Cowboy Songwriter And Singer Don Edwards

From his website:
“Grammy nominated singer-guitarist Don Edwards continues to build a legacy that enriches our vision of the American West. In tales of the day-to-day lives and emotions of those who have lived it, his ballads paint a sweeping landscape of both mind and heard, keeping alive the sights, sounds and feelings of this most American contribution to culture and art. The quality of this cowboy balladeer’s music stems from the fact that he is so much more than a singer. Bobby Weaver of the National Cowboy Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, summed up Edwards’ importance as “…the best purveyor of cowboy music in America today.”

“An historian, author, and musicologist, unusually wee-versed in cowboy lore and musical traditions, Don brings a rare compliment of knowing and loving his craft. Mostly though, there is the soul of a poet; a man who has never succumbed to the temptations of presenting a glamorized or romanticized version of the West.

“Edwards deals with the bad weather and petty motivation, with sadness, nostalgia and longing as parts of the landscape like any other.

“The son of a vaudeville magician, Don was exposed as a child to a vast cross-section of music from classical to jazz, and blues to western-swing. Many of the those influences enter his own music as they did some of the music of the West. Edwards was drawn to the cowboy life by the books of Will James and was presented the Will James Society’s “Big Enough Award” which is presented annually to someone who personifies the Western and Cowboy way of life and their achievements. He also loved the B Westerns of the silver screen, particularly those featuring “‘sure-‘ nuff cowboys” like Tom Mix and Ken Maynard. He taught himself guitar starting at age ten, and chased the rodeo and worked ranches in Texas and New Mexico during his teens. In 1961, he got his first professional job as an actor/.singer/stuntman at Six Flags Over Texas. Don released his first recording on REN Records of Dallas, Texas.

“Don became part owner of the White Elephant Saloon in the Fort Worth stockyards where ballad hunter and historian John Lomax collected cowboy songs. Subsequently, “Esquire” magazine has named the White Elephant one of America’s 100 best bars. Edwards also began playing throughout out Oklahoma and Texas, and with the inception of the Cowboy poetry Gathering in Elko, Nevada achieved widespread recognition. He has now entertained throughout the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, New Zealand, Europe and the Far East.

“Don Edwards has two recorded anthologies, Guitars & Saddle Songs and Songs of the Cowboy, included in the Folklore Archives of the Library of Congress. These anthologies have been re-recorded and expanded as the 32-song double CD/cassette called Saddle Songs. This project took first place as the Best Folk/Traditional Album of the year at the annual AFIM INDIE Awards Ceremony held in May of 1998. The collection is on the Western Jubilee Recording Company’s label. He has received Six prestigious Wrangler Awards for Outstanding Traditional Music from the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. Don has also been selected for the Prestigious CHESTER A. REYNOLDS Memorial Award from the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum for 2010. This award is named for the founder of the museum honoring Don for his contribution in perpetuating the ideals, history and heritage of the American West.

“He has received multiple awards from the Western Music Association for Male Vocalist and Performer of the Year.

“Other projects include a book release by the Gibbs Smith Publishing Co. entitled Classic Cowboy Songs; performing on Nanci Griffith’s Grammy-winning video and recording. Other Voices, Other Rooms; co-presenter along with Waddie Mitchell on the network-televised Academy of Country Music Awards and featured performer for the prestigious “Golden Boot Awards”.

“Don has presented educational services at Yale, Rice, Texas Christian and many other Universities. His recordings under the Warner Western label, Goin’ Back to Texas, Songs of the Trail and The Bard & the Balladeer have spawned a new audience for his craft. His Warner recording, West of Yesterday (1996) was produced by Jim Rooney and features Don’s long-time Ft. Worth-based band, the 7-Bar Cowboys. The summer of 1997 found Don in Livingston, Montana portraying the role of “Smokey” in Robert Redford’s film The Horse Whisperer. In addition to this acting/singing role, Don is featured on the MCA soundtrack. In May of 1998, to coincide with The Horse Whisper theater release, Warner Western compiled and released “The Best of Don Edwards” while Western Jubilee offered Don’s newest recording “My Hero Gene Autry” recorded live at Mr. Autry’s 90th birthday.

“In the Fall of 2002, Western Jubilee released an important special project: Don Edwards and Bluegrass icon, Peter Rowan teamed up on “High Lonesome Cowboy”. The recording traces the roots of Western music from Appalachia to Abilene and includes legendary musicians, Norman Blake and Tony Rice. High Lonesome Cowboy resulted in a Grammy nomination for 2002-the first time COWBOY music has ever been nominated for this prestigious award. In 2003 Don recorded Saddle Songs 11-Last of the Troubadours, 32 more Classic Cowboy songs, which was followed by Don’s newest book, Saddle Songs-A Cowboy Songbag. 2005 found Don Edwards’ solo concert and personal appearance schedule the busiest to date. The Warner Herzog film production, Grizzly Man was released featuring Dons’ recording of Coyotes at the conclusion of the movie. In April 2007, Don received his 6th Wrangler Award for his recording of “Moonlight and Skies”. in 2009 Don’s first Inspirational recording, Heaven on Horseback was released with great reviews.

“The richness of Don’s voice coupled with his magical stage presentation makes Don Edwards America’s number one western singer and concert attraction. The accolades though, have been simply added bonuses for Edwards, who sings what he does out of love and respect for the genre. Don’s career continues to blossom, and luckily for all who care about it, he has because of his sincere approach, added much to the literature and music of the West, passing on to the rest of us a legacy rich for his efforts.”

You can get more information at his website by clicking HERE.