Friday — February 13, 2004

Après ski, the way
it used to be

Joe Cannon returns to Ketchum

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By MICHAEL AMES
Express Staff Writer

Joe Cannon knows Ketchum. For 20 years Cannon was a Sun Valley fixture, playing his signature après ski show at local bars and restaurants that "all seem to be gone now," he said in a recent interview.

But this winter, Cannon will once again play Ketchum, first with a one-night show on Tuesday, Feb. 17, at the Roosevelt Tavern in Ketchum. The show starts at 4:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the door.

Joe Cannon performs Tuesday at the Roosevelt Tavern. Courtesy photo

Cannon said customers should expect a rocking good time, though not quite as much drinking as they may remember from shows in the old days.

"Those shows were a blast," he remembered. "Everyone doing tequila shooters and singing along and dancing and just having a great time."

In the 1970s, when he was entertaining the crowds at the Ram Bar, Creekside or Elkhorn, the place "was ‘Animal House’ every day," he said.

Originally from Pawtucket, R.I., Cannon moved to California and found work in Hollywood as a barn boy on the sets of Universal Studios Westerns. He began writing songs for "The Virginian" and soon became known for his musical talent.

In January 1974, Cannon landed a gig at the Ram Bar in Sun Valley and so began his career as singer, impersonator and entertainer galore.

Curious newcomers to the Joe Cannon show can expect a rollicking ride of rock, folk and country. "The only thing I can’t do is rap," said a modest Cannon.

From Cat Stevens to Elvis, Dean Martin and Blood, Sweat and Tears, Cannon promises to both humor and entertain the throngs with his myriad musical impersonations. Johnny Cash’s classic "Fire in the Sky" becomes the fitting Sun Valley tune "Yuppies in the Sky."

These days Cannon still spends winters in Sun Valley and is currently getting in touch with those Western roots first laid on "The Virginian." Cannon is playing the part of a "screw-off miner" in HBO’s highly anticipated "Deadwood" series.

He also keeps up on the accomplishments of his six grown children. The Cannon clan boasts three professional athletes: Joe Jr. defends goal for Major League Soccer’s Colorado Rapids; Jon recently signed a contract with Major League Baseball’s Arizona Diamondbacks, and Colt is making a big name for himself on the pro skateboarding tour.

The Feb. 17 show at the Roosevelt will feature some new stuff, promised Cannon. He’ll also be performing in Hailey for a Rotarun Ski Area fundraiser scheduled for March 20 at the Idaho National Guard Armory in Hailey.

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.