SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) -- For the past five decades the music and comedy team of Williams and Ree entertained audiences all over the country. They performed with some of the biggest names in country music and even had their own TV show. Sadly Terry Ree passed away in late December. In tonight's Eye on KELOLAND Tom Hanson looks back at their 56-year partnership and the impact they had on fans in KELOLAND. Bruce Williams and Terry Ree met at freshmen orientation at Black Hills State in 1968, Williams tells us the first time he saw Ree play he was in awe. Court: Beaudion Jr. competent for trial "I didn't know a soul, but this big Sioux Indian fella got up on stage with his guitar and started singing, and since I was a guitar player as well I thought, man, this guy is, I just idolized him you know he was just such a presence, just him and his guitar on stage," said Williams.Together they became one of South Dakota's most successful performing acts, mixing music and humor. And they were good at it."The Indians they have a game and yes they call it Bingo, B-i-n-g-o B-i-n-g-o B-i-n-g-o, but not no more in Flandreau," sang Ree.Williams and Ree were inducted into the South Dakota Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018, the same year as Mogen's Heroes. "I always tease Bruce because I said we finally got you inducted and it's the worst crowd we've ever had. Well, it's because there was like 15 inches of snow and 50-mile-an-hour winds, so people here in Sioux Falls couldn't even get to the show, but they stole the show they were so good," said John Mogen Williams and Ree would open for many of the top acts in country music such as Garth Brooks, the Oak Ridge Boys and Tim McGraw. Their ethnic backgrounds became a cornerstone of their act. "I'm Indian and you are white right?" said Ree during an act. "Caucasian," Williams replied. "Caucasian, honky same darn thing. Remember that as we progress here tonight, here in this beautiful country you white people stole from my people," said Ree. "Back then they called it a gimmick, you know what is your gimmick. And somehow we pulled that rabbit out of our hat. 'You stole my land, you know, because I'm Indian this is my land, you're an interloper and you have not right here. So what are you doing here?' So that became our back-and-forth. And it worked for a long long time, it was a gimmick that made us quite a good living," said Williams. Williams told us he will always be grateful to KELOLAND News which played a role early in their careers. "Doug Lund from KELOLAND gave us a shot on his show back in, I think 1977. He gave us a big boost and from that we got untold bookings and that elevated us to the next level right there," said Williams. Social media scam poses as missing child post They often made themselves available to KELOLAND News One year they let us follow them around at the state fair in Huron as they tried out fair food. For as funny as he was, fans came to realize that Terry Ree had a great voice "That was his dream, you know, to be a front man and entertainer. We really... our harmonies was really quite unique, good and tight and boy it was fun. fun to play and fund to sing, yea," said Williams. John Mogen says he saw the friendship between Williams and Ree as something to be admired. Even after they stopped performing together. "And Bruce told me he talked to Terry every day on the phone, even when Terry's health was bad and he couldn't grip with his diabetes. He couldn't play his guitar anymore but they were just best friends," said Mogen. Williams says there will always be a place in his heart for the fans in South Dakota and the support they gave Williams and Ree. Two teenagers who played together for the first time in a dorm room and made a successful career out of doing what they love, playing music and making people laugh. "We are Williams and Ree live and direct from Spearfish South Dakota," said Ree. Williams lives in Nashville now and at age 74 is still busy performing and touring with a band called Fran Moran and the Nervous Wrecks.