Black Cowboys
From the Mississippi Delta bayou to Buckaroo country, Oklahoma rodeo grounds to the streets of Oakland and Los Angeles, people participate in and identify with cowboy and horseback communities around the country. In this collection of videos, we honor the significant and lasting influence that Black cowboys have on what it means to be a cowboy.
Photo by Marla Aufmuth.
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Black Woman (Wild Ox Moan)
Songster Dom Flemons dedicates this acapella song to his wife, Vania Kinard. Dom performs "Black Woman (Wild Ox Moan)" during the "Stay a Little Longer" show at the 36th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Dom Flemons
Silver Springs, MD
Dom Flemons is an award-winning musician, ... -
Steel Pony Blues
Dom blends folk mastery, blues prowess and country dexterity into a compound beyond compare. Dom Flemons performs "Steel Pony Blues" during the "Stay a Little Longer" show at the 36th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Dom Flemons
Silver Springs, MD
Dom Flemons is an award-winni... -
How to Play the Bones
Dom gives a lesson on playing the bones. Whether your bones are traditional bones or wooden ones, Dom Flemons can teach you how to play them with both hands.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Dom Flemons
Naperville, IL
Dom Flemons is an award-winning musician, singer-songwriter, and slam poet. Carrying on the so... -
He's A Lone Ranger
Dom sings an ode to Bass Reeves, the first Black Deputy U.S. Marshall. Dom Flemons sings "He's a Lone Ranger" during the "Stay a Little Longer" show at the 36th Gathering.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Dom Flemons
Naperville, IL
Dom Flemons is an award-winning musician, singer-songwriter, and slam poet. Ca... -
Lacassine Special
Geno plays "Lacassine Special" on his single-row diatonic button accordion, a Cajun tune that is about a man telling his woman that she needs to change her ugly ways if she wants to stay with him. This performance is from "Blues on the Range" at the 36th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
ABOUT T...
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Help
Miko sings about those times when we need a little a help. Miko Marks sings "Help" during the "Straight Chutin' Champions" show at the 36th Gathering.
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ABOUT THE ARTIST
Miko Marks
Oakland, CA
Originally from Flint, Michigan, this graduate of Louisiana's famed Grambling State University is... -
John Henry
Dom and Brian share a lively instrumental duet. Dom Flemons and Brian Farrow perform "John Henry" during "The Roots of Cowboy Music" show at the 33rd National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Dom Flemons + Brian Farrow
Naperville, IL
Dom Flemons is an award-winning musician, singer-so... -
Myrtis
Pipp shares a tune about a rodeo legend. Pipp Gillette performs "Myrtis" during the "Real Deal" show from the 2022 Wild Ride.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Pipp Gillette
Crockett, TX
Pipp Gillette lives and works on the family ranch near Lovelady, Texas, where his grandfather started raising cattle and cott... -
Bee de la Manche
Geno and the guys get your blood pumping with a lively creole number. Geno Delafose + French Rockin' Boogie perform "Bee de la Manche" during the "Battle of the Bands" show at the 36th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie
Eunice, LA
Geno Dela... -
Little Joe the Wrangler
Dom does his rendition of a classic cowboy misfortune ballad penned by collector Jack Thorp. Dom Flemons performs "Little Joe the Wrangler" during the "Tribute to Don Edwards" show at the 36th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Dom Flemons
Naperville, IL
Dom Flemons is an award... -
Ol' Proc
Andy bandies words praising Proc's ways with stock, penned by Wally McRae. Andy Hedges recites "Ol' Proc" during the "Words Growing Wild in the West" at the 35th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Andy Hedges
Lubbock, TX
Andy Hedges is a songster, reciter, storyteller, guitaris... -
You Used to Call Me
Geno and the band have got your number with this zydeco number. Geno Delafose + French Rockin' Boogie perform "You Used to Call Me" during the "Western Jukebox" show at the 35th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Geno Delafose + French Rockin' Boogie
Eunice, LA
Geno Delafose and... -
Calabash Dance and Juba
FEATURING: Dom Flemons, Pipp Gillette, Lloyd Wright.
These three musician-historians join banjos and bones for this lively mix of tunes. Dom Flemons plays bones, while Pipp Gillette and Lloyd Wright play banjo of "Calabash Dance" and "Juba" during the Keynote Address at the 36th Gathering.
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My Baby Said Yes
Dom sings a bluesy Tampa Red love song. Dom Flemons sings "My Baby Said Yes Instead of Maybe" during the "Blues on the Range" show at the 36th Gathering.
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ABOUT THE ARTIST
Dom Flemons
Silver Springs, MD
Dom Flemons is an award-winning musician, singer-songwriter, and slam poet. Carrying o...
