Willie Nelson Presents: King of the Roadies
A true story about the unreal life of an unsung country music hero
Willie Nelson and friends share stories of the enigmatic Texan, Ben Dorcy (aka Lovey), an unsung hero who shaped American music history, pioneered an entire profession as the world’s first roadie, and rivaled time itself to keep the show on the road.
Ben Dorcy, aka Lovey, the first and oldest roadie, is recognized by the cultural icons who depend on him just as he’s losing his independence. Having outlived all his relatives, Ben learns he can rely on his music family. Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Knoxville, Kinky Friedman, Jamey Johnson, Ann-Margret, and more come together to honor this legend among legends who, unbeknownst to many, shaped Texas and American music history. “King of the Roadies” celebrates all who work to keep the wheels turning behind-the-scenes; and reminds us that with spirit, passion and perseverance, our best days may still be ahead of us if we continue doing what we love.
“It’s one thing to have a bunch of good ideas, but to make them work and to put them into action, you need someone like Ben to do it, and he never failed.” – Willie Nelson
An unsung hero of country music, roadie Ben Dorcy was the man behind the bona fide country legends of the past century. Whether he was safely delivering Willie Nelson’s famed guitar, Trigger, or driving Johnny Cash to his sold-out gigs, Dorcy made sure the stars delivered flawless shows, night after night.
But outside of country music circles, hardly anyone knew his name. Now, Willie Nelson Presents: King of the Roadies, brings Dorcy’s inspiring story to light. With never-before-seen footage of country music royalty Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson at a banquet giving Dorcy an old-fashioned roasting, to intimate and hilarious moments on Nelson’s tour bus, this moving film illuminates the invaluable role this pioneering roadie, also known as Lovey, played in the golden era of American country music.
The film illustrates how Dorcy paved the way for the incredible women and men who continue to work as traveling stagehands to this day, and honors all those in the service industry who work behind the scenes to keep things running smoothly with little or no public recognition.
From the young roadies Lovey mentored along the way to the music legends he called colleagues and friends, his impact was enduring and undeniable. “Ben has a shared legacy with all the artists he worked with because he was able to help them create their legacy,” said co-director/producer Amy Lee Nelson. “By telling his story, we want as many people as possible to get to know Lovey. I want to make Lovey proud and I hope audiences come away with a deep appreciation for the folks working behind the scenes in all the ways we don’t usually think about. Let us consider and appreciate the folks who chose vocations where, when they’re really good at their job, they go largely unnoticed.”
With the odds stacked against him, Dorcy overcame family tragedy and a severe head injury in World War II to work with the most revered figures in country music – Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Patsy Cline and Waylon Jennings to name a few – throughout his seven-decade career. Known as a talisman who brought good luck on tours, he offered sage wisdom to his fellow road warriors and had an unparalleled work ethic. Lovey was not only respected by these luminaries, but they also wrote songs about him, such as Waylon Jennings’ “Ode to Ben Dorcy,” and they turned to him for help in a pinch.
As Jennings said, “He did everything we couldn’t do; we were busy being stars.”
This true American tale, which was 16 years in the making, honors and celebrates all the unsung heroes who have worked tirelessly for years to keep the wheels turning behind-the-scenes. Dorcy’s story also reminds us that with some spirit, passion and perseverance, our best days may still be ahead of us if we continue doing what we love, just like Ben. “When you stop doing what you love is when you fade away,” said Amy Lee Nelson. “Ben was happy until the end.”
Now the incredible story of this unassuming, enigmatic Texan who – unbeknownst to many – shaped Texas and American music history, is finally being told.
And, as Ben often says, “We ain’t got no time for romance. We gotta get this show on the road.”