Show Summary 

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…

Photo by Kent Reeves

Show Summary

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…

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.

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…

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.

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…

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.

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.

Jerry Brooks shares about working as a woman in a coal mine for 26 years, coal miners & cowboys, the spoken word, and cowboy poetry.

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…

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."

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.

"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…

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.

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…

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.