By Darcy Minter
Hard work, scarce pay, lonesome nights, heartbreak and death are common themes of the blues and songs, poems, and stories of the cowboy. Cowboy culture is a blend of traditions and influences; blues and other African American cultural traditions have been a major influence on the evolution of western music. The 27th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, January 24-29, in Elko, Nevada, explored the connections between traditional cowboy and western music and traditional African American blues music.
The National Cowboy Poetry Gathering is the nation's largest annual celebration of cowboy culture. For six days in January the community of Elko welcomes thousands of cowboys and cowgirls, poets and musicians, artisans and scholars, rural and city people - all of whom share a love of the American West and the artistic traditions of ranching and cowboy culture. More than 60 poets and musicians from the U.S., Canada, Australia and Hungary performed on eight stages at five different venues throughout Elko. Additional highlights included cowboys from Hungary, the Marshall Ford Swing Band (featuring Emily Gimble, granddaughter of Texas fiddle legend Johnny Gimble), Ian Tyson, The Quebe Sisters, Wylie and the Wild West, and renowned cowboy poets Waddie Mitchell, Baxter Black and Wallace McRae.
Among the blues programs at the Gathering, legendary folk singer Ramblin' Jack Elliott performed music from his GRAMMY Award-winning album for Best Traditional Blues Recording, "A Stranger Here." Jack shared a sampling of these all pre-World War II blues tunes. He was joined by some of the revered musicians featured on his album, including pianist Van Dyke Parks.
Zydeco music is a synthesis of traditional Creole, Cajun and African-American music including R&B, blues, jazz and gospel. Geno Delafose and French Rockin' Boogie performed their special brand of foot-stompin' Zydeco from the bayou country of southwest Louisiana. Sourdough Slim and Robert Armstrong presented blues and old-time music reminiscent of the 1920s and 30s, including Jimmie Rodgers songs.
2011 National Cowboy Poetry Gathering Performers:
Hard work, scarce pay, lonesome nights, heartbreak and death are common themes of the blues and songs, poems, and stories of the cowboy. Cowboy culture is a blend of traditions and influences; blues and other African American cultural traditions have been a major influence on the evolution of western music. The 27th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, January 24-29, in Elko, Nevada, explored the connections between traditional cowboy and western music and traditional African American blues music.
The National Cowboy Poetry Gathering is the nation's largest annual celebration of cowboy culture. For six days in January the community of Elko welcomes thousands of cowboys and cowgirls, poets and musicians, artisans and scholars, rural and city people - all of whom share a love of the American West and the artistic traditions of ranching and cowboy culture. More than 60 poets and musicians from the U.S., Canada, Australia and Hungary performed on eight stages at five different venues throughout Elko. Additional highlights included cowboys from Hungary, the Marshall Ford Swing Band (featuring Emily Gimble, granddaughter of Texas fiddle legend Johnny Gimble), Ian Tyson, The Quebe Sisters, Wylie and the Wild West, and renowned cowboy poets Waddie Mitchell, Baxter Black and Wallace McRae.
Among the blues programs at the Gathering, legendary folk singer Ramblin' Jack Elliott performed music from his GRAMMY Award-winning album for Best Traditional Blues Recording, "A Stranger Here." Jack shared a sampling of these all pre-World War II blues tunes. He was joined by some of the revered musicians featured on his album, including pianist Van Dyke Parks.
Zydeco music is a synthesis of traditional Creole, Cajun and African-American music including R&B, blues, jazz and gospel. Geno Delafose and French Rockin' Boogie performed their special brand of foot-stompin' Zydeco from the bayou country of southwest Louisiana. Sourdough Slim and Robert Armstrong presented blues and old-time music reminiscent of the 1920s and 30s, including Jimmie Rodgers songs.
2011 National Cowboy Poetry Gathering Performers:
- Adrian - Williams, CA
- Baxter Black - Benson, AZ
- Dave Bourne - Agoura Hills, CA
- Muzzy Braun - Clayton, ID
- Jerry Brooks - Sevier, UT
- Doris Daley - Turner Valley, AB
- Geno Delafose and French Rockin' Boogie - Eunice, LA
- John Dofflemyer - Lemon Cove, CA
- John Doran - Twisp, WA
- Ramblin' Jack Elliott - Northern CA
- Leon Flick - Plush, OR
- Dick Gibford - Maricopa, CA
- DW Groethe - Bainville, MT
- Amy Hale Auker - Prescott, AZ
- Linda Hasselstrom - Hermosa, SD
- Jessica Hedges - Soap Lake, WA
- Yvonne Hollenbeck - Clearfield, SD
- Jess Howard - Wibaux, MT
- Mike Hurwitz - Alta, WY
- Linda Hussa - Cedarville, CA
- Ray Lashley - Grand Junction, CO
- Ed Littlefield and Marley's Ghost - Arlington, WA
- Bill Lowman - Sentinel Butte, ND
- The Marshall Ford Swing Band - Austin, TX
- Michael Martin Murphey - Amarillo, TX
- Sid Marty - Lundbreck, AB
- Gary McMahan - Bellvue, CO
- Wally McRae - Forsyth, MT
- Chuck Milner - Reydon, OK
- Waddie Mitchell - Twin Bridges, NV
- Rooster Morris - Rockdale, TX
- Barbara Nelson - Pendelton, OR
- Joel Nelson - Alpine, TX
- Rodney Nelson - Almont, ND
- Kay Kelley Nowell - Alpine, TX
- Glenn Ohrlin - Mountain View, AR
- The Quebe Sisters Band - Burleson, TX
- Vess Quinlan - San Acacio, CO
- Henry Real Bird - Garryowen, MT
- Rusty Richards - Modjeska, CA
- Pat Richardson - Merced, CA
- Randy Rieman - Dillon, MT
- Sandy Seaton Sallee - Emigrant, MT
- Sean Sexton - Vero Beach, FL
- Georgie Sicking - Kaycee, WY
- Jay Snider - Cyril, OK
- Sourdough Slim & Robert Armstrong - Paradise, CA
- Dave Stamey - Nipomo, CA
- Milton Taylor - New South Wales, Australia
- Ian Tyson - Longview, AB
- Clarence Wager - Alturas, CA
- Dick Warwick - Oaksdale, WA
- Dan Wheetman - Arlington, WA
- Andy Wilkinson & Andy Hedges - Lubbock, TX
- Cora Wood - Saratoga, WY
- Joyce Woodson - San Juan Capistrano, CA
- Wylie & The Wild West - Conrad, MT
- Paul Zarzyski - Great Falls, MT
