Father & Son Complete 646-Mile Ride for Real Country Awareness
There are a lot of things true country music fans and artists do to express their love for the music, and at times, show concern for what country music has become. Traditional country artist C.J. Garton and his 13-year-old son Clinton Bruce Garton III decided to take a unconventional approach to raising awareness about what is going on in country music, and one that got the attention of quite a few folks along the way. As opposed to taking to social media to post memes or some other exercise in protestation, C.J. Garton and son spent the second half of the summer of 2019 on a 646-mile trip across four states on horseback on what they called “Riding for Real Country: The Ride Back Home.”
Starting in Nashville in July 23rd on their horses Pancho and Lefty, and ending at the family’s farm about 40 miles southwest of Tulsa in Depew, Oklahoma in late August, they brought their message about real country to numerous events and communities along the way, played a few scheduled and impromptu gigs, and drew the attention of numerous local newspapers and television stations.
“We’ve gone through three states, and the thing everyone tells us is they don’t listen to the radio anymore. That breaks my heart, because that is going to kill radio eventually,” C.J. Garton told the Baxter Bulletin in Mountain Home, Arkansas on August 12th as the two passed through town. “Our music industry is a monopoly. If you’re not part of the big conglomerates (that own the radio stations), then you don’t get your music played. We want to give the listener — that person on the other end of the radio — a voice.”
Along their journey, numerous people helped out the pair by offering food and shelter. OilFire Rye Whiskey also helped sponsor the ride, and an Indiegogo Campaign raised money to help make the trip possible and to help make a documentary about the trek. During the journey, the duo rode with banners to help raise awareness for what they were doing. “When we’re riding through towns or on the sides of interstates, people pull over and they want to know what’s going on,” C.J. Garton said. “Going through town, meeting and interacting with people is the best part.”
On August 19th they arrived in Tulsa, and the CBS affiliate was there to greet the pair and interview them about the trip (see below). By that time, the trek had become just as much about father and son bonding time and the inherent goodness in the world that is getting lost in the digital age as it was about country music. “We’ve met so many people that’s helped us,” C.J. told News Chanel 6. “We had people pull over and say, ‘Hey we’re going to put you in a hotel room tonight and buy you dinner!’ And we’re like, ‘What just happened?'”
C.J. Carlton chronicled the journey on his Facebook page where you can scroll through and see daily updates along the way. They got the attention of country music songwriting legend Billy Don Burns who commented, “Damn man that is quite the deal. Be safe out there.“
“The reason why I’m doing this is I want to spend father son time with my boy, and also create awareness for country music the way I grew up loving it and listening to it—songs that say something,” C.J. Garton says. “We have so much division in the world. I think this could bring us together a little more.”
C.J. Garton released a self-titled album in 2018 that is available through all major outlets.
August 27, 2019 @ 8:40 am
Very commendable! Stuff like this gives us hope. Here’s hoping the fellas were able to reach some folks and make a difference.
On a sadder note…my youngest daughter started kindergarten last week and came home singing “old town road”
It’s a never ending battle…
August 27, 2019 @ 10:55 am
Mine started today. I have her trained to reflexively dislike anything that sounds, even remotely, like rap or hip hop. If a commercial even comes on the tv, she lets me know and we deal with it immediately.
August 28, 2019 @ 5:03 am
You sound like a shitty dad
August 28, 2019 @ 5:25 am
Thanks for the compliment.
August 27, 2019 @ 8:55 am
In however many years in the future, I don’t see fans of bro-country making efforts like this to bring that back that form of music.
August 27, 2019 @ 8:57 am
Good point.
August 27, 2019 @ 1:15 pm
Great story! Thanks for posting! Love to see stuff like this. That’s a summer trip to remember!
August 27, 2019 @ 2:56 pm
Nothing against this article or what it stands for but were I come from in order for a child have a III after there name the father has to have the same name and the grandfather has to also not the father be different than the son. Maybe it is different where they are from but I have never heard of anything like that. With that said, I hope that they do everything that they can to help there cause.
August 27, 2019 @ 3:18 pm
Hiram Hank, Randall Hank, and Shelton Hank
August 27, 2019 @ 8:30 pm
Well, C.J. most likely stands for Clinton Jr.
September 12, 2021 @ 11:16 am
Then you don’t know CJ, His dad was Clinton as his name and named his son after him too. Before you pick something apart know the facts.
August 29, 2019 @ 9:26 am
Nice story, and his album is ok, too.
September 1, 2019 @ 10:35 am
Thank you so much for the kind words and write up. Proud to be bringing awareness to real country music artists . I’ve always been a big believer in power in numbers and lifting each other up . Here’s to getting back to the basics and one of the most important things traditional country music has always stood for . Bringing us together through human connection and stories of everyday life . Thanks again saving country music.com and trigger for the awesome article .
September 12, 2021 @ 11:19 am
Love you brother, miss you and the family. Hope to see you all again soon. Really miss the porch picking and the late late night campfires and singing.