Poet and writer Jane Morton's
long-anticipated second volume of poetry, In This Land of Little Rain
is described:
Discover stories of the old West and the new West through
poems of its people, its places, and its history. Enjoy more than fifty poems
and many photographs spanning ninety years of a family ranch and eighty years
of western living on the high plains of northeastern Colorado.
Jane Morton's observations gathered through a lifetime of western living, look
into our changing West at previously undiscovered horizons. Some will amuse,
others will touch hearts, and all will shed new light on rural life in the
West.
Jane Morton writes, in her book's Introduction, "My poems tell
about my family, the grasslands of northeastern Colorado, and our ranch seven
miles southwest of Fort Morgan, which has been in the family since 1915." The
ranch, inherited by her brother, was sold in 2007. She says of her family's
legacy, "For ninety years, they were stewards of the land. When my grandparents
died, they left little money. They could have sold the ranch in their later
years and retired in town, but they weren't looking for short-term gain. They
were trying to build a heritage. Money wasn't as important as the land. The land
meant security. 'Take care of the land, and it will take care of you,' was the
creed they lived by, and it served them well."
Poet and writer Rod Miller writes in
the Foreword, "...her work emerges from the Western Plains like a song or sea of
grass. She writes of the land and the people who love it—often her own people
and the family ranch, now gone, but not forgotten....The Western plains made an
indelible impression on the poet, and her poems will do the same for you...."
a Willa Award finalist and received the
Will Rogers Medallion Award and the
Arizona Book Publishers' Glyph
Award.
There is also a CD of 19 poems
from Turning to Face the Wind.
Jane has appeared at the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering and is
a frequent performer at many other Western events. Her films about her family's
ranching life are a part of the Western Folklife Center's
Deep West Video project. She was an early
Lariat Laureate at CowboyPoetry.com and was named the 2007 Top Female Poet by
the Academy of Western Artists. Her poetry is featured on the first edition of
The BAR-D Roundup and The BAR-D Roundup: Volume Four.
See the complete table of contents for In This Land of Little
Rainhere.
Read some of Jane Morton's poetry and more about her in our
feature here.
In This Land of Little Rain is available for
$13.95 plus $4.50 for shipping and handling from Jane Morton, 12710 Abert Way,
Colorado Springs, CO 80908; 719-495-9304;
janemortonpoet@gmail.com.
Posted 8/12
Singer, songwriter, and poet TJ Casey has a new eBook,
Man of the West. From his description:
...Man of the West takes you on a journey through time
and throughout the country from Alaska to Montana. His stories take you back
to the good old days through today as he shares the ways and thoughts of the
modern day cowboy. His stories motivate, amuse and many bring a tear of joy...
Read more at TJ's web site,
www.tjcasey.net, where you can download the book for $12.
Posted 7/28
Popular piano playerDave Bourne (www.saloonpiano.com)
is familiar to many for his music on the Deadwood series and his
portrayal of the piano player in the series' Gem Saloon; his playing at the
National Cowboy Poetry Gathering; his association with New Orleans'
Resurrection Brass Band; his five solo "Saloon Piano" CDs of melodies from
1845 to 1910; and for his
own singing group, the Lobo Rangers. There's a new release of the
Lobo Rangers' music, The Lobo Rangers, Campfire Music; The Best of the
Early Years, 1990-1995. From the official description:
The founding of the Lobo Rangers really begins with the
Wagonmasters, the cowboy group that entertained in the Wagon Camp at Knott’s
Berry Farm in Buena Park, California from 1955 until 1968. This group,
originally led by Dick Goodman and later by Billy Beeman, was patterned
closely on the sound of the Sons Of The Pioneers. So close was the vocal trio
sound to that of the original Pioneers that in 1958 when Hugh Farr sought to
start his own group and leave the Pioneers, he came to the Wagon Camp to get
his musicians.
In 1988 when the Lobo Rangers was formed, Ramrod Dave Bourne, who played bass
with the Wagonmasters, chose fiddler Billy Beeman and guitarist Bobby Beeman
as the core group for the new band along with Patty Bourne on vocals. By 1990,
the group included another Wagonmaster, Don Richardson on bass. The Lobo
Rangers solidified their sound with the addition of
Michael Fleming, a multi-talented musician who played guitar, sang tenor,
and wrote fabulous western songs. Three cassettes were produced during this
period which featured the writing of Michael Fleming and Billy Beeman. The
original tunes were so successful that several other artists have recorded
them and Fleming’s tunes have won awards.
The Lobo Rangers appeared many times in the early years at the Autry Museum.
They performed at the Lone Pine Film Festival for eight years and were also
featured at the first Elko Cowboy Music Gathering.
This new CD re-issue has twenty one selections chosen from the three cassettes
recorded in the early 1990s.
The Lobo Rangers, Campfire Music; The Best of the Early
Years, 1990-1995. is available for $17 postpaid from Dave Bourne, P.O.
Box 173, Agoura Hills, CA 91376-0173. Find more information and the track list
at www.saloonpiano.com.
A diverse playlist includes songs recorded by artists including Dave Stamey, Bill Barwick,Sid Hausman, the late Paul Hendel, and others. Also included is a
poem co-written with Linda Kirkpatrick. See the entire
playlist here and find sample tracks at
CDBaby.
(Find information about Volume 1
here, along with some of Les Buffham's
poems and lyrics in our feature here.)
See the track list here,
along with one of his poems.
Jarle is a frequent performer at the Dakota Cowboy Poetry Gathering. He is
the program director at KEYA Public Radio in Belcourt, North Dakota.
Fancy Fencin' is available for $14 postpaid from: Jarle Kvale, PO Box 488,
Dunseith, ND 58329; jpkvale@srt.com
Posted 6/8
Mark
Bedor, known to many for his articles and photography
Western publications, is also a singer and guitarist with a new CD,
Today's Wild West. From the producers:
Those who know Mark Bedor know him as a freelance Western
writer-photographer. His stories on Western music, horse trips, dude ranches,
and all things Western have been published in more than two dozen magazines,
including
Cowboys & Indians,
American Cowboy,
America's Horse, many
others.
On his travels, Bedor never leaves home
without his Taylor guitar, which he plays around campfires, the kitchen or
wherever he happens to be. At the encouragement of the celebrated Western
guitarist-producer Rich O'Brien, Mark has cut his debut CD.
Today's Wild West
is a collection of ten great cowboy-themed classics, such as "Tequila
Sunrise," "Rocky Mountain High," and Chris LeDoux's "Song of Wyoming."
The first academic anthology to focus on
cowboy poets east of the Mississippi,
Georgia
Cowboy Poets, by
David Fillingim
and published by Mercer University Press, presents a history of
cowboy poetry, a survey of the contemporary scene, and a collection
of poems by Georgia poets.
Included are the works of poets
Doc Stovall,
Joel Hayes,
Jerry Warren,
Tom Kerlin, and six others,
including David Fillingim. Fillingim's preface explains that the
book was inspired by his attendance at the Southeastern Cowboy
Gathering at the Booth Western
Art Museum. Fillingim's essay, "The Cowboy Poetry Phenomenon,"
offers an extensive background of the history and modern practice of
cowboy poetry, with generous references. Another essay, "Keeping
Georgia a Western State: The Georgia Cowboy Poets," explains the
foundation of cowboy poetry in the state and how its events and
poets contrast with cowboy poetry elsewhere.
Popular Canadian poet
Doris Daley provides the
book's foreword. She comments that the book "...reminds us all who
big the West really is."
David Fillingim is also the author of
Redneck Liberation: Country Music as Theology and other books.
He is an associate professor of Philosophy at Shorter College in
Rome, Georgia.
We're pleased to announce the release of The BAR-D
Roundup: Volume Five
(2010)CD,our fifth
compilation of vintage and contemporary recordings of some of
the best cowboy poetry. A wide range of voices present tales
that express this venerable art form, words that uncover "the heartbeat
of the working West."
This fifth annual edition of
The BAR-D
Roundup includes a vintage recording of Charles Badger Clark, Jr. (1883-1957)
introducing and reciting his
still-popular poem, "The Cowboy's Prayer,"
and contemporary poets reciting their work, including "Awakenings" by
rancher, horseman, and National Endowment of the Arts Fellow Joel Nelson;
"The Fence That Me and Shorty Built" by songwriter, poet,
entertainer and past Texas Poet Laureate Red
Steagall; and "No Second Chance" by top cowboy poet Waddie Mitchell.
Also included are "Waitin' on the Drive" by the late
Larry McWhorter (1957-2003), and "Some
Cowboy Brag Talk" by the legendary Harry Jackson.
The CD has a fifth annual
selection from Grass, the
master work by the late Buck Ramsey(1938-1998),
a National Endowment for the Arts Fellow, recognized as the spiritual leader of
modern cowboy poetry.
Every year's CD includes a radio public service announcement about
the Center for Western and Cowboy Poetry. This year, it is
delivered by popular radio DJ Joe Baker
of New Mexico's
Backforty Bunkhouse.
The BAR-D Roundup cover images are vintage photos of
poets or their forebears.
This year's cover features a circa 1940 image of Georgie Sicking, cowboy, poet, and
Cowgirl Hall of Fame inductee. Inside each year's CD, a contemporary ranch
family photo is featured. For 2010,
there's a photo of cowboys, family, and friends at poet and writer
Diane Tribitt's Minnesota ranch.
Poems and permissions were generously donated by poets, musicians,
families, organizations, and publishers.
The BAR-D
Roundup: Volume Fiveis available for $20
postpaid (and there are special orders for bundles with previous editions). You
can order electronically here
or send a check or money order in US funds (find a printable form here)
to: CowboyPoetry.com, PO Box 330444, San Francisco, CA 94133.
She introduces three legendary Pendleton riders in her
original songs: Bonnie McCarroll, Prairie Rose Clayton, and
Yakima Canutt. Her audio commentaries and liner notes
reflect the depth of research that went into this project,
including interviews with participants, family, and experts,
and hours in archives and museums poring over photographs
and films, listening to tapes, and studying books.
A pioneer in her own world, who better than Juni Fisher to
tell the stories of other women who fought for their place
in a mostly-male world. In 2008, Juni Fisher was the first
female to receive the Western Heritage Wrangler Award
for Traditional Western Album from the National Cowboy &
Western Heritage Museum (for Gone to Colorado)
and the first female to receive the Songwriter of the
Year Award in the history of the Western Music
Association.
The title song is introduced and the names of the saddle
bronc-riding women are proudly stated. Juni Fisher states,
"This song is for every one of them."
"Cowgirlfriends,"
a fun, cheeky duet with Patty
Clayton
has already received wide radio play. Juni Fisher
writes about its inspiration, "After studying 900-plus
archived photos of early rodeo performers, it became evident
which cowgirls were friends and which were not."
But the women's stories are just one part of this project.
Rodeo greats Jackson Sundown and Jerry Ambler have their
places. And others are mentioned in other songs,
particularly in the inventive
"Snubbin' Horse (Not for Me)," a hats off to the forebears
of pickup horses, told from a snubbing horse's perspective.
Other tracks include "A Horse Like You," a swing-style song
to a favorite horse and
"Round-up to Remember,"
a rousing, catchy tune for the Pendleton Rodeo itself.
Few can set a mood and bring characters to life as well as
Juni Fisher. Songs from past acclaimed albums, including
Gone to Colorado, Tumbleweed Letters, Sideshow
Romance, and Cowgirlography are recognized as
important and lasting contributions to the Western music
canon. Her songwriting magic creates worlds. Andy Nelson
(who plays the part of a rodeo announcer on the
cleverly-written introduction to "A Pony Called Love") says
it well in his vivid description of
Let 'er Go 'Let 'er Buck' Let 'er Fly: "In an
instant I was a century younger, I tasted the dust in the
Pendleton arena, I smelled the lathered bucking stock, I
rode with Jackson Sundown, and I witnessed Bonnie
McCarroll's fateful ride."
Top musicians with great fiddles, mandolins, piano, Irish
banjo and more add to the mix and to the uncompromising
quality of the production. The snappy package design by
Jeri Dobrowski with cover art
background by Janene Grende (www.janenegrende.com)
captures the spirit of the lively tales inside.
The idea for Symposium 2010 was foaled in the early
spring of 2009 when Paul Bliss and Paul Kern were harnessed together to the
(Buck) Board of Cowboy Poets of Utah (CPU). They began to paw around a bit and
then went to nosin' for some way that CPU could give back to its members—some
reason to make it worthwhile for cowboy poets and musicians to belong to the
organization. As much as anything, they felt the need to show off some of the
remarkable original cowboy poetry and music coming out of Utah at this
time....
.... Twenty two individual recordings were sorted and corralled. Musicians and
poets team roped a remarkable mix of male and female voices reveling in toe-tappin'
cowboy music and well cadenced poetry that is sure to make you buck and bawl
and maybe even swoon a bit. Chances are that once you take a listen, you'll
ride away a hummin' that one last little scrap of tune. Whatever you reaction—this
one will be a keeper.
From C.R. Wood's description of the project, which includes some
references to track titles:
....On that midwinter Saturday, there were 21 headliners
who not only wowed an enthusiastic audience, but also took those "wow"
performances into Paul Kern's recording studio, to produce, Symposium
2010, an anthology which takes the listener on a 300 mile remuda
run, best described as, "Cowboy Poetry in Motion," into the choir loft of
a country church where the new director gives her "ALL," and to a local
auction barn to eavesdrop on the musings of a broken-down saddleman,
trying to come to grips with the prospect of seeing a truly wild
thing reduced to only his hide.
Come along and laugh at "Harley's" new bull-loading
barker, taste fresh hot homemade "funeral cookies," and smell the reason
why, "none of them have survived the branding yet." Ride the wind with,
"The Best Horsethief Around," under a "Northern Utah Moon," or race in
front of a buffalo stampede to, "The Rescue."
These and 12 more classic pieces make up one of the most
high-energy entertainment bargains you will stumble on to this year....
Symposium 2010 is available for $5 plus postage
here and from
Amazon.
Almeda Terry
has put the poetry of Canadian poet
Rhoda Sivell (1874-1962) to music, presented
in a new CD, Voices from the Range. See the
complete track list here.
Voices from the Range is available for $18
postpaid from Almeda Terry, 1650 Nahmis Ave., Huntley, MT
59037 and through her web site,
www.almedam2bmusic.com.
Posted 4/7
Popular singer, songwriter, and
cowboy-when-he-can Brenn Hill's
new Equine
CD features "16 original songs that in large part focus on
the relationship between people and their horses." From the
announcement:
...It includes audience favorites like "Monster On Your Back,"
a song written about seventy-plus-year-old cowboy legend Bill Hadlock from
Huntsville, Utah, and "Ridin' Them Colts," a song about a cowboy's life-long
addiction to colt-breaking. Other live-performance favorites like "Rachel's
Roses," "Nothin' In This Life" and "Carter Cedars" commemorate the profound
struggle of cancer and the healing power of horses, while "The Ballad of Ed
Cantrell" honors the life and career of the controversial lawman from
Sweetwater County, Wyoming...
...The recording comes on the heels of some of the most
challenging experiences of Hill's life and will leave you with good reason to
be hopeful for the injured bronc-rider, the cancer-stricken child, or the
horses that bring peace to the high and low points of life. It is an inspiring
look at the generational nature of equine love, ranching, fatherhood, and the
ever-determined western spirit....
Find audio samples and lyrics here at Brenn Hill's web
site.
See our feature about Brenn Hill
here and visit his web site,
www.brennhill.com, where you can also sign up for his email list. Brenn is
also on
Facebook and at MySpace.
The relatively newly-formed duo of veteran
Utah singers and songwriters Mary Kaye and Richard
Lee Cody has been receiving much positive attention.
Their new CD, Way Out West, showcases their
talents.
Top Western singer, songwriter, and musician Mike Beck's
Feel is deceptively spare
in its packaging, strikingly pure in its execution: pure
cowboy, pure acoustic, and pure art. The often
mellow-yet-complex songs are infinitely satisfying in their
depth.
Feel showcases Mike Beck's guitar wizardry as well as
his songwriting magic. Most of the tracks are originals,
with the exception of a collaboration with Ian Tyson ("In
Old California") and an arrangement of Jack Thorp's "Chopo"
("Poncho"), which he introduces as "For the cow horse,
Pancho."
Mike Beck's music is rooted in folk and cowboy music
traditions, but beyond that his work defies categorization.
And his great guitar band, The Bohemian Saints (not included
on this solo acoustic CD) knock down all fences with their
own brand of Americana rock. Of this album,
Beck has written, "I decided I wanted to do an album of
a few new songs I've written and some of my other cowboy
songs that people have requested...."
Among the old favorites are his frequently-covered grand
anthem to the West, "Don't Tell Me"; the evocative and
bittersweet pull-of-a-place "Mariposa Wind"; and "Amanda
Come Home," about a young female soldier deployed to Iraq.
That song got much national attention and was featured on
National Public Radio in the The Western Folklife Center's
What's in a Song series (listen to the broadcast
here).
The song written with Ian Tyson, "In Old California," is a
tribute to Jo Mora (1876-1947), legendary cowboy, artist,
writer, and photographer (and more) whose art graces the CD
cover. "In Old California" and "Don't Tell Me" were named as
two of today's thirteen best songs by Western Horseman
in April, 2009, along with selections by Ramblin' Jack
Elliott, Ian Tyson, Gary McMahan, Dave Stamey, Tom Russell,
and just a few others.
Mike Beck writes as eloquently as anyone ever has about real
cowboy life in "Closer to the Light" and in "Rubin's Song."
In the first, he limns the romance and transformation that
can be found in that life—always without sentimentality but
full of honest sentiment—"The
young and old, the meek and bold....some boys are green as
grass, some best hands you ever saw/ones leavin' a broken
marriage, others runnin' from the law/you can't stow away on
a sea-bound ship, and the circus quit comin' to town/so you
pack your gear and you head out of here....you're runnin'
from the fences, and you're holdin' on real tight....so
shine boys, shine, a little closer to the light...."
Literally from inside his subjects, "Don't Hurt My Heart"
and "Patrick" are pieces written
from horses' point of view. "Patrick" is a tribute to noted
horseman Bill Dorrance; Mike Beck lived at the Dorrance
ranch and gained much of his early experience with horses
and ranch work there.
Nothing is predictable here. "Before the Moon Fell Down" is
an aching depiction of loss. "Alberta Cowgirl" celebrates
the hardy species with unabashed admiration. Not only do the
themes of the album's songs cover a broad spectrum, but
what's inside is unfailingly perceptive. The standout "Livin'
in the Arts" refers to Van Gogh, Hank Williams, Richard
Brautigan, Lane Frost, Beethoven and others. It's a
completely original insight into what it takes to survive an
artist's life, informed by what must be Mike Beck's own
upbeat strategy for survival.
Cowboys, cowgirls, horses, heartbreak, happiness, hope, a
deep allegiance to the real West...and that guitar. Fans
couldn't ask for more.
Feel is available for $12.97 plus postage or
as a download for $11
here from
CD Baby (where there are sample tracks). Find more about
Mike Beck at
www.mikebeck.com where there are full-track audio
downloads from other CDs, videos, and more.
Posted 3/18
Sharing the title with one of her
most popular poems, top South Dakota poet and ranch wife Yvonne Hollenbeck's latest CD is Sorting Time. The
collection has many of her newer, most-requested poems and a
couple of older favorites. The poems offer up her world with
humor and with her signature wry observations of ranch life,
cowboys, and the joys and challenges of marriage.
The CD package says it all, "Yvonne
Hollenbeck writes about her life as a cowboy-rancher's wife
on the Northern Plains. She is not only one of the most
published poets, but is the top award-winning cowgirl poet
in America."
A frequent performer at the National Cowboy
Poetry Gathering and other events across the West, in
"Woman's Worst Fear," she mentions some of the well-known
poets and their poems (including
Pat Richardson, Red Steagall,
and the late Sunny Hancock).
That poem, like so many of her best stories, keeps the
listener interested from the first word. Her twists, turns,
and unexpected endings are a great part of what charms her
enthusiastic audiences.
Along with the title track, other standouts
include "The Ranch Wife's Top Ten List," "I Dunno," and the
one serious piece, the moving tale of "The Auction." "The
Cowboy and the Quilter," like all of the poems, draws on her
life; her own quilts have earned her many top honors.
Today, there are no doubt fewer ranch wives
than there are cowboys. With humor often laced with wisdom,
Yvonne Hollenbeck welcomes listeners into her rare life, one
that—despite the challenges that offer her such great
material—she
clearly treasures and wants to share with you. The
delightful incidental fiddle music of her 95-year-old Old
Time Fiddle Champion father, Harry Hanson, is the frosting
on the cake of this new release of always-original
poems, another excellent offering from one of today's most
popular poets.
Read more about Yvonne Hollenbeck and some
of her poems in our feature
here, and
find the entire track list
for Sorting Time.
Sorting Time is available for
$18 postpaid from: Yvonne Hollenbeck, 30549 291st Street,
Clearfield, South Dakota 57580 - 605/557-3559
email,
www.YvonneHollenbeck.com.
Of the third generation to ranch in Central California at the
confluence of Dry Creek and the Kaweah River, John Dofflemyer's
dedication recognizes "our Dry Creek community, both wild and
domestic." He comments
here, along with the introduction of the new chapbook, that
"2009 has been a wonderful year
for Robbin and me, blessed to pursue this lifestyle in a place a
little more removed from the media hysterics and the impacts of
Wall Street. Ours has been an every day affair invested trying
to stay here, trying new things while trying to stay out of the
line of fire..."
Most of the incisive and deeply thoughtful poems reflect that
life, with the "outside" sometimes making an appearance. The
work and world of ranching dominates, with side trails to
observations as diverse as wrens, Cerberus, mortality, and to
other worthwhile diversions. A few poems recognize the
importance of other writers and the National Cowboy Poetry
Gathering in the poet's life, including a steamy piece,
"Stockman's," dedicated to the outstanding harp player of Cowboy
Celtic, Kerri Lynn Zwicker.
"Branding Belle Point" stands out as a certain heart of the
work, "There is so much we cannot say with words....No time to
ponder more than who we are—/or what we've done for generations,
now/the why of it worth reverence one more time." Fortunately,
other times throughout the year did give time for contemplation,
and this book delivers far more than a year's worth of wisdom,
inspiration, and ideas for the reader's own pondering.
John Dofflemyer is the editor and publisher of
the Dry Crik Review, which
recently resumed
publishing in an electronic format, available at
www.drycrikreview.com.
Dry Crik Review of
Contemporary Cowboy Poetry
appeared in print format from
1991-1994. In late 2005 a "lost issue" of Dry Crik Review
became
available through John and Robbin Doffleymer's
blog.
See our feature
here that includes a collective
index of authors, poems, and prose
for the print versions and the "lost issue."
2009 Dry
Crik Journalis available for $12 postpaid from Dry Crik Press, P.O.
Box 44320, Lemon Cove, CA 93244.
See John and Robbin Dofflemyer's blog
here for other publications available from Dry Crik Press.
Posted 2/24
Ranch-raised poet Jessica Hedges'
first recording, History in the Barn, is
described:
History in the Barn is the debut cowboy poetry CD for
ranch daughter and wife, Jessica Hedges. It talks about her
experiences, and of those close to her, all wrapped up with a
windy or two. The story lines emulate honor, integrity,
history, humor and sorrow. She illustrates a "no-holds-barred"
attitude as she talks about ranch life, past and present...
History in the Barn includes 11 original poems and
Jessica Hedges' recitation of Waddie
Mitchell's "Where to Go."
Janice Chapman's
latest collection,
If I Could Be a Poet,
includes 104 poems. It is described, "This work showcases the experience
and life's simple things as seen through the heart of Janice N Chapman
and reflects a lifestyle that is all but gone."
Liner notes include some biographical information for the poets and
Jerry Brooks comments on her connections to the poems. The CD's title is
a quote from Sir Isaac Newton, "If I have seen further, it is by
standing on the shoulders of giants." She tells about how the giants of
her own lifetime, "some human, some equine, some geologic—maybe even
mythologic" have given her lots of "boosts-up" along the way.
Shoulder to Shoulder
is available for $15 postpaid from: Jerry Brooks, 4845 W. Clear
Creek Canyon Rd., Sevier, UT 84766.
Updated 4/3
Wyoming poet, popular radio host and emcee, humorist,
and writer
Andy Nelson
honors his family's generations of cowboys and farriers in his
impressive, entertaining, and important new book, Riding with Jim.
His satisfying, humorous, and meaningful stories and poetry interweave
with stories written by his father James F.
Walker Nelson, and are accompanied by top illustrator Bonnie
Shield's drawings.
Some of the early praise includes
comments by respected balladeer Don Edwards,
"...a great collection of stories and poetry. Andy's love for his dad,
family and traditional values shine through on every page. This is great
reading..."; Alan Geoffrion, the author of
Broken Trail, "....He
captures the art of subtle humor in all his work. He makes you want to
tuck in at the supper table and say, 'Please pass the potatoes and Andy,
tell us another one.'"; singer, songwriter and novelist Jon Chandler,
"...an important book new book for those who understand the cowboy's
West as well as for those who've not had the pleasure.
Riding with Jim personifies the
Wyoming Life, complete with nature's beauty, spirited horses, ranch
life, cowboy geniuses and fools, and life's little vagaries. But
ultimately, it is Andy Nelson's remarkable take on the precious and
perfect concept of family"; and top cowboy poet
Waddie Mitchell, who offers his comments in poetry: "I've been
Baptized and Chastised/Socialized and Civilized/Criticized and
Demonized/and that is just the start." Read the rest of his poem
and more at Andy Nelson's web site,
www.cowpokepoet.com.
Also
read more about Andy and some of his poetry in our feature
here and about his father in a feature
here.
Described by Andy Nelson as the most meaningful project he has
undertaken, Riding with Jim
is available for $25.00 postpaid from Andy Nelson, PO Box 1547, Pinedale
WY 82941; (307) 367-2842; www.cowpokepoet.com; andy@cowpokepoet.com.
While not all cowboy poetry, a
number of my most popular cowboy/country poems are included in
the book’s 83 pages of verse and photos. “Growler,” “Small
Ranch Fer Sale,” “Leavin’ Heaven,” “Little Red Wagon,”
“Showdown,” and “The Legend of Donald the Donkey,” and others
can be found between the covers. In addition to the
cowboy/country poems is a collection written in a variety of
poetic forms including sonnets, cinquains, minutes, free
verse, blank verse, villanelles, prose poems, as well as
simple rhyming verse and other forms.
Read more
here along with some of his
poetry and more about him.
Long Ways from Home
is
a collection of songs old and new, traditional and
contemporary, all cut from the same cloth of the fundamental
fabric of the human story: wanderers and travelers making
their way in unknown territory, cowboys and explorers cutting
for sign on new trails, and all those lost and lonely in the
realms of the mind or the heart or the spirit. As with their
past projects, the young Andy Hedges has sought out the old
while the senior Andy Wilkinson has crafted the new, all
collaboratively arranged and laid down with with the freshness
and edge of real time recording that features the harmonies of
Alissa Hedges and special guests Don
Edwards (six string banjo) and Curtis Peoples (bass).
Sherrod
L. Fielden was born on a farm on the south plains of Texas.
His birthplace is Lamb County, which was in the Yellowhouse's
(#7 division of the original XIT ranch. As a boy, he was
acquainted with the cowboys still working ranches in the area,
and many of his cowboy poems are based on his remembrances of
those men and their stories. Sherrod is a veteran of the U.S.
Navy. His patriotic poetry comprises moving tributes to
America's heroes wearing the uniform of our country. Some of
Sherrod's work is serious and thought-provoking, and some is
humorous and just plain fun. His poetry is written in common,
everyday language and appeals to persons in every walk of
life. Writing only rhyming poetry, he vividly captures the
feel of the “down home,” ordinary person. Sherrod wants his
poetry to be that which anyone can pick up, read, and enjoy.
Read more about Sherrod Fielden and some of his poetry
here at CowboyPoetry.com.
The
Gypsy Cowman...a Vanishing Breed
is a DVD "about
honor, friendship, Eastern Montana and the life of a cowboy poet,"
Owen Badgett.
From the producers:
The story of Owen Badgett was
shot over a 10-year period as Crosby [Linda
Lou Crosby, producer and director]
and crew followed Badgett on wagon train rides, cattle
roundups, and visits with neighboring ranchers across Eastern
Montana. “It has been ten of the most wonderful years of my
life,” added Crosby. “The Eastern Montana lifestyle is about
friends, family and neighbors—not to mention hard work, and
fun.”
....The
documentary tells the tale of Badgett, who, like his father
before him, runs his herd of cattle on land he does not own.
Owen's stories take you to a place where neighbor helps
neighbor, a person's word is his bond, where love of land
underlies it all. According to the Lone Pine Film Festival,
"Owen Badgett, a third generation Eastern Montanan with three
books of poetry and stories to his credit, is about as cowboy
as they come; tough as nails and no-frills but with a heart of
gold."
The publisher (HarperCollins)
describes the book, "...
To
Hell on a Fast Horse
re-creates the thrilling manhunt for the Wild West's most iconic outlaw.
It is also the first dual biography of the Kid and Garrett, each a
larger-than-life figure who would not have become legendary without the
other. Drawing on voluminous primary sources and a wealth of published
scholarship, Mark Lee Gardner digs beneath the myth to take a fresh look
at these two men, their relationship, and their epic ride to
immortality."
See the publisher's video introducing the bookhere
on YouTube.
The book has received many positive
views (read those on the
HarperCollins
site).
A review by Tim Murrel in the February/March issue of American Cowboy
magazine calls the book "a must-read" for Western history buffs."
The January/February 2010 issue of True West
magazine includes a review by editor
Bob Boze Bell. The review includes some of what he commented in a
November, 2009
blog
entry, based on a pre-release copy of the book. He
wrote, in part:
"...Expertly marshaling all the
known facts and utilizing quotes from the public record, the
author spins out a concise and quick moving tale, bouncing forward
and backward as he moves along...Even though I have been reading
and studying this story for almost a half century, I still found
things in almost every episode I didn't know...Gardner hits all of
the high spots and doesn't dilly dally. Some episodes in the Kid's
life zip by in a paragraph, but that paragraph contains everything
we know...I plan on reading it again, just for grins. Gardner
really takes you to New Mexico and takes you on a ride, and when
you think about it, that's what we want. A Good Ride to Hell On A
Fast Horse."
Mark L. Gardner is the author of many
books, including
Jack Thorp's
Songs of the Cowboys
(Museum of New Mexico Press, 2005). See our feature about that
book and its accompanying CD, here.
is available from the
publisher, Amazon,
and other book outlets.
Posted 1/26
Popular author, novelist and mystery writer
Liz Adair's
recent book,
Counting the Cost,
was inspired by the life of her uncle, a New Mexico cowboy. The book
is described:
Counting the Cost is the story of Heck
Benham, a cowboy who falls in love with Ruth Reynolds, a
socialite from back East. Defying convention, they run off to
live in a remote cow camp and find that love won't necessarily
conquer all, especially not in Depression-era New Mexico.
Cultural differences threaten to tear them apart, but when
tragedy strikes, they realize what is most important in life.
An Award Finalist in the Western Literature division of the
National Best Books 2009 Awards, Counting the Cost was
described as "a historically correct picture" of "the life and
loves of a hardworking cowboy" by Julee Brady, founding member
of Cowgirls Historical Foundation.
Story Circle Book Reviews says of Counting the Cost:
"Adair spins a fascinating and easy to read story. All of her
characters, not only Heck and Ruth, ring true. Moreover, she
has a fine eye and ear for both the land and the times."
Counting the Cost can be purchased from Amazon.com or
from the publisher at www.Inglestonepublishing.com. The price
is $17.95 plus tax and $3.00 shipping and handling.
Book clubs may purchase books for half price or may download a
PDF version for free. Go to
www.lizadairfreebooks.com to take advantage of this
offer.
Find a short
video about the book
here at Liz Adair's blog.
Liz Adair has shared vintage photos of her uncle and her ranching
family, which will be featured in a forthcoming
Picture the West.
Posted 1/25
Westerners,
fromNevada Slim
and
Cimarron Sue
(www.nevadaslim.com)
includes 17 tracks, their original songs and "songs by contemporary
songwriters that capture that 'old West' feeling (Jack Hannah,
Baxter Black, Bob McGill, and David Schroeder) and lots of
traditional and move cowboy favorites."
One of the songs,
"The Ranch That I Can't See,"
by Bruce Matley ("Nevada Slim") is featured
here in Picture the West.
Read more about the CD and find the entire track list
here on our page of poetry
by Susan Matley ("Cimarron Sue"). Visit
www.nevadaslim.com for more.
Popular songwriter and singer
Jean Prescott has produced an
important, impressive CD set,
The Poetry of Larry McWhorter.
The recording includes the works of Larry McWhorter
(1957-2003), one of the most respected contemporary cowboy poets.
The CDs include Larry McWhorter's recitations of his poetry, and
eleven poems that were never recorded, recited by some of today's
top performers.
Jean Prescott describes the release:
The Poetry of Larry McWhorter
is the complete collection of Larry McWhorter's cowboy poems.
There were eleven poems that Larry never recorded and that's where
a number of his peers came into the picture. Red Steagall, Waddie Mitchell, Chris Isaacs, Andy Hedges, Gary McMahan,
Dennis Flynn, Oscar Auker and Jesse Smith all
eagerly agreed to help out with the project.
Larry had always
wanted to recite two of his favorite poems with Waddie Mitchell,
"The Retirement of Ashtola" and "Cowboy Count Yer Blessings."
Thanks to Waddie, Hal Cannon, Rich O'Brien, and engineer, Aarom
Meador, we were able to make that a reality. You can just see
Larry and Waddie on stage reciting those poems.
After listening to both CDs for the first time, I came to an even
greater realization of what a great poet Larry was and what we
lost as a genre when he left us. I am thrilled to be able to
present this double CD to the world of cowboy poetry knowing that
young cowboy poets and fans alike will be able to enjoy and recite
Larry's classic contemporary cowboy poems for years to come.
Find more about Larry
McWhorter and some of his poetry in our feature
here, and view the entire
project and complete track list in a special feature
here.
2-CD set is available for $25 postpaid from Prescott Music, P.
O. Box 194, Ovalo, TX 79541.
All profits from the sale of the CD will go to "Reins of Glory
Equine Therapy" which is under the umbrella of Andrea McWhorter
Ministries. The program uses horses to help those recovering
from addictions to continue the process of healing. It is based
near Akron, Colorado.
Posted 1/12
Cowboy singer, songwriter and rancher Fred
Hargrove has released his fourth CD, My Sacred
Ground, which includes 14 songs.
Fred writes, "I will never make a better CD. It was recorded
with Don Richmond, who play over 20 different instruments, and
is a magician and a master at the art of the Southwestern
sound."
Listen to tracks at Fred Hargrove's MySpace page,
www.myspace.com/fredhargrove, where you'll also find his bio
(Fred has long been associated with Michael Martin Murphey),
photos, and more.
My Sacred Ground is available for $16 postpaid
from Fred Hargove at
raisinginghranch@aol.com and at his performances, listed at
Montana ranch hand DW Groethe's newest chapbook of
poems, The Night Ol' Flukie
Foundered, showcases his quirky and generous gifts.
His range is as wide as they come, and his poems about ranching
life are written as deftly as his fine observations of nature
and humanity. His works can be serious, ironic, insightful,
romantic, and humorous (sometimes all in the same poem). This
volume includes two of his more raucous tales, the title poem
and the infamous and unfortunately popular "The Ballad of
Murphy's Outhouse." [This description in no way reflects the
tastes of the editor or the standards of this publication.]
However, the title poem will appear on the forthcoming edition
of The BAR-D Roundup.
A previous chapbook, another excellent collection, My Father's Horses, is
also available.
Find the list of contents here
and read more about DW Groethe and some of his poetry in our
feature here.
The Night Ol' Flukie Foundered is available for
$15 postpaid from DW Groethe, Box 144, Bainville, MT 59212;
406/769-2312.
is a new chapbook of poems and stories from California writer, poet,
and horsewoman
Janice Gilbertson.
She uses her talents to set scenes that let readers fully experience
all the senses that come alive in her unique stories and poems.
Find the list of
contents here and read more about Janice Gilbertson and
some of her poetry in our feature here.
Riding In,
published by
BK Publications
of Eagle, Idaho,
is available for $11 postpaid from Janice Gilbertson, PO Box 350,
King City, CA 93930.
Posted 1/4
Lone Cowboy
by popular, much-honored cowboy singer and
songwriter
Michael Martin Murphey
(www.michaelmartinmurphey.com)
has been released by
Western Jubilee
Recording Company. The CD is his first solo album, ever. As the
liner notes state, it is just "Michael Martin Murphey with guitar
accompaniment."
The playlist includes some of his best-known tunes, including
"Carolina in the Pines," "Wildfire," and the title tune, along with
standards such as "Little Joe the Wrangler," "Cool Water," and "When
the Works All Done This Fall," most with his arrangements.
Western Folklife Center Founding Director Hal Cannon is quoted,
"...There is nothing like hearing Michael sing and play his
guitar—an unadorned sound that makes us realize what an incredible
songwriter and musician he is. Michael is a rare artist who sees his
music in a larger cultural context. When he sings about cowboy life,
he supports ranchers with all his heart. His generosity to the
revival of cowboy poetry and music is unparalleled."
Michael Martin Murphey has been nominated for a
GRAMMY
award for his recent CD, Buckaroo Blue Grass.
Read more about that here.
Nevada children's book author and poet Linda Kandelin Chambers'
The Littlest Bull
is a book-length poem with 45 illustrations by notable cowboy
artists, the late Justin Wells and Jack Wells.
From the publisher's description:
An authentic ballad in the tradition of the Old West,
The Littlest Bull
by Linda Kandelin Chambers tells the story of a young cowgirl
named Tibbs and her struggle to raise a motherless calf. From ranch life to
rodeo arena, with faith and family, Tibbs proves that determination and grit
make the champion.
The Littlest Bull
is a saga for the true rodeo enthusiast and greenhorn alike.
The book has had an enthusiastic response:
Gary Leffew, World Champion Bull Rider and Hall of Fame
Inductee: "A wonderful book and without a doubt the best illustrated book I
have had the pleasure of reading."
World Champion Barrel Racer, Sammy Thurman: "
The Littlest Bull
is authentic and enjoyable, remaining true to the cowboy
spirit."
Cowboy artist, stuntman, author, singer, all-around cowboy Walt LaRue:
"Linda, this is a great book. The story's just great. Everybody's going to
like this one. The illustrations are wonderful. It's a real winner."
Find sample pages from the book
here at Linda Kandelin Chambers' web site.
Riding
Catalina Again
from the
California Cowboy Band
is their third release, with 10 original songs written by guitar/vocalist Mel
Harker, and three poems by harmonica player Steve Deming. The band, together
since 1994, mixes, rock, and country with traditional western sounds.
Western Jubilee describes the CD, "Wylie Gustafson along with
Ray Doyle,
Scot Wilburn
and Rick Bryceson
presented a stirring 60 minute concert in our old Warehouse. Wylie
sings old classics and new originals—both solo and with full band. Soft and
slow to rattle and roll..."
In his newsletter,
Wylie Gustafson comments that the album is, "A little
jump and kick with a touch of mellow down easy. We made a point of including a
good jag of our acoustic material so I thought Unwired would be an
appropriate title. We always have these magical nights at the Warehouse so we
thought we'd try to capture one on tape."
Wylie & the Wild West's previous release,
Hang-n-Rattle, just received a top album award from the Western Music
Association (see a list of all of the WMA awards
here).
See an
Unwired
track list here and find more
about Wylie & the Wild West in our feature here.
Find more information and track samples for
Unwiredhere
at the Wylie & the Wild West web site and at
Western Jubilee.
Nona Kelley Carver has completed a booklet of thirty of
her Christmas poems and stories. It is in magazine format with one of her
paintings in color on the front and a few black and white photos inside.
Each poem and story tells of the true meaning of Christmas. Some of the
titles are "When the Cowboys Came for Christmas," "Christmas on the Oregon
Trail," "Christmas Memories," and "The Christmas Angel."
Carter Country Christmas
is available for $12 postpaid from Nona Kelley Carver, P.O. Box
115, Mesa, CO 81643
Posted 11/19
Top cowboy poet Baxter Black's
new book, The Back Page, is a collection of his columns from
the back page of Western Horseman.
The publisher describes the book:
For more than 15 years, many
Western Horseman
readers have begun their journeys through each issue by,
strangely enough, starting at the back. That's because,
during those years, the back page has been occupied by the
humorous ramblings of America's best-selling comedic
veterinarian, Baxter Black. This book is a collection of
these observations, accompanied by the original
illustrations that appeared in the magazine. This look back
at 15 years of the best of Baxter is sure to bring smiles to
the faces of cowboy philosophers everywhere.
The Back Page
is available at the
publisher
and at Baxter Black's web site at www.BaxterBlack.com,
where there are special holiday offers.
Posted 11/16
Popular Colorado cowboy, cowboy poet,
songwriter, entertainer, storyteller and humorist Gary McMahan announces the availability of his new CD,
Goin' My Way?:
This is my first studio album since 1992,
and I’m about half proud of it. It’s packin’ seven new
songs, a yodeling meltdown, and three poems. This is
original, true storytelling about the new and the old West.
It’ll take you from 500 years of cowhuntin’ in the Florida
swamps to a cowboy’s take on Ralph Lauren. It’s a little
unpredictable, and it might surprise you now and again. You
may laugh out loud and shed some tears before it’s over. I
hand-picked some great friends/musicians to play with me on
it, and they all added their own bit of magic. It’s got all
the fun, feelings, real stories, music, lyrics, licks,
yodelin’, and harmonizin’ we could tamp into it. Plus, just
for fun, I included a Bob Frank song I cut 35 years ago in
Nashville to give you a musical snapshot of me way back
when.
You can check the website out real quick by going to
www.singingcowboy.com.
And to hear the album on the website go to Music -
Goin' My Way?
and click on the music or to read about the song click on
the song title.
Missouri poet Glen Enloe
has a new book of poetry,
No One Knows Where the Longhorn Goes.
He describes the book:
No One Knows Where the Longhorn Goes
is an often wistful yet sometimes ornery compilation of
cowboy poetry that juxtaposes the Old West with the modern
world. It harkens back to a simpler era that helped to forge
our country into a great nation. Yet like the legendary
Texas longhorn of the title poem, this collection
foreshadows the longhorn's and America's innate dread of the
end of a long trail, the loss of its own legacy, its
sovereignty and even its way of life. And like the lonely
longhorn, what is left of America and the West senses the
end of something that will never come again as it lumbers
off toward the darkening horizon, not knowing but
understanding its true fate.
Glen says that
the book's dedication and foreword about the late
Rod Nichols. He adds, "I'd had it
in my mind to dedicate my next book to Rod ever since his
untimely passing. I feel that it was Rod who stoked the fire at
the beginning of my discovery of cowboy poetry. His friendly
internet campfire encouraged both greenhorns and hardened hands
in one of our most vibrant poetic forms. Perhaps the old cowboy
saying and my poem of the same title say it best: 'He'd do to
ride the river with.'"
No One Knows Where the Longhorn Goes
is available for $19.95 plus
postage from
Publish America.
Country gospel and cowboy recording artist
Steven Spalding has released
A Cowboy Christmas
Ball, his
long-awaited Christmas CD celebrating the true meaning of
Christmas.
The title track evokes images of Christmas in the bunkhouse,
much as the line riders and ranch hands gathered to feast,
sing and celebrate the birth of Christ more than a century
ago. Other original compositions include "A Day For Our Lord
Jesus," and spoken performances of "A Goat Christmas" and
"What Christmas Means To Me." This skillfully-produced CD
also includes Steven's renditions of such Christmas classics
as "Silent Night," "O Little Town Of Bethlehem," "O Come All
Ye Faithful," "An Ozark Country Christmas," and a delightful
performance of "Ring Those Bells."
Each track on A Cowboy Christmas Ball
is accompanied by Steven's hauntingly beautiful fiddle and
guitar playing. A versatile musician on the stage or in the
studio, this nationally-renowned performer is adept at
playing the 6- and 12-string guitar, as well as the fiddle,
piano, banjo, bass and harmonica.
A former Nashville recording star who made headlines in the
1970's with CMA award-winning hits including "Lighter Shade
of Blue" and "Country Entertainer," Spalding turned away
from secular music 30 years ago to perform and record
country gospel music and serve as a cowboy pastor. Today, he
preaches and performs at cowboy churches and festivals
across the country, and raises crossbred Mustang/Spotted
Saddle Horses on his ranch near Lebanon, Missouri.
A Cowboy Christmas Ball
is the latest of seven country gospel and cowboy music CDs
now available from Spalding. Each is available for $15, plus
shipping and handling. To order, contact Steven Spalding at
Circle S Ministry, 25569 Highway 32, Lebanon, MO 65536. Or
view eight of Steven's music videos on YouTube by visiting
his website at
www.circlesministry.org.
Posted 11/12
Horsegirl Poet
from western singer/songwriter and cowgirl poet Aspen Black features
18 original songs
and poems, with Aspen playing all of the instrumental back-up on 15 of
the 18 tracks. Poems are delivered in Aspen's trademark style (that
she has been honing the past few years in her live shows) of blending
90% spoken word with a few impact lines that are sung. The verses are
laid over a bed of simple acoustic melodies and haunting original
sound effects. Her songs have an equally unique styling
from traditional western to folk to a cappella, and cover many
themes including horses, aging cowboys, historical western fiction,
friendship, love, disappointment, change, and the modern western
lifestyle.
If you yearn
for the days of Gene, Roy and the Sons of the Pioneers,
you'll practically smell the woodsmoke and taste the
sourdough biscuits when you give a listen to Missouri
musician Steven Spalding's newest CD, Sittin' Round
the Campfire.
Featuring Steven's solid guitar work and his smooth-as-honey
baritone voice, Sittin' Round The Campfire
is a heartfelt tribute to the American cowboy. Tracks
include Steven's renditions of "Ridin' Down the Canyon,"
"Blue Shadows On The Trail," "Cool Water," "Red River
Valley," "Wagon Wheels," "Get Along Little Doggies," and
"Home On The Range." This 14-track CD also includes eight
original songs and spoken poems. You'll be reminded of
Walter Brennan's classic, "Old Rivers," when you hear
Steven's tales of horses he's loved, and his wistful ode to
a favorite old Stetson that Steven simply calls "My Hat."
With a recording career that spans four decades of pop,
country/western, cowboy and country gospel music, Steven
received three Nashville MCA Award nominations in 1977 for
Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist, and Single Record of
the Year. Today, he is a cowboy preacher who raises
crossbred Mustang/Spotted Saddle Horses on his ranch outside
Lebanon, Missouri, and performs from Nashville and Branson
to venues throughout Missouri, Louisiana, Arkansas and
California.
Sittin' Round The Campfire
is Steven's seventh CD of country gospel and cowboy songs.
He's also produced three DVDs and has 16 music videos posted
on YouTube, including "Back When The Cowboy Was King." You
can view them by visiting Steven's website at
www.circlesministries.org. Each of his CDs is available
for $15 postpaid by contacting Steven at Circle S Ministry,
25569 Highway 32, Lebanon, MO 65536, or by telephone at
417-532-6470.
and leader Wylie Gustafson
collaborated with "rodeo poet" Paul
Zarzyski on a number of songs for this CD, and a hidden, bonus
track features Paul Zarzyski's "Bob Dylan Bronc Song."
The CD was produced byJohn Carter Cash and includes
outstanding backup musicians (Dennis Crouch, Mike Fried, Hoot Hester,
John McTigue III, Jeff Taylor, and Mark Thornton) and Gretchen Peters'
vocals.
See our earlier news item
below for more about the CD.
Hang-n-Rattle!
is available for $15 plus postage.
Find audio samples for the full track list, order information, and more
for
Hang-n-Rattle!
at the Wylie & the Wild West web site.
Other Books, Recordings,
Publications, and News of Western
Interest
See a roundup of items
New in
2009 and previous years; items from 2010 are below (along with some
from 2009).
Find Rick Huff's numerous Best
of the West reviews here and Jeri
Dobrowski's Cowboy Jam Session reviews here.
Poets and musicians: Find resources in our feature
So
you have a new book or recording...
David Redboy Schildt's
Redboy the Indian Bull Rider
is "a book about the life of an Indian bull rider and Indian rodeo
during the early 1970s." From the publisher's description:
Ride
along through the great northern plains of America and Canada as a
young Native American bull rider fights for an identity separate
from the lifestyle of the poverty stricken reservation conditions
he grew up in to become a Bull Riding Champion of the Great Plains
Indian Rodeo Association. Get a look at the current state of
tribal warfare in America through sports competition. The
Blackfeet pride he has struggled for as a half breed which he has
had to fight for on his own rez is on the line as he challenges
the Professional Bull Riders of the great Sioux Nation. Redboy
the Indian Bull Rider is a true life story about the Native
American rodeo life of a struggling young American Indian bull
rider.
David Redboy Schildt is an Indian
Rodeo Champion Bull and Bronc Rider. He has dedicated the majority
of his life to rodeo after being influenced by Jess W. Galbreath,
his high school friend, who was a Montana High School Rodeo
Champion. He has lived around and on the American Indian
reservation system through out his life. He has taught school,
performed music, coached sports programs, and created school
athletic programs. He has won numerous awards in rodeo, created
music albums, worked in film as a stunt man, and has won many
athletic awards.
Dave participated in rodeo for 28
years. For over 20 of those years, he rode bulls, broncs, and
competed in the wild horse race as well as helped produce, announce
and officiate contestant events at rodeos.
Dave has participated in the Cowboy Poetry stage shows for 18 years.
Dave has been on stage at the Smithsonian, the National Cowboy
Poetry Gathering, Cowboy Songs & Range Ballads, Michael Martin
Murphey’s Deadwood, South Dakota Westfest, as well as others. His
song, “Little Wolf,” from his Wild Horses
CD was selected for the 25th anniversary album the Buffalo Bill
Historical Center's Cowboy Songs & Range Ballads
CD.
An impressively designed and absorbing new release,
Charlie
Russell and Friends,
gives a grand view of the artistic life of a Western icon. The slim book,
full of riveting stories and fascinating and rare photographs and art
images, focuses on
Charles M. Russell's (1864-1926) artist friends and
influences. His relationships with artists Maynard Dixon, Philip Goodwin,
and his "protégé" Joe De Yong are the volume's main focus, but there are
also many rich accounts concerning artists such as Edward Borein (1872-1945)
and Ross Santee (1889-1965).
The book, distributed by the
University of Oklahoma Press, is a part of the "Western Passages" series
from the Denver Art Museum's
Petrie Institute of Western American Art. Institute Senior Scholar Joan
Troccoli provides a satisfying introduction, placing Russell in his element
with his quote, "I have many friends among cowmen and cowpunchers..." and
then expanding his world in an overview of his relationships with his
contemporaries and with earlier artists. She writes of George Catlin's
influence on Russell and comments, "...with the exception of Frederic
Remington, no artist save George Catlin (1796-1872) has had an impact on the
art of the American West comparable to that made by Russell."
The book's heart is the friendships Russell
made with artists and others of his time. Legendary cowboy and writer E.C.
"Teddy Blue" Abbott is quoted about Russell's character, "...he would often
split his last dollar with a friend...money was nothing to him, a friend was
everything." There are engaging stories about Russell's New York experiences
and about the artists that he and his wife Nancy invited to their Montana
home and studio. The book's four essayists (Brian W. Dippie, Peter H.
Hassrick, Mark A. White, and Thomas Brent Smith) offer insight and criticism
along with the many anecdotes and stories.
Current Institute Director Thomas Brent
Smith's piece about the friendship between Russell and Dixon gives a
captivating look at their lives and their work and explores their mutual
friendship with Borein and other artists. Western writers Dane Coolidge,
Eugene Manlove Rhodes, and Charles F. Lummis are a part of the story. When
noted photographer Dorothea Lange, once married to Dixon, is asked about
Dixon's artistic influences, she responds, "He had a couple of old
cowpuncher friends, whose opinion he valued very highly. One of them was
Charlie Russell, a great American legendary painter."
Mark A. White, in his essay about Russell and
Joe De Yong, covers their shared interest in Native Americans and De Yong's
work as a technical adviser on early Hollywood Westerns. Citing Dan
Gagliasso's book, Joe De Yong and Hollywood: Charlie Russell's Protégé
on the Celluloid Frontier, White writes that
"...De Yong's appreciation for the perceived authenticity of Russell's
paintings informed the 'look' of these westerns, and occasionally the
anecdotes Russell shared with De Yong became actual scenes in the films on
which he later advised."
Each of the experts offer clear and
interesting essays. Russell expert Brian W. Dippie provides a spirited
survey of Russell's work and friendships. Peter H. Hassrick, Director
Emeritus of the Petrie Institute, writes about Russell and sporting artist
and illustrator Philip Goodwin, an artist—whose work may be more familiar
than his name today—well worth getting to know.
Dorothea Lange's stunning photograph of
Russell is among the many great images in the book, which includes
photographs and full color images of art by Russell, Goodwin, De Yong,
Dixon, and others. The book is sprinkled generously with references that
lead any interested reader to deeper background information.
See the University of Oklahoma Press site
here for additional information about
Charlie Russell and Friends.
Posted 9/1
The Remembrance Album of Harriet Pruden
is "historical fiction based on and built around an authentic 19th
century pioneer-settler poetry collection."
From the publisher's description:
The Remembrance Album of Harriet
Pruden
—The 175-year reunion of
the seventy people who composed and compiled their verses for
Harriet’s album; a true American love story from the Old West;
by Richard K. Pate.
Here is something you won’t see everyday! This little gem combines
a genuine 19th Century pioneer-settler poetry collection with a
fictional narrative to reveal an endearing story spanning eight
decades. The poetry collection, started in 1831, consists of over
100 sentimental, heartfelt poems lovingly hand-written for one
family in a single volume by seventy different people, over eighty
years! While the poems chronicle, over multiple generations, the
story of this settler family, they also provide an insightful and
surprisingly tender view into the social strata of 19th Century
America.
Based on his extensive research of the poems, the people involved
and the times in which they lived, the author provides a fictional
narrative accompanying each poem, written from that poet’s
point-of-view, which introduces us to these exceptional people;
Harriet, her friends and family. The narrative fuses with and
seamlessly compliments the poems. In this way the contributors to
Harriet’s album tell us themselves who they were, how they knew
Harriet and what they thought of her plans to elope and become a
pioneer-settler. Here is an authentic look into the hearts and
minds of early Americans as they lived and loved in the 19th
century.
The album begins as an intervention by a well-to-do family to
persuade their daughter, Harriet, the town sweetheart, to give up
her reckless dream of pioneering on the Western frontier. From
there the book takes on a life of its own as it makes its way
westward, each writer adding their own voice to this story of
determination, adventure, hardship, and love.
Please visit the author’s website at
www.rkpate.com
to contact the author, see photos of the old album, read reviews
and excerpts, listen to the author give a talk, or, to order a
copy of the book. While there check the descendants page to see if
your ancestor contributed a poem to Harriet’s album! This book is
also available online from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Posted 8/26
John Conley
tells "the
stories of the famous and the not so famous" in his new book,
Heart of a Cowboy.
From the publisher:
John Conley fulfilled his boyhood
dreams thirty-four years ago when he moved his family to the great
state of Arizona. Many of his childhood heroes filmed western
movies in Arizona such as Stagecoach,
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral,
How the West Was Won,
and Rio Bravo. He has
embraced the West, its culture, and its history, as you will read
in this, his new book, The Heart of a Cowboy.
Hal Swift
has a new novel, Ballad of a Small Town.
From the publisher's description:
The book takes
its readers through one year in the life of 1864 Drytown, Utah
Territory. The town is located 27 miles east of a major population
center of the time, Lake's Crossing. Drytown now is Wadsworth,
Nevada, and Lake's Crossing is Reno.
The stories are told from the viewpoint of Logan West, an Indiana
newspaperman, whose wedding day ends in disappointment when his
bride elopes with their best man. Embarrassed, Logan heads West
and becomes an itinerant, banjo-playing journalist. In the
process, he begins putting together the novel which, legend says,
every reporter dreams of writing.
Eventually, his travels bring him to Drytown, where he accepts a
job entertaining and waiting tables at Shorty's Place, a lunchroom
which serves as a social center of sorts, not only for those who
live in the town, but for those passing through it on the Overland
Trail. Hal says that, while Logan's adventures are fiction, the
backgrounds for them are historically accurate.
Read some of Hal Swift's poetry and more
about him
Like No Other Place: The Sandhills of Nebraska
is described by the publisher, University of Chicago Press (Center for American Places—Center Books on American Places):
Covering nearly 20,000 square
miles, the Nebraska Sandhills are the largest sand dune formation
in America. Consisting primarily of grass and wetland, the
Sandhills are inhospitable to agriculture and had been thought to
be nothing more than forbidding desert until cattle ranchers
turned the Sandhills into one of the most productive ranching
regions in the country in the late nineteenth century.
Like the ranchers before him, David Owen found his place in the
Sandhills of Nebraska. A widely travelled Episcopal minister and
photographer, Owen and his wife moved from their home in
Connecticut to become Nebraskans, and Like No Other Place
documents his experience of this uniquely American place and its
people....
The 148-page hardcover includes
76 duotone photographs. Read
more
here at the publisher's site. The book is also available at
Amazon
and other booksellers.
Restoring Vintage Western
Saddles,
offers clear, descriptive information about restoration techniques.
Hundreds of photographs illustrate the step-by-step restoration
processes he's developed, and 15 restored saddles are depicted.
France's Alain Eon worked as a cowboy for the CM Ranch in Dubois,
Wyoming
when he was in his twenties.
He tells that one day he was asked to clean a number of old saddles
stored in the tack room. He writes, "Discovering the fantastic work
of the saddlemakers of the past century, I was immediately
conquered, and that passion never left me." He has restored many
saddles for others, and his personal collection includes more than
60 vintage Western saddles.
The author writes he is offering "simple techniques for those who
wish to undertake a restoration of their old saddles by themselves."
He doesn't claim to be an expert, and notes that restoring saddles
is a part-time activity for him. Professionally, Alain Eon works as a
Technical Art Director and consults with museums and art editors.
That expertise is beautifully displayed in
Restoring Vintage Western Saddles,
which claims to be the only book of its type.
is available for $45 plus $15 shipping by check or postal money
order from ALAIN EON 168, rue Maurice Arnoux - 92120 Montrouge /
France;
alain.eon@free.fr;
http://alain.eon.free.fr.
Find a PDF order form
here.
Posted 7/14
The impressive career of artist Robert Lougheed
(1910-1982) is captured with a radiance of prose and
illustration in Follow the Sun, Robert Lougheed, by
Don Hedgpeth.
Hedgpeth conveys the artist's dedication to "cowboy
reality" in his description of Lougheed's "The Bell Remuda." It was
the first of the artist's works that Hedgpeth saw, when he was a
young man, just becoming involved in the Western art world. He
writes, "It was a cowboy's kind of painting, depicting all one
hundred and thirty using horses of the Bell Ranch cavvy strung out
and climbing against the northern New Mexico skyline. George Ellis,
who ran the wagon on the Bells back then, said the painting was so
good he could pick out and put a name to almost every individual
horse in the picture."
Of another painting, "Scattering the Bell Riders,"
he writes, "It is a powerful image—a wagon boss and ten cowboys
horseback on a high mesa in the early morning magic of a New Mexico
sunrise. You can feel the chill in the air and hear the cold whisper
of wind in the surrounding sage. Saddles creek and spur rowels
rattle and ring to the rhythm of the stomp and snort of fresh horses
eager to be away to the work they were born for."
Lougheed founded the National Academy of Art at the
National Cowboy Hall of Fame (now the National Cowboy & Western
Heritage Museum) and was a member of the Cowboy Artists of America.
Before devoting himself exclusively to painting,
Lougheed was recognized for his book and magazine illustrations and
other commercial work. One of his most notable creations was Mobil
Oil's winged horse logo. (Find much more information about the
artist at www.robertlougheed.com.)
The publisher states, "Follow the Sun is the
first book to showcase the full breadth of Lougheed's artistic
legacy. More than 400 full-color reproductions trace his trajectory
from early Canadian studies of working horses to commercial work to
western scenes and timeless plein-air oils of European subjects,
with much in between."
Western historian Don Hegpeth has written other
impressive books about Western artists, including volumes on James
Reynolds and on Howard Terpning. He is the founding editor of
Persimmon Hill, the journal of the National Cowboy & Western
Heritage Museum. He is also known as a songwriter and humorist. He
gave the 2003 keynote address at the the National Cowboy Poetry
Gathering (read the address
here in a pdf file).
This grand book is much more than a catalogue.
Hedgpeth's masterful prose, his deep and thoughtful appreciation of
Lougheed's work, and his respect for the man and his vision make for
the most satisfying reading. The generous, careful presentation of
sketches, paintings, and illustrations complete the rich experience.
Follow the Sun, Robert Lougheed is available
for $65 from the publisher,
Oklahoma University Press;
Amazon; and other booksellers.
Posted 6/24
Rancher,
poet, writer, and editor Linda Hasselstom's
most recent book is a collection of essays,
No Place Like Home: Notes from a Western Life
(University
of Nevada Press). From the publisher's description:
Linda Hasselstrom ponders the changing nature of
community in the modern West, where old family ranches are being
turned into subdivisions and historic towns are evolving into
mean, congested cities. Her scrutiny, like her life, moves back
and forth between her ranch on the South Dakota prairie and her
house in an old neighborhood at the edge of downtown Cheyenne,
Wyoming. The vignettes that form the foundation of her
consideration are drawn from the communities she has known during
her life in the West, reflecting on how they have grown, thrived,
failed, and changed, and highlighting the people and decisions
that shaped them....
No Place Like Home
was just nominated for a
High Plains Book Award.Read Linda Hasselstrom's comments about the book and more
here at her web site.
Read more of her poetry and more about her in our
feature here.
No Place Like Home
is available directly from Linda Hasselstrom (find information
here), from the
publisher,
and other booksellers.
Posted 6/21
The 200 photographs in premier
Western photographer
David Stoecklein's
(www.stoeckleinphotography.com)
Photographing the West are described as "a tribute
to the hard-working people and animals that have provided Stoecklein
with so much inspiration over the years."
David Stoecklein's
web site
tells, "David's fascination with the ranching heritage of the
American West led him to befriend, and subsequently photograph, the
men and women still breathing life into the mythical figure of the
cowboy. David's passion for preserving the traditions and beliefs of
the country's honest, hard-working cowboys and cowgirls gradually
earned him their respect. With that respect came an open invitation
to share in their lives, and the great responsibility to honor their
trust."
There may be a genetic connection in those people
who have an overwhelming devotion to horses—the kind that leads
them to make horses a central theme in their lives—and artistry.
Through countless interviews with passionate horse people, Dr.
Miller discovered that virtually all are also creative artists.
Their talents are expressed in music, painting, drawing,
sculpting, and dance most commonly. Others are skilled in
woodcarving, leather-work, ironwork, poetry, prose, design and
almost every other conceivable art form. Commonly these horse
people are talented in several of these arts. This book explains
the connection, gives numerous examples and explores the mystique
of the role horses play in so many lives. Included are chapters on
the working cowboy—what keeps these underpaid, highly skilled
people in their arduous and risky occupation? It is the horse, and
the book explains the huge popularity of cowboy poetry and Western
art.
Read much more at the book's web site at
www.thepassionforhorses.com.
Among those included in the book are
songwriter, yodeler, and musician
Wylie GustafsonofWylie & the Wild West; cowboy poet
Dennis Gaines; cowboy poet and singer Butch Martin;
cowboy, clinician, and trainer Buster McLaury; and cartoonist Bonnie
Shields.
Co-editor and publisher
Diane
Durrill describes a new anthology of poetry, essays, and
photography:
At the End of the Day
is a tribute to America.
The events on September 11, 2001 were not only a national crisis
but an international awakening as terrorism devastated our
souls. The hurricanes of 2005 brought America destruction at the
hand of Mother Nature. Americans, as expected, united to help
each other as well as responded to the needs of others around
the world who suffered the aftermath of earthquakes and
tsunamis. Americans quickly take action to assist their fellow
man.
These events gave the editors of Passage Publishing the idea for
the anthology which is divided into four sections: Patriotism,
the Natural Beauty of America, the Humorous Side of Americans,
and the Diversity of the American People. The poetry, essays,
photography, and artwork included in this anthology convey a
positive message straight from the heart of each contributor.
They have truly recognized and experienced the best of America
and her people.
Hal Swift,
a long-time part of CowboyPoetry.com, submitted "Low Rise
Jeans," a humorous poem, and Glen Enloe,
another poet with work at CowboyPoetry.com, contributed "Ghost
Town Church in the Snow" with original artwork.
The
Spurs of James J. Wheat, Pioneer Collector
by Bruce Bartlett
from Texas Tech University Press reveals the large collection of
spurs now housed at the
Ranching
Heritage Association in Lubbock. The book, filled with stunning
color images, draws on the nearly one thousand spur pairs and
singles from the collection of Texas oilman James J. Wheat (1916-1989).
Wheat enlisted the help of dealers
and others in building his collection, which was donated to the
Ranching Heritage Association in 1985.
The Ranching Heritage Association
exhibit
description notes that the eccentric, wealthy collector "... drove a
series of Rolls Royce and Mercedes cars to move cattle across his
rugged property in Loving County."
The publisher comments on the book:
Spur aficionados, collectors, and Western
historians alike will appreciate his detailed distinctions among
particular makers, discussions of the Texas Style and other
regional styles, as well as valuable information on the emerging
collectors’ scene. With its lavish, oversized photographs and
fine-grained descriptions, The Spurs of James J. Wheat
presents a treat for the eye and a close look at a fascinating
aspect of Western utilitarian art.
Spur expert and collector and dealer of Western
Americana, author Bruce Bartlett gives the collection important
context with his introduction and biographical information about
Wheat. Included are chapters about "The Beginnings of the Texas
Style," with information about Mexican Chihuahua spurs, military
spurs, and the work of early master August Buerman (1842-1928);
descriptions of other select legendary spur makers who are
represented in depth in the collection; examples in categories
divided into early Texas-style masters, the middle period
(1940-1980), and the modern makers of 1970 to the present; and spurs
of the "Foreign Kings," a term applied to spur makers outside of
Wheat's region. The author includes commentary on the factors that
influence spurs' value and supplies references for further reading.
It's easy to become lost in the history, the art,
and the craft in this beautifully designed and interesting book.
The
Spurs of James J. Wheat, Pioneer Collector
is available for $35 plus postage from the publisher,Texas Tech University Press and from other booksellers,
including
Amazon.
Posted 4/7
Lorraine d'Entremont Rawls has captured the
story of the French cowboys of the Camargue area of Provence in a rich,
compelling film now available on DVD, Gardian Nation. Filmed
and edited by Gail Steiger, Gardian
Nation is described:
At the mouth of the Rhone river, in the Camargue area of Provence,
one sees white horses, black bulls, pink flamingos and a small group of
herdsmen known as gardians; France's own cowboys. In this marsh
covered land, the gardians, like many horse cultures, are trying
to hold tight to a rapidly declining way of life. This is their story,
of hard work and creativity to keep their passion for horses, cattle,
nature and Provence itself alive.
With a focus on generations of one family's involvement in the culture,
their story is told against scenes of their ranching life and preparations
for the centuries' old "bull race" competitions. One French
commentator compares the scope of the largest event to the National Finals Rodeo,
and the film
captures the pageantry of the races and excitement of the bull ring
(unlike "bullfighting," a wild bull challenges a dozen "bull racers" who
vie for the tassels and strings on the bull's horns; no blood is shed,
each bull works for only 15 minutes, and it is a show of skill, grace, and
speed).
Though the some of the traditions go back centuries, much
about the
gardian
world is relatively recent. At the turn of the 19th century, inspired by
regional pride at a time when official France was attempting to stamp out
regionalism and impressed by the American West, one man, Marquis Folco de
Baroncelli de Javon (1869-1943), is credited with resurrecting the culture
and inspiring the look and activities of the
gardian
as they are today. The film tells (and shows, with vintage stills)
that he housed the Sioux Indians of Buffalo Bill's Wild West show in the
early 1900s; he saw them as he saw the
gardian, threatened with extinction by the forces of a majority
culture.
The gardian culture was a focus of the
Western Folklife Center' s National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in 2007.
The family of Patrick and Estelle Laurent—who were at the gathering—is
the family featured in Gardian Nation. Viewers get to know other
gardian, some bull race competitors, and others involved with
the culture.
The Gitano Family,
traditional gypsy musicians who were also at the 2007 gathering, are
featured in the film and also in separate bonus performance footage
on the DVD.
History and modernity link French and American
cowboy culture and the film offers much to consider about the
establishment and fates of both. T
hose
everywhere who care about ranching cultures will come away impressed
by the people of the
Camargue
and the art and vision of the filmmakers.
Film producer Lorraine d'Entremont Rawls is also the
co-author of Wild Provence.
She has created a traveling museum exhibit and leads travelers to
the region.
is available for $23.50 postpaid from Lorraine d'Entremont
Rawls, 1761 Foss Rd. Talent, OR 97540.
Posted 3/4
Oregon's Pendleton Round-up celebrates
its hundredth anniversary this year (September 15-18, 2010) and an
expansive, lavishly illustrated book by
Ann Terry Hill
and Michael Bales,
Pendleton Round-up at 100,
honors the venerable event and those who have participated.
Many of the over-900-plus photos and illustrations in the book are
collected and published for the first time. The wide diversity of
the rodeo's participants—the 1911 Round-up included the
still-controversial
"Last Go Round" showdown between black cowboy George Fletcher,
Indian cowboy Jackson Sundown, and white cowboy John Spain—including
cowgirls, Native American tribes, black cowboys, and others are
represented in the well-research text and images.
Among the chapters that pull readers into the action and
excitement of the rodeo are "The Great Bucking Contests":
"Old-Time Cowgirls"; "The Risks"; and "Clowns and Bullfighters."
Behind-the-scenes topics such as "Ranch and Rodeo," "Behind the
Mike," and "The Arena" give an even deeper look at the event.
There is a focus on families and tradition in "Families Are the
Backbone," "From Generation to Generation: Tribal Participation";
and "Pendleton Traditions."
Appendices include complete lists with many family-supplied photos
of one hundred years of Round-up Presidents; Round-up Chiefs and
Prominent Tribal Headmen; Round-up Queens and Princesses; Happy
Canyon (Indian) Presidents and Princesses; and Saddle Bronc,
Buldogging, Steer Roping, Calf Roping, Team Roping, Bull Riding,
and Bareback Champions; All-Around Cowboy Winners; and other
categories.
Read more about
Pendleton Round-up at 100
and see a short video
here at the University of Oklahoma Press site. Find
information about the Pendleton Round-up's 100th celebration
here at the Pendleton
Round-up site.
Verlena Orr's
latest volume of poetry is Taking it to the Limit.
The book is dedicated to one of her former teachers at the University of
Montana, popular self-described "rodeo-hobo poet" Paul Zarzyski
(who she calls, "Straight shooter poet, mentor, friend....").
Many of the poems were previously published in journals.
(Three of Verlena Orr's poems are included in the respected
anthology, Graining the Mare: The Poetry of
Ranch Women, edited by
Teresa Jordan.)
Verlena Orr was raised on Idaho's Camas Prairie and has worked as a
ranch hand. She recently produced a film, Sky Settles
Everything (read about it in an item below) about her cousin Wayne James, who has ranched all of his
life on the family's land. She recites six poems throughout the
film.
She also has a recent
chapbook, One More Time from the Beginning, announced
below.
Taking it to the
Limit is available for $11.76
postpaid from Verlena Orr, 1907 NW Hoyt St., Portland, OR
97209-1224.
Writer Kim Stafford, author of
The Muses Among Us: Eloquent Listening and other pleasures of the Writer's
Craft,
praises the book: Any poet who can give you 'the flight
of swallows / busy as typewriters' and 'the burning rust of a desert rose'
has deepened your ability to see and to hear, to savor our miracle of
perception."
Read more about Jack Goodman and one of his poems
here at
CowboyPoetry.com.
Find more about
Wind Songs from Turtle's Backhere at the publisher's site.
Jeanette Walls'
"true-life novel," Half Broke Horses,
has received wide attention following her best-selling book, Glass Castles.
Half Broke Horses
is about her pioneering grandmother, Lily Casey Smith. From the
publisher's description:
...By age six, Lily was helping her
father break horses. At fifteen, she left home to teach in a
frontier town -- riding five hundred miles on her pony, alone, to
get to her job... and fly a plane. And, with her husband Jim, she
ran a vast ranch in Arizona...
Find more
here at the publisher's site, including a video message from the
author and an excerpt from the audio book.
Here are iconic images that have
defined the West in the popular imagination for more than a
century. The volume boasts reproductions, most in full color, of
more than 150 of Russell’s finest works in oil, bronze, and mixed
media. Select examples of his drawings, watercolors, and
illustrated letters as well as archival photographs place
Russell’s paintings and sculpture in historic and artistic
context.
Introduced by the book's editor, scholar Joan
Carpenter Troccoli, works are collected in chapters such as her "Poetry and
Motion in the Art of Charles M. Russell"; "Memories of Charles M. Russell
Among My Indian Relatives," by George P. Horse Capture, Sr.; "'What a Pair to
Draw To': Charles M. Russell and the Art of Storytelling Art," by Brain W. Dippie; "Charlie Russell Discovers Lewis and Clark," by James P. Ronda;
"Montana's Magnificent Russell," by Kirby Lambert; and others.
The book was made possible through the
collaboration of several museums' Russell holdings, including the Gilcrease
Museum, the Denver Art Museum, the Amon Carter Museum, the Montana
Historical Society, and others. The Denver Art Museum currently has an exhibit, "The Masterworks
of Charles M. Russell."
The University of Oklahoma Press's
The Masterworks of Charles M.
Russell
is the sixth volume in the publisher's Charles M. Russell Series
on Art and Photography of the American West. It is a companion to the 2007
Charles M. Russell: A Catalogue Raisonné,
the first book in the series.
Popular piano 
North Dakota 
Mark
The first academic 
Top 
Symposium 2010 showcases the 
Ranch-raised poet 
Oklahoma 
Top reciter
Texas poet 
The
Missouri poet 
In 
An impressively designed and absorbing new release,
John 
Photographer David A.
Alain 
Attractive, absorbing, and informative,
Oregon's 
Oregon poet
I
