Thanks for your interest in the Diamond W Wranglers!  Their individual profiles are below, and here is some additional information that might be of interest.  If you need anything else, please email me!  We want to make sure you have what you need.

Happy Trails, Martha Farrell

STU STUART – Lead singer, lead guitar, fiddle

Stu, a native Kansan, comes from an entertainment background.  His grandfather, Hal O’Halloran was chief announcer on WLS Radio in Chicago for years, hosting the famous WLS Barn Dance.  Hal became friends with great Western singing stars like Gene Autry, Patsy Montana, Smiley Burnette and Rex Allen, and loved to sing cowboy songs himself.  In fact, his recording of “Ghost Riders in the Sky” was the first recorded music that Stu ever heard.

Stu began playing the guitar when he was a child, and started his first rock and roll band in high school.  He continued to hone his musical skills in the Navy, and later played in a series of bluegrass and country bands, ending up in Nashville.  There he helped form a country band called Hank Flamingo, which recorded an album for Giant records.  This led to singles on the record charts, videos on CMT, and appearances on the TV shows of Crook & Chase and Conan O’Brien.

Stu met Jim Farrell while in Nashville.  They quickly discovered a common love of cowboy music, and formed a group called J38 Land & Cattle Company, which performed together for several years.   Stu later recruited Jim to come to Kansas and they became the core members of the Wranglers.

JIM FARRELL – Harmony vocals, rhythm guitar, musical arranger

“Tennessee Jim” was born and raised in Nashville, where he grew up surrounded by harmony.  His father sang in a championship barbershop quartet, and led the church choir. Jim played guitar, bass and piano, and was a working musician by the age of 14. At 15 he began apprenticing with a master recording engineer, Ben Hall.  He later spent 17 years working with Hall’s music publishing company and performed on hundreds of recording sessions.

Jim has become recognized as one of the finest producers and recording engineers in Western Music.  The National Cowboy Hall of Fame awarded him “Western Music Producer of the Year” in 2005, and he has produced highly regarded CD’s for Rex Allen Jr. and Roy “Dusty” Rogers Jr., among many others.

Jim owns a recording studio in Towanda, KS (Jim Farrell Studios) and is responsible for producing all of the Diamond W recordings.  He is also a gifted songwriter.  “Deep in the Saddle”, the title cut of the Wranglers’ award-winning album, is a Jim Farrell original, as are fan favorites “Full Gallop”, “Trail Dust” and “Cabezon”.  Jim is committed to seeing Western music grow internationally, and oversaw the Wranglers' 2011 debuts with a symphony orchestra and chamber orchestra.

STEVE CRAWFORD – Drums and percussion, harmony vocals

“Stevie C, the Rhythmic Cowboy” acquired his interest in music from his mother,  an accomplished pianist and organist.  In grade school he began acting, singing, and playing the French horn.  At 12 Steve built his own drum set out of oatmeal boxes, round baskets, tin pie plates and anything remotely resembling a drum or cymbal.  His parents eventually surrendered and bought him his own real drum set. Steve played drums in the jazz band and sang in musical productions throughout high school.

Associated with the Chuckwagon when the Wranglers were founded, Steve joined them full-time in 2003.  When he’s not on his throne as the “King of the Cowboy Drummers”, Steve practices his quick draw skills as an CAD drafting technician.

He's a talented graphic designer as well, and produces virtually all of the CD art work, posters, and ads for the Diamond W.

CHIP WORTHINGTON – String bass, harmony and lead vocals

Chip is the newest and youngest member of the group, and is already making waves with veteran Diamond W fans.  His incredible Irish tenor voice prompted multiple standing ovations on the latest Cowboy Cruise! 

Like the other Wranglers, Chip grew up with music in the house.  He started playing the string bass in the 4th grade, and is accomplished on the piano.  He was active in both orchestra and choir throughout high school.

Chip attended Wichita State University on a Vocal Music education scholarship, where he studied music theory under the Pulitzer prize-nominated professor, Dr. Walter Mays.  He was a member of the prestigious Madrigal singing group and Wichita State’s barbershop quartet.  He also played in an alternative bluegrass band for a year and a half.  Chip is delighted to be part of the Wranglers, and feels it has opened a whole new door for him musically.  His youth, wit, and fluent Spanish have added new energy and fun to an already dynamic group.

STU

JIM

STEVE

CHIP