|
JUNI FISHER
In the central San Joaquin Valley of California, a horse crazy kid to grew up in a farming family, but
between school and countless singing performances with her two sisters, Juni found a way to have horses, and 4-H and FFA honors
followed her through out her school years. While studying Equine Science at
the College of the Sequoias in Visalia, she rode young horses for neighbors, worked gates
at the sales yard, and helped local ranches. A good “catch rider“, she rode
her way through college, with top honors at Intercollegiate and Quarter Horse shows. Meanwhile, she was
earning horse show entry money singing big band standards in a dance orchestra. She trained
cowhorses from snaffle bitters to bridle horses, winning her first Snaffle Bit Futurity (IARCHA) in ’81,
her first Bridle Horse Championship in ’83 (the Monterey Classic) while working on a cow calf operation, and running
a roping arena. Her bridle horses did day work on the ranch, and competed weekends with much success. If there was a campfire
gathering with music, Juni was there with her guitar, singing the songs of the west she’d learned
from her father. In 1984 she moved to Santa Ynez, CA, to train cutting horses, taking her blossoming songwriting skills with
her. A local band was quick to ask her to play rhythm guitar and sing leads and backups.
Members of the noted Rancheros Vistadores, an elite group of ranchers from across the nation, noticed her singing around town,
which led her to working L.A. area clubs with a popular country band, which was also playing western and cowboy music.
Juni’s ability to ride at speed across the hills found her working as a
foxhunting professional, and she accepted a one year position with a hunt club in Tennessee. Point to point
racing, steeplechasing, and horse trials took the place of cowhorses, while she honed her songwriting skills amongst some
of Nashville’s finest, managing a saddlery during the day. She and husband Rusty, who works for Purina
Mills as an Equine Specialist, keep two favorite horses these days, living near Franklin, Tennessee.
She recorded her first Western release, “Tumbleweed Letters” in late 1999. Monterey
Cowboy Poetry and Music Festival director Gary Brown heard her first album, and hunted her down to perform at the 2004 Festival.
He shared Juni’s music with other promoters and artists, and started the wheels turning, allowing Juni to shift her
profession to the music she loved most. Juni released a second album, “Sideshow Romance” in
the summer of 2004. Her third release, “Cowgirlography” featured a duet with Sons
of the San Joaquin's Joe Hannah, and recieved rave reviews, multiple nominations and a WMA Song of the Year award.
The start of 2008 marked the release of her historic "Gone For Colorado", an album that
brought forth Juni's own family history in song. Fisher is a lot
easier to find these days, performing at venues like the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, NV, the Heber City Cowboy
Gathering, Monterey Cowboy Festival, Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival, the Colorado Cowboy Gathering, Spirit of the West Festival,
Cochise Cowboy Poetry Gathering, Salinas and Big Bear Lake gatherings, radio shows, Folk
Festivals, and many more venues. From her appearances, and by word of mouth, the bookings and the kudos
keep rolling in, including the 2007 WMA Song of the Year, 2006 WMA Female Vocalist of the Year,
2005 Academy of Western Artists Western Female Vocalist of the Year, and 2005 Western Music Association
Crescendo Award. www.junifisher.com
www.myspace.com/cowgirlmusic 615-289-1292
|
|
CHUCK
LARSEN
Growing up on his Dad’s place in South Dakota, Chuck had ample opportunity to…"do it all" when it came to working livestock. He and his wife Linda
now have a little place in the Upper North Platte River Valley near the town of Saratoga, Wyoming, where they keep a string
of good cow horses and pack mules. Although Chuck’s job at the Co-op takes up most of his time, he still finds
plenty of opportunity to maintain his Cowboy Credentials, doin’ day
work for local ranches. In his "spare time," he keeps busy ridin’ colts, fixin’ fence and
packin’ into the high country with his mules. Every once in a while you might also catch him announcing a local
rodeo or…wranglin’ a few dudes.
Chuck’s unique style of writing and performing his poetry will allow you to “visualize”
his cowboyin’ experiences as he relates them. WARNING: Chuck also has an imagination that takes the bit in its teeth once in a while!!!!!!!! Chuck has been writing and performing
his poetry since 1990, and has been featured at many Cowboy Gatherings around the country. Chuck’s poetry has
the ability to make you roll in the aisle with laughter or bring a sentimental tear to your eye, as you hear, see and become
part of his performance. Blue Cowboy Moon and Chuck’s latest recording Stock Tank Reflections are available on CD and his book You’re Gonna Get A Kick Outta This! would be a great addition to your Cowboy Poetry collection.
JESSE
SMITH
A one of a kind cowboy and poet from Cora WY that has performed all over the United States. (More info coming)
ANDY NELSON
As a second-generation farrier, Andy
Nelson has the experience and the talents and humor to bring authenticity and entertainment to an audience. Raised in Oakley,
Idaho, Andy traveled the Great Basin of southern Idaho, northern Utah and northern Nevada with his father on farrier jobs,
from the time he was a child until he went off to college. While in college at Utah State University, he continued to shoe
horses for the USU Horsemanship Program while studying in the Pre-Vet curriculum. He also spent many years working as a hand
on a southern Idaho ranch, caring for cattle, from calving through selling and helped with the ranch's hay operation.
Now Andy lives in Pinedale, Wyoming, where among other things, he and his wife Jaclyn raise horses and children.
|
