About A Little Farther West

Most of our celebrated groups and perfect pairings are defined by the strengths each member brings to that particular ensemble. That’s clearly the case with the duo that calls itself A Little Farther West. The Oklahoma-based outfit shines the spotlight on the talents of its two principals — singer, songwriter, and guitarist Robert Maxwell Case and his wife, keyboardist and organ player Susie Case. Specializing in music of a mid-century vintage variety — specifically, the sounds of classic American westerns as conveyed with a cinematic style — they perform and write affecting instrumentals and songs that reflect craft and commitment.

The duo’s recently released album, Vaya Con Dios, continues the tradition established by the pair’s four previous efforts, A Little Farther West, Mountain Storm, God Must Be a Cowboy and Christmas on the Line. With each album, A Little Farther West further affirms their ability to capture the magic and majesty of America’s sprawling wild west landscape and the storied history and culture inherent to those fabled environs.

“Like a lot of us who grew up watching classic westerns in the movies and on television,” Robert states, “I associate this style of music with feelings of joy and escape.”

Not surprisingly then, their influences are obvious, especially in Robert’s trademark guitar style. Les Paul and Mary Ford, Duane Eddy, The Ventures, and The Shadows all have left an indelible impression on A Little Farther West’s own signature sound.

“The Ramrods’ instrumental version of  'Ghost Riders in the Sky' along with Jørgen Ingmann’s 'Apache' initiated a decades-long love affair between western entertainment and the electric guitar,” Robert observes. “The sound of the lower strings drenched in tremolo and reverb will forever be paired with wide open spaces and the west.”

It’s little wonder then that A Little Farther West has played such an integral role in so many Old West celebrations, including, most recently, Pawnee Bill's Wild West Show at the Pawnee Bill Ranch in Pawnee, Oklahoma, and Will’s Country Christmas at the Will Rogers Birthplace Ranch in Oolagah, Oklahoma.

“It’s been fun for me to watch ‘cowboy culture’ evolve into a lifestyle,” Susie says. “The new ‘Old West’ influence in apparel, accessories, and home furnishings seems to be everywhere these days. My most recent issue of Cowboys & Indians magazine is always nearby.”

In fact, they’ve taken their own devotion to that legacy and lifestyle several steps further. Taking to the road in the motorhome they’ve dubbed “Happy Trails,” they’ve opened for some cherished western music icons, among them Michael Martin Murphey and Sons of the Pioneers.

Robert and Susie first formed their band in 2014. The two met in Branson, Missouri, where Robert had performed as a solo artist, headlining many of the city’s most popular clubs over the course of ten seasons. He had previously made his name as a journeyman musician, having spent seven seasons as a featured performer at Orlando, Florida’s western-themed resort River Ranch and in various venues in Texas, South Florida and Upstate New York, where he owned and operated a nightspot called Case’s California Ranch. In addition, he was a guest entertainer on a country music theme cruise aboard the SS Norway, alongside such stars as George Jones and Mickey Gilley.

Aside from opening for such legendary artists as Ricky Nelson, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Marty Robbins, Tammy Wynette, the Statler Brothers, Riders in the Sky, Asleep at the Wheel. Sonny James, Little Jimmy Dickens, and the Bellamy Brothers, Robert was, and continues to be, a successful recording artist. After initially making his mark with various bands while in junior high, high school, and college, he signed as a soloist with Herb Alpert’s A&M Records and released his first single, “For Awhile We Helped Each Other Out” b/w “When I’m Wrong You Never Forget.” Following a stint in the army, he released a pair of singles, “Cookie & Lila” and “Movin’ in the Same Circles,” both of which reached the top ten on country station WNYR in upstate New York. Another single, “Livin’ the Life,” garnered national notice in Billboard magazine.

These days, with their trademark western apparel and clear commitment to their cause — reflected by their membership in the International Western Music Association —  Robert and Susie have become the living embodiment of a great musical tradition. They are indeed, the real deal.

— Lee Zimmerman, storiesbeyondthemusic.com