Pat York and Monty “Hawkeye” Henderson got to music through a winding — and bucking — route.

Both men worked the professional rodeo circuit, York as a marketing man for Resistol Hats and Dodge Rodeo promotions, and Henderson as a saddle-bronc rider on the professional circuit. Henderson picked and strummed as a social outlet, and York has played harmonica and guitar since childhood.

The two first played together in Las Vegas, when Henderson had a gig with another group of musicians.

“Pat said, ‘Invite me up there and you won’t be disappointed.’ I did, and he blew me away. He played the [mouth] harp and I wasn’t disappointed,” Henderson said.

Music took on more meaning after Henderson broke his neck bronc riding in 1991. He retired from the rodeo and started playing more seriously.

They started booking gigs as Compadres Too about a year ago. They play Fort Worth, where cowboy music is enjoying a revival.

York said he started looking in Denton. Two of York’s daughters worked at Frilly’s Seafood Bayou Kitchen, a local Cajun restaurant. A manager there was a former student of York’s, too — York spent nearly a decade coaching and teaching high school in Denton.

“Well, [Henderson has] been looking for some things to do and I’ve had some health problems — leukemia and vision problems, and I haven’t worked at a full-time job since then. We’d been playing a lot, and then we decided we didn’t want to play background music anymore — what some people call ‘wallpaper music,’” York said. “We’re seeing a revival of cowboy music — not country music, exactly — but the Bob Wills music, swing music, is back in Texas.

“It’s real strong in places like Fort Worth, and with people like Pat Green, Ray Wylie Hubbard and Jerry Jeff Walker. They were what we consider to be the godfathers of Texas music. They kept with it, and people are liking it again.”

The duo will play Texas and cowboy music. Some is original, but York said they know how to own a cover song.

“We’re really more the wave of the past than the wave of the future,” he said.

The duo will perform in the dining areas at Frilly’s and Fuzzy’s Taco Shop. While there is no cover, patrons have to buy food, drinks or both.

—Lucinda Breeding

What: an evening of Western swing, classic country and cowboy music

When: 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday and March 29 at Frilly’s Seafood Bayou Kitchen at 1925 Denison St., and 6 p.m. to closing Monday at Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, 155 Industrial St.

Details: No cover, but food and drink will cost you.