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Is Concrete Cowboys Based on a True Story?

The 1979 movie Concrete Cowboys is not based on a true story, but rather is a made-for-TV film that follows a fictional portrayal of two friends, Will and Woody, who head to Nashville in search of fortune and adventure. Starring Jerry Reed and Tom Selleck, the film is based on the novel “The Two-Dollar Bill” by Richard Alan Simmons. The storyline, however, is purely fictional and not inspired by real events.

The plot revolves around Will and Woody, who leave their mundane lives in Montana for the excitement of Nashville. There, they become entangled in a series of funny misadventures involving mistaken identities, murder and the country music scene. The title, Concrete Cowboys, refers to the main characters’ transition from rural life to urban surroundings, contrasting the traditional “cowboy” with their modern experiences. The film has a comedic tone, blending elements of the Western genre with a contemporary urban setting, but it does not have any direct connection to real-life cowboys or historical events.

Although the movie is not based on a true story, its backdrop, Nashville, does reflect a vibrant music scene that has been central to the development of country music in the United States. The film’s depiction of Nashville’s music culture, its venues, and the colorful characters may resonate with the real experiences of musicians and aspiring stars who flock to the city, but this aspect is more of a setting than a foundation for the plot.

The term “concrete cowboys” has been used in more recent years to describe urban cowboys, including groups like the Fletcher Street Urban Riding Club in Philadelphia, which inspired the 2020 film Concrete Cowboy starring Idris Elba. That film, based on the novel “Ghetto Cowboy” by Greg Neri, draws from the real-life tradition of Black urban horseback riding clubs and the challenges faced by the community. However, this modern use of the term should not be confused with the 1979 Concrete Cowboys movie, which is completely fictional.

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