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Ramblin' Lou honored at Erie County Fair

Sat, Sep 10th 2016 12:00 am

The late Ramblin' Lou Schriver was remembered at this year's Erie County Fair, a venue at which he performed for more than half a century.

Schriver, the country music performer, longtime broadcaster and Grand Island resident, was fondly remembered at the opening of the 177th Erie County Fair Aug. 10. This year's fair featured the debut of a new attraction, the Heritage & History Center, located inside the Erie County Fair's 1885 Octagon Building. The center chronicles the more than 195 years of agriculture, food, competition and entertainment at the Erie County Fair. A highlight of the center this year was a display dedicated to Schriver, who entertained spectators at the Erie County Fair for 51 consecutive years. He passed away in January.

In the display (pictured) is Schriver's Nudie suit, designed by American tailor Nudie Cohn who made decorative rhinestone-covered suits for such performers as Elvis, Gene Autry and Hank Williams Sr. The display includes Schriver's custom Gibson guitar, and the hand-painted milk can stool on which Schriver sat while playing.

Schriver began performing on local radio in 1947 and quickly gained a reputation for family-oriented shows with folksy, country humor. He took to the Community Outdoor Stage at the Hamburg fairgrounds in 1964 and over time added his entire family to what became known as the Ramblin' Lou Family Band.

In 1970, he purchased his own radio station and transformed it into WXRL, the leading local AM country music radio station.

Schriver is a member of the Erie County Fair Hall of Fame, the Country Music Disk Jockey Hall of Fame in Nashville, the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame, and the Buffalo Broadcasting Hall of Fame.

 

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