night, frequented the honky tonk.

The soundtrack propelled the movie to stardom, with music by Johnny Lee, Mickey Gilley, Charlie Daniel's Band, and many more.  Johnny Lee's "Looking For Love" hit the charts fast, number one in a matter of weeks of the song's release.  I remember listening to the soundtrack when I was a little girl; I believe my parents still have the album at home.  I had a belt buckle and belt with my name "branded" on the back.  Boots, and Wranglers with snap-buttoned western shirts were the staple in my wardrobe; two-stepping around my room, dreaming of dancing with John Travolta.  Thirty-five years later, he still is dreamy.