Cowboy Crossroads

Colter Wall discusses growing up in Saskatchewan, his interest in cowboy culture, old-time cowboy songs, his 1937 Martin guitar, what it means to be a folksinger and his album Songs of the Plains.   You can find out more about Colter Wall at www.colterwall.com   This episode was sponsored by Republic Boot Company.     Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com   Become a patron at...

Singer/songwriter Dave Stamey talks about his early life, wranglin' dudes, his rural audience, and his songwriting influences. Don't miss the new song at the end of the episode!   You can find out more about Dave Stamey at www.davestamey.com   This episode was sponsored by Republic Boot Company.     Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com   Become a patron at www.patreon.com/co...

This episode features two guests celebrating the poetry and memory of S. Omar Barker. Barker's grandniece Georgia Snead shares memories, stories, and anecdotes about Barker and cowboy poet Waddie Mitchell tells his story of discovering Barker's poetry and calling him on the phone.   You can find out more about Waddie Mitchell at www.waddiemitchell.com   This episode was sponsored by Republic Boot...

Canadian singer/songwriter Corb Lund talks about his family history, old cowboy songs, Marty Robbins, Ian Tyson, authenticity, his diverse audience, and tells the story of his parents putting on a rodeo in Zambia. Don't miss his live version of S Lazy H at the end.   You can find out more about Corb Lund at www.corblund.com   This episode was sponsored by The National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.    F...

Fifth-generation California rancher and poet John Dofflemyer talks about growing up on his family ranch, poetry, his first trip to Elko, Dry Crik Review, endangered species, and more.    You can find out more about John Dofflemyer at www.drycrikjournal.com   This episode was sponsored by The National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.    Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com   Become a...

Bass player, vocalist, and humorist Too Slim reflects on his 40 year career with Riders in the Sky.  Tune in to hear Slim talk about his early musical influences, the beginning of the band, his role in the Paul is Dead conspiracy theory, the Riders' stage names, working with Pixar, and more.   Find out more about Too Slim at www.ridersinthesky.com   This episode was sponsored by Ear Trumpet Labs m...

Live from Roots on the Narrow Gauge, Tom Russell shares about his early musical influences, personal encounters with the Beatles and Bob Dylan, living in Nigeria, the making of The Man from God Knows Where and Hotwalker, bad gigs, and his writing process. He tops it off with a new song.   Find out more about Tom Russell at www.tomrussell.com   Find out more about Roots on the Rails at www.rootsont...

Part 2 of the interview with NEA Fellow and poet Joel Nelson. In this episode, Joel talks about his lifelong journey into poetry from his earliest exposures to literature to writing his own poetry. Listen to the end to hear Joel recite his poem "Awakenings."   Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com   Become a patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads  

NEA National Heritage Fellow and poet Joel Nelson recalls his childhood memories, how he ended up in Alpine, Texas, and his early days as a working cowboy on the 06 Ranch.   Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com   Become a patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads

Working cowboy, author, and poet Amy Hale Auker stops by Cowboy Crossroads and talks about her father, her history, her writing process, and her work with Andy Wilkinson. Listen to the end of the episode to hear Amy recite the title poem from her new book Livestock Man.   This episode was sponsored by Ear Trumpet Labs microphones .   Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com   Be...

One of the last of the old-time Australian drovers, bush poet Jack Sammon talks about his fascinating life as a drover and coal miner. Tune in to hear about the similarities between Australian bush poetry and American cowboy poetry.     Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com   Become a patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads

Michael Martin Murphey returns to Cowboy Crossroads to talk about the history of Westfest and the influence of Buffalo Bill Cody. Tune in and hear Murphey play an acoustic version of his song "Wild West Show" at the end of the episode!   Find out more about Michael Martin Murphey at www.michaelmartinmurphey.com   Find out more about Michael Martin Murphey's Westfest at www.americanwestfest.com Fin...

Cowboy poet and rancher Wally McRae talks with Andy about his father and grandfather, the story behind his poem "Reincarnation", the influence of theater on his work, and his friendship with Paul Zarzyski.   Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com   Become a patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads

Hank the Cowdog author John Erickson talks about his deep ranching roots, the inspiration for Hank the Cowdog, sense of place, and the oral tradition of storytelling.   Find out more about John Erickson at www.hankthecowdog.com   Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com   Become a patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads

Jerry Brooks shares about working as a woman in a coal mine for 26 years, coal miners & cowboys, the spoken word, and cowboy poetry.   Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com   Become a patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads

Recorded live from the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, NV, Riders in the Sky make the 7216th performance of their career on Cowboy Crossroads! Tune in to hear stories about their early days as a band, their worst gigs, and a few classic songs.   Find out more about Riders in the Sky at www.ridersinthesky.com   Find out more about the Western Folklife Center and the National Cowboy Poetry...

On part 2, Andy Wilkinson discusses his personal relation to Charlie Goodnight, the making of his Charlie Goodnight album, and sings his song "Palo Duro Farewell."   Find out more about Andy Wilkinson at www.andywilkinson.org   Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com   Become a patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads

Lubbock songwriter Andy Wilkinson shares stories, observations, and anecdotes about his distant uncle Charlie Goodnight. Tune in to hear about the Goodnight-Loving Trail, the first chuckwagon, and the death of Charlie Goodnight.   Find out more about Andy Wilkinson at www.andywilkinson.org   This episode was sponsored by Flint Custom Hats.     Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedge...

"The Old Double Diamond" is one of the few modern cowboy songs to become a classic. In this episode, Gary McMahan tells the story behind his classic song. Along the way, he discusses his musical influences, the cattle feeding and trucking business, and the cowmen and cowboys he writes for.   Find out more about Gary McMahan at www.singingcowboy.com   This episode was sponsored by Flint Custom Hats...

East Texas rancher Pipp Gillette talks about the roots, influences, and origins of traditional cowboy music and reflects on minstrelsy, blackface, medicine shows, Jack Thorp, and banjos.   Find out more about Pipp Gillette at www.campstreetcafe.com   Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com   Become a patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads

Texas rancher and musician Pipp Gillette talks about the beginnings of his grandfather's ranch in East Texas, his parents meeting in New York City, spending childhood summers in Texas with his brother, and ultimately coming home to the family ranch.   Find out more about Pipp Gillette at www.campstreetcafe.com   Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com   Become a patron at www.p...

New Mexico cowpuncher and musician Rod Taylor talks about the beginnings of his cowboy career, being a camp man, roping a buffalo, acting in a Toyota commercial, and his friendship with cowboy poet J.B. Allen.   Find out more about Rod Taylor at www.rodtaylormusic.net   Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com   Become a patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads

Folklorist and musician Hal Cannon talks about growing up in the Salt Lake City folk scene, the founding of the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, and the influence of tradition.   Find out more about Hal Cannon at www.halcannon.com   This episode was sponsored by Baxendale Guitar .   Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com   Become a patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads

Mike Beck returns in part 2 of his interview and speaks with passion on the Dorrance brothers, horses, music, and plays a song from the California coast.   Find out more about Mike Beck at www.mikebeck.com   Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com   Become a patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads

California songwriter and horseman Mike Beck talks about growing up in Monterey, California, working with Tom and Bill Dorrance, cowboyin' on the Spanish Ranch, and shares a new song written for Merle Haggard.   Find out more about Mike Beck at www.mikebeck.com   Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com   Become a patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads