By Brian Landa
@BrianLandaLawyer
“We ain’t got no time for romance. We gotta get this show on the road.” The immortal words of Ben Dorcy III, affectionately known to everyone as Lovey. Willie Nelson Presents King of the Roadies just screened at the 2025 Dallas International Film Festival. Nelson kin are over this one, which is credited on the poster as “A documentary film by Amy Lee Nelson and Trevor Doyle Nelson.”
Lovey is most famous as the world’s first known band assistant AKA “Roadie.” But everyone called him “Band Boy” at first. And he was the only one. That first gig was circa 1950 or so with country legend Ray Price.
But the story doesn’t start there. While Lovey is secretive about parts of his life, we know he did an early “Texas two-step.” He was born in Dallas, moved to Austin as a toddler, and then San Antonio a year later, where he would live off and on for years. A pivotal location at a pivotal time.
Military service was in Lovey’s blood. His mother (who he was mostly very secretive about) was a military nurse and the first person to come up with the idea of hospital tents in Germany, which is very M*A*S*H before its time. After US Navy service on an aircraft carrier during WWII and a bit beyond (1944-46), he briefly became a professional ice dancer until a freak injury ended his and his partner’s career.
But San Antonio had other plans for Lovey. John Wayne’s mega-production of an epic movie about The Alamo was in town. One thing led to another and Lovey became Wayne’s driver and personal assistant for just about everything, professional and family-oriented, for years.
As Lovey had no real family of his own (he had married once, but his wife was lost in a tragic car accident), he was absorbed into the entertainment world. While he was there to serve, he always remained his own man. Willie will tell you, and he doesn’t hold back. This is a Nelson family production through and through. Willie and his family are everywhere and pull no punches. They loved frustrating old Lovey, who passed at 92 in 2017. But this film is about the life, not the passing.
He once danced with Ann-Margret on a live Vegas television special, but without his almost ever present old school professor-style pipe, which was filled with THC green cannabis. Not unusual for being on the road with Willie (the bust stories are as entertaining as it gets), who is, as the world knows, an avid proponent of the THC. They had a bit of a love-hate relationship, but mostly love. One notable Willie quote is “I look at what Lovey is doing and then I do the opposite.”
Lovey never played an instrument, but they would let him get on stage every once in a while to jingle a tambourine. He was mostly responsible, but the drugs and alcohol could get in the way every once in a while. For all of his drinking and smoking, he was the most reliable person ever, according to several who would certainly know: Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, Jesse Colter and June Carter Cash. Even legendary Texan Kinky Friedman chimes in.
With his gray beard and long hair, people often confused him for Willie, so Willie would send him out to take pictures and give autographs at times and people were like “Man, Willie has sure gone downhill.” And then Willie would come out and everybody would cheer that Lovey wasn’t Willie.
There’s a great sequence where actor Jesse Plemons goes with Lovey to the old location of the Nudie store in North Hollywood Los Angeles. Nudie was known for flashy sequined western wear. Elton John is a fan. They still have the original Nudie western horseshoes on the door, though the physical space has changed hands many times.
Lovey became so well known in the Texas country music scene (spent his latter years assisting bands in New Braunfels) that they were doing special events for him at the John T. Floore Country Store, a legendary venue in Helotes outside of San Antonio where Willie played every Saturday night at one point. The Willie sign is still there.
One of Lovey’s favorite sayings, which was printed on T-shirts that seem to be worn by at least a couple interview subjects, was “Get your shit together.” He didn’t always have his shit together, but he was more organized than most. Showing up is everything. Punctuality gets noticed. That’s how he became the legend he is today. Especially in the entertainment business. If you don’t show up, there are 25 people who will.
Documentaries are an interesting and tough road. Often, there is no clear end point. And that’s why I love reviewing them. Labor of love is an understatement. And this one is real love because these people were his family. A couple of Willie’s grandsons, perhaps, say that Lovey was so out there that he might be an alien or a deity of some kind.
To the end, he wouldn’t say a single bad thing about John Wayne. The filmmakers try to get him to at one point. But he’s faithful – essentially honoring an NDA before the era of NDAs. I’m an entertainment lawyer by day. NDAs are my wheelhouse.
Lovey was a legend and he has earned a space in various music halls of fame, even without actual musicianship. Roadies are essential and he was the first one. The ultimate band boy. And this is a really good film in honor of a worthy man.
