When Richard “Razz” Reynolds does the rodeo circuit, he isn’t riding a bronco or bull. He’s not a rodeo clown, nor is he one of the many who follow rodeos around. Still, rodeo-goers know him and look for him every year. In fact, Tucsonans may recognize him — this is his fifth year at the entrance gate.

Razz calls himself the Roamin’ Hillbilly and his job is to greet everyone. 

“I’m out there with my acoustic guitar hooting and hollering, welcoming you to the rodeo,” he said. “I’m the welcoming committee.”

When Tucson opens the 2026 rodeo season at La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo, it opens Razz’s season as well since Tucson is his first stop in a 25-stop tour. He’s been doing this work for 10 years and to listen to him talk, it’s clear he loves what he does, but we wouldn’t expect anything else from a man who believes, humbly and gratefully, that he was put on this earth to spread joy.

“I say I live my life in service to others by sharing joy,” he said. “That’s who I am and that’s what comes out of my sharing of my hillbilly adventures — it’s just this love of being able to share joy with others.” 

Razz’s job of spreading joy doesn’t end when the last person is welcomed, though. While the rodeo is happening in the arena, Razz wanders around the rodeo grounds where the merchandise and food vendors are. He’s the lunch and dinner entertainment.

“I give what I call personal concerts,” he said. I just roam around, singing songs to people while they pass me and as people pass me and I pass them sometimes we stop and we take selfies.”

Judging by his guitar, Razz encourages pictures and selfies. His guitar is fairly explicit. It says, “Let’s take a selfie.” In fact, some people look for Razz for that specific reason.

“The rodeos I go to, I’ve become a part of folks’ rodeo experiences,” he said. “They look for me. … It tears me up to think about it.   People come to the rodeo to take their annual selfie with me.”

When the rodeo ends it’s time for one of his favorite parts of the job.

“After the rodeo is all done and people are exiting back through that gate, I go back to the main gate and I sing one more song, thanking people for coming to the rodeo,” he said. “The cool part about it is I get to connect with everybody.”

Razz’s repertoire is vast and he does take requests. He said he can and will play from just about any genre. Ask him to rap and he has several somethings up his sleeve. It’s a task keeping up with all the music that’s out there but he does it so he can accommodate all ages. His current favorite?

“The song that I currently have a lot of fun with is a Kenny Chesney song called ‘American Kids,’” he said. “I do this kind of rap thing in it and it’s a real groovy dance song and most people recognize it.”

He added that he doesn’t write his own material but interprets others’ work.

“I bring life to other people’s songs, including classic country songs,” he said. 

Included in that list are works by Hank Williams, Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard.

What is his most often requested song?

“I get it all because people hear me singing old country songs but they hear me doing new songs, too,” he said.

It turns out that if anyone requests a song and he doesn’t know it he makes an effort to learn it so he can bring it to the rodeo next year.

When the rodeo ends and the dust settles, it’s time for the Roamin’ Hillbilly to hit the road. Next stop: the great state of Texas for more songs, selfies and joy.

The Tucson Rodeo runs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 21 and 22, then again Thursday through Sunday, Feb. 26 through March 1.  

Tucson Rodeo

WHEN: Feb. 21 – March 1, 2026.

WHERE: Tucson Rodeo Grounds, 4823 South 6th Avenue, Tucson, AZ

INFO: Daily rodeo performances start at 10 a.m., featuring bareback riding, steer wrestling, and more.

Rodeo Parade

WHEN:Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, starting around 9 a.m., featuring a new route near the Rodeo Grounds.

INFO: tucsonrodeo.com