FEATURING: Ian Tyson.

Even before he became a household name as a cowboy music star, Ian graced our stages in Elko. When Canadian singer-songwriter Ian Tyson made the trip to Elko in 1985 his satchel was stuffed with original and favorite western songs. In 1983, he put out Old Corrals and Sagebrush for Columbia–a cowboy record through and through, and in 1984, he put out another record titled Ian Tyson, but neither record had found a significant audience. Elko, and the Gathering, changed all of that, as Ian later wrote, tapping into and fueling a cowboy renaissance that continues to flourish. Ian Tyson’s fresh western songs were immediately recognizable by cowboy audiences as reflecting their world and the best of contemporary songwriting. This short set gives a taste of Ian’s brilliant pairing of melody and lyrics in writing of cowboy heroes (“Will James”), real stories and legends (“Murder Steer”), and some of his favorites from other writers (“The Night Rider’s Lament”). After the show, Ian and band plugged in at their gig at the Stockmen’s Casino, the dancing began, powerful new western music prevailed, and a full showroom audience kept coming back for more.

Hosted by Glenn Ohrlin.

From the first Cowboy Poetry Gathering in 1985 (in 2000, the event was renamed the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering by an official act of Congress).
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PLAYLIST

"Will James"(words & music by Ian Tyson)
"Murder Steer" (words & music by Ian Tyson)
"Night Rider's Lament" (words & music by Michael Burton)

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ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Ian Tyson
Longview, AB, Canada
Canadian rancher and musician Ian Tyson can look back on a 60-year long career that includes numerous releases and popular TV shows. Some of his hits are “Four Strong Winds,” “Someday Soon,” “Summer Wages,” and “Navajo Rug.” A rodeo rider turned artist, Ian was also part of the very first Gathering in 1985. Ian’s current show includes a mixture of humorous anecdotes and memories from his storied life in the music business. Tyson doesn’t look backwards at six decades of a career that’s earned him countless awards, the Order of Canada, and a devoted following; he faces the future with a mixture of optimism and resignation. “Your 80s,” Tyson tells people, “is not a time for sissies.” Always an audience favorite, Ian is a beloved friend of the Western Folklife Center, and in 2021 we established the Ian Tyson Legacy Fund in his honor.

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Filmed in front of a live audience at the Elko Convention Center’s Laurena Moren Theater in Elko, NV, on Feb. 1, 1985.

Made possible by Rangen, Inc., the Nevada Cattlemen's Association, and the multitude of staff, artists, volunteers, and community members working behind the scenes to make this show happen.

Brought to you by the Western Folklife Center, using story and cultural expression to connect the American West to the world.
www.westernfolklife.org

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