Cowboy Crossroads

Andy Wilkinson returns to Cowboy Crossroads to talk about the Llano Estacado, Waylon Jennings, Buck Ramsey, and the creative process. He also reads excerpts from his upcoming memoir, Llanero: a boyhood on the 360-of-the-180. 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

Singer, songwriter, and guitar builder Michael Stevens talks about growing up in the Ohio horse culture, the guitar scene in Berkeley, California, building Junior Brown's guit-steel, and remembers his cowboy father. Find out more about Michael Stevens at www.stevensguitars.com This episode was sponsored by Republic Boot Company. Find out more about them at www.republicbootcompany.com Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com Become a patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads

Part two with rancher and mountain lion hunter Warner Glenn. Warner talks about the importance of being a steward of the land, the Malpai Borderlands Group, and tells the stories of his encounters with jaguars. Warner's daughter Kelly Kimbro joins the conversation. This episode is sponsored by Republic Boot Company. Find out more about them at www.republicbootcompany.com Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com Become a patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads

Rancher and mountain lion hunter Warner Glenn talks about his family coming to Arizona from Texas in 1896 and shares about his experiences hunting lions in the Southern Arizona desert. Warner's daughter Kelly Kimbro joins the conversation. 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/cowboycrossroads

Photographer and writer Jay Dusard discusses his work to chronicle cowboy culture in his book The North American Cowboy: A Portrait. Along the way he tells stories about Warner Glenn, Russell Lee, Ian Tyson, Kurt Markus, Buster Welch and Gail I. Gardner. He also talks about the importance of the working cowboy and shares the secret to learning the structure of a haiku. Today's episode is sponsored by Republic Boot Company. Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com Become a patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads

Part two with cowboy poet and humorist Baxter Black. On this episode Baxter talks about cowboy poetry, how he got on National Public Radio, appearing on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, his poem Legacy of a Rodeo Man, and what it means to live on the edge of common sense. This episode was sponsored by Republic Boot Company. Find out more about Baxter Black at www.baxterblack.com Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com Become a patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads

Cowboy poet and former large animal veterinarian Baxter Black talks about his childhood, his decision to go to veterinary school, working for the Simplot Livestock Company, his three requirements for the poetry he writes and the two poets who have inspired him most. Find out more about Baxter Black at www.baxterblack.com This episode was sponsored by Republic Boot Company and Michael Pardue Silversmith. Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com Become a patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads

Teresa Jordan shares about growing up on a Wyoming ranch, the family economy of ranching, the neglected voices of women in the American West, and reads excerpts from her book Riding the White Horse Home. Find out more about Teresa Jordan at www.teresajordan.com Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com Become a patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads

On this special Veterans Day edition of Cowboy Crossroads, working cowboy and poet Joel Nelson shares his experience and poetry from the Vietnam War. Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com Become a patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads

Utah songwriter Brenn Hill talks about his passion for the Intermountain West, working with Ian Tyson in the studio, the support of the cowboy poetry community, his songwriting process, and plays a brand new song. Find out more about about Brenn Hill at www.brennhill.com This episode is sponsored by Flint Custom Hats. Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com Become a patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads

New Mexico cowboy artist Gary Morton talks about his early days on the Bell Ranch, the responsibilities of a camp man and a wagon boss on a ranch, his journey as an artist, running cattle on the Mescalero Indian Reservation, and the importance of getting details right when representing the working cowboy. You can find out more about Gary Morton at www.garymortonart.com This episode was sponsored by Flint Custom Hats. Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com Become a patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads

The legendary Ramblin' Jack Elliott returns to Cowboy Crossroads and rambles about Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, the Newport Folk Festival, Mississippi John Hurt, Jack Kerouac, songs, guitars, Leadbelly, and much more. You can find out more about Ramblin' Jack Ellliott at www.ramblinjackelliott.com This episode was sponsored by Republic Boot Company. This episode was also brought to you by the Western Folklife Center. Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com Become a patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads

Montana poet laureate Henry Real Bird shares about growing up on the Crow Reservation, the history of the Crow Tribe, and the power of poetry and thought. This episode was also brought to you by the Western Folklife Center. Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com Become a patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads

Hot Club of Cowtown's Elana James stops by Cowboy Crossroads to talk about her classical training, her Western swing influences, working with Bob Dylan, wrangling horses in Montana, and interpreting traditional music. Don't miss the fiddle tune at the end! You can out more about Elana James at www.elanajames.com This episode was also brought to you by the Western Folklife Center. Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com Become a patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads

Myrtis Dightman talks about being the first black cowboy to compete at the National Finals Rodeo in 1964 and shares stories from a lifetime in rodeo. Special guests Pipp Gillette and Waddie Mitchell also share stories and thoughts about Myrtis Dightman. This episode was sponsored by Republic Boot Company. This episode was also brought to you by the Western Folklife Center. Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com Become a patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads

Singer/songwriter and working cowboy Gail Steiger shares stories and memories about his grandfather Gail Gardner. Gail Gardner is one of the classic cowboy poets and he is best known for writing the poem/song "The Sierry Petes," also known as "Tying Knots in the Devil's Tail." You can find out more about Gail Steiger at www.gailsteigermusic.com This episode was sponsored by Republic Boot Company. This episode was also brought to you by the Western Folklife Center. Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com Become a patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads

Montana ranch hand DW Groethe talks about playing music because you have to, becoming a cowboy, the difference in poems and songs, and the isolation of ranch work. This episode was sponsored by Republic Boot Company. This episode was also brought to you by the Western Folklife Center. Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com Become a patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads

Barry Corbin talks about his career as an actor, his interest in the life of Charlie Goodnight, his creative process, and tells stories from working on the sets of Conagher and No Country for Old Men. Don't miss the Shakespeare recitation at the end! You can find out more about Barry Corbin at www.barrycorbin.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/cowboycrossroads

New Mexico cowboy singer R.W. Hampton talks about how a town kid became a cowboy, his musical influences, his acting career, Ian Tyson, and what makes a cowboy song. You can find out more about R.W. Hampton at www.rwhampton.com This episode was sponsored by Shooting Star Saddlery. Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com Become a patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads

The legendary Ian Tyson talks about Elko, Nevada, buckaroo culture, Greenwich Village, traditional folk songs, writing songs with Tom Russell, and encountering Bob Dylan. You can find out more about Ian Tyson at www.iantyson.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/cowboycrossroads

Florida rancher and poet Sean Sexton talks about working with his father and son, the Florida cattle business, his writing process, and poetic forms. You can find out more about Sean Sexton at www.seansextonfineart.com Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com Become a patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads

Poet Vess Quinlan discusses growing up on small family ranches, contracting polio as a child, occupational poetry, and offers insights into ranch culture. Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com Become a patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads

Ned LeDoux elaborates on growing up in Kaycee, Wyoming, getting started in music, playing drums with the Western Underground, and being the son of Chris LeDoux. Don't miss the new song at the end of the episode. You can find out more about Ned LeDoux at www.nedledoux.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/cowboycrossroads

Cowboy poet Rodney Nelson of North Dakota talks about his life experiences including ranching, rodeo, poetry, his parents, and the power of music. Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com Become a patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads

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 www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroad

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/cowboycrossroad

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 Company. Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com Become a patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads

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. Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com Become a patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads

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 patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads

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 microphones. Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com Become a patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads

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.rootsontherails.com Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com Become a patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads

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 Become a patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads

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 Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com Become a patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads

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 Gathering at www.westernfolklife.org Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com Become a patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads

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.andyhedges.com Become a patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads

"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. Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com Become a patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads

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.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads

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

Chuck Hawthorne talks about the three passions of his life: cowboy culture, the military, and music. He also shares the story of how he never met Buck Ramsey and plays a stirring version of a new song. Find out more about Chuck Hawthorne at www.chuckhawthorne.com Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com Become a patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads