He Toured with Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson & Waylon—Now the World’s First Roadie Finally Gets His Spotlight
While the stars take center stage, the real magic often happens behind the scenes. And now, the man who helped make the stage possible is finally getting the recognition he deserves.
“Willie Nelson Presents: King of the Roadies” is a brand-new documentary shining a long-overdue light on Benjamin H. Dorcy III, also known as Lovey—the very first roadie in music history.
Set to premiere at the Dallas International Film Festival on Sunday, April 27, this powerful film has been 16 years in the making. But the wait is worth it. It’s more than a tribute—it’s a journey through a life that helped shape American music itself.
“You can have great ideas, but you need someone like Ben to make them real—and he never failed,” says Willie Nelson.
From setting up for Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson to touring with Patsy Cline, Waylon Jennings, and even John Wayne, Dorcy wasn’t just a backstage helper—he was part of the heartbeat of legendary careers. Waylon Jennings even wrote a song about him: “Ode to Ben.”
The documentary doesn’t just tell the story of a roadie—it tells the story of a survivor. From a devastating family tragedy to surviving a WWII head injury, Dorcy spent seven decades on the road, outlasting many of the stars he worked with.
“Ben didn’t just work behind the scenes,” says co-director Amy Lee Nelson. “He helped artists build their legacies. He deserves to be remembered for that.”
The film also teases something more mysterious: How did Dorcy always seem to be connected to the next big star? Was it pure chance—or something more?
For those watching from home, there’s also a companion concept album, featuring reimagined tracks from and inspired by the documentary—performed by today’s biggest names.
And the legacy doesn’t end there: on March 19, 2025, the world will celebrate the very first National Roadie Day, marking what would have been Dorcy’s 100th birthday.
“He never stopped doing what he loved,” says Amy Nelson. “And that’s why he stayed happy—right until the end.”
