This fifth annual edition of
The BAR-D
Roundup includes a vintage recording of
Charles Badger Clark, Jr. (1883-1957)
introducing and reciting his
still-popular poem, "The Cowboy's Prayer,"
and contemporary poets reciting their work, including "Awakenings" by
rancher, horseman, and National Endowment of the Arts Fellow
Joel Nelson;
"The Fence That Me and Shorty Built" by songwriter, poet,
entertainer and past Texas Poet Laureate Red
Steagall; and "No Second Chance" by top cowboy poet
Waddie Mitchell.
Also included are "Waitin' on the Drive" by the late
Larry McWhorter (1957-2003), and "Some
Cowboy Brag Talk" by the legendary Harry Jackson.
Classic selections include a focus on
Charles Badger Clark, Jr. with
recitations by Randy Rieman ("The
Married Man"), Jerry Brooks ("The Legend
of Boastful Bill"), and Hal Swift ("Jeff
Hart"). Other classic offerings include Linda
Kirkpatrick's rendition of "The Creak of the Leather" by
Bruce Kiskaddon (1878-1950);
S. Omar Barker (1895-1985) poems recited by
Susan Parker ("Ranch Mother") and
Jim Thompson ("He'll Do"); and
Rex Rideout's recitation of the anonymous
"When Bob Got Throwed."
The CD has a fifth annual
selection from Grass, the
master work by the late Buck Ramsey (1938-1998),
a National Endowment for the Arts Fellow, recognized as the spiritual leader of
modern cowboy poetry.
There are many additional tracks of contemporary poems,
most from poets who frequently please audiences from contemporary
gathering stages, including: Marty Blocker,
Ken
Cook, Doris Daley,
Janice Gilbertson,
DW Groethe, Yvonne Hollenbeck,
Chris Isaacs,
Dee Strickland Johnson ("Buckshot Dot"),
Andy Nelson,
Rodney Nelson,
Pat Richardson,
Georgie Sicking, Jay Snider, and
Diane Tribitt.
Every year's CD includes a radio public service announcement about
the Center for Western and Cowboy Poetry. This year, it is
delivered by popular radio DJ Joe Baker
of New Mexico's
Backforty Bunkhouse.
The BAR-D Roundup cover images are vintage photos of
poets or their forebears.
This year's cover features a circa 1940 image of
Georgie Sicking, cowboy, poet, and
Cowgirl Hall of Fame inductee. Inside each year's CD, a contemporary ranch
family photo is featured. For 2010,
there's a photo of cowboys, family, and friends at poet and writer
Diane Tribitt's Minnesota ranch.
Poems and permissions were generously donated by poets, musicians,
families, organizations, and publishers.
The BAR-D Roundup
enjoys wide radio airplay, thanks to the pro bono distribution to hundreds of Western radio stations
by Joe Baker of New Mexico's
Backforty Bunkhouse.
Wyoming's Andy Nelson, poet,
humorist, popular emcee and co-host of the award-winning
Clear Out West (C. O. W.)
Radio show is the CD's engineer and co-producer.
The BAR-D Roundup: Volume Five
The 
The Summer, 2010 issue of
