The Wild West was a defining era that significantly shaped the United States. It was a time of adventure, exploration, and cultural blending, where music played a crucial role in capturing the spirit of the frontier.
Meet Don Flemons
My name is Don Flemons, and I am known as the American Songster. As a Grammy Award-winning musician, I perform a wide range of traditional American music, including folk, blues, country, jazz, and ragtime. My mission is to bring to light stories and musical traditions that have often been overlooked or marginalized.
As Americans ventured westward, they brought music with them. This migration led to the development of a unique musical style that reflected the rugged and diverse life of the frontier. I continue the legacy of the traveling troubadours, musicians who were like living jukeboxes, sharing a variety of tunes with the communities they visited.
The concept of the American songster emerged for me as I delved into the history of early blues music. The term “songster” perfectly encapsulates my goal of showcasing the rich tapestry of American history through music.
My musical journey began in the deserts of Arizona, where I encountered a wide array of cultures and communities. Through my music, I strive to highlight this diversity. One aspect of American culture that has been largely overlooked is the African-American roots of cowboy music.
In 2010, I came across a book by Philip Everett titled “The Grow Cowboys,” which revealed that about one in four cowboys who settled the West were African-American. This discovery inspired me to create an album dedicated to exploring the history of black cowboys, whose contributions date back to the early days of colonization and expanded significantly during the westward movement.
During the era of cattle drives, over 5,000 black cowboys played a vital role in transforming the West. They brought generations of skilled labor to the frontier, and for the first time, they were compensated for their work. Despite their significant contributions, only a few of their songs have been documented and recorded.
In creating the black cowboys album, I aimed to distinguish between the music of black cowboys and the more widely recognized white cowboy songs. My goal was to highlight the folk elements of cowboy singing, capturing the openness of the range, while also acknowledging the influence of Hollywood’s portrayal of cowboys, which evolved from shows like Buffalo Bill’s Wild West.
Through my music, I seek to honor this part of history by focusing on the African-American roots of cowboy culture. Recognizing black cowboys through song not only reveals the historic diversity of the West but also celebrates a unique culture that continues to thrive today.
It’s crucial to remember that there are two versions of the West: the romanticized West of the imagination and the real Wild West. Acknowledging black cowboys also highlights the contributions of Mexican vaqueros, Native American cowboys, and Asian American cowboys, showcasing a rich and varied history.
While times have changed, the sounds that define the West remain timeless. The echo of music off the mountains captures the purity and spirit of the frontier. In my album, I aimed to capture this essence by featuring a single voice singing out, allowing the sound to resonate through the mountains, hills, and valleys.
[Music]
Research the history and contributions of black cowboys in the American West. Prepare a presentation that highlights their roles, challenges, and musical influences. Share your findings with the class, focusing on how their stories have been preserved or overlooked in mainstream history.
Listen to tracks from Don Flemons’ album dedicated to black cowboys. Analyze the musical elements and lyrics. Discuss in groups how these songs reflect the cultural and historical context of the Wild West. Consider the influence of African-American musical traditions on cowboy music.
Form small groups and create a performance that embodies the spirit of a modern songster. Incorporate diverse musical styles and historical narratives. Perform your piece for the class, explaining the significance of the chosen styles and stories.
Compare and contrast the music of black cowboys with that of white cowboys and other cultural groups such as Mexican vaqueros and Native American cowboys. Write a short essay discussing the similarities and differences, and how these reflect the diverse cultural landscape of the Wild West.
Watch a documentary about the Wild West that includes segments on the contributions of African-American, Mexican, Native American, and Asian American cowboys. Participate in a class discussion about how these narratives expand or challenge the traditional view of the Wild West.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
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The Wild West defined a time and shaped the country.
[Music]
My name is Don Flemons, and I am the American Songster, a Grammy Award-winning musician. I present a variety of old-timey music, including folk, blues, country, jazz, and ragtime. I try to tell stories that are lesser-known, some that have been traditionally marginalized.
When Americans went West, music went with them. In this rough and tumble world, a unique style and genre emerged. Today, I continue the long tradition of traveling troubadours. The songster was a communal musician who usually led a band, and when they played solo, they were like a musical jukebox.
The American songster began when I started to read about early blues. I thought that the term “songster” was a great way to describe the variety of music I present, emphasizing my desire to showcase American history through music.
My journey began in the desert of Arizona, where I encountered a diverse range of people. When interpreting music, I aim to reach into these different communities and highlight that diversity. The cowboy is an iconic figure in American cultural identity, but the African-American roots of cowboy music have often been overlooked.
Around 2010, I discovered a book by Philip Everett called “The Grow Cowboys,” which mentioned that about one in four cowboys who settled the West were African-American. This revelation inspired me to create an album that comprehensively explores black cowboy history, which dates back to the earliest days of colonization and flourished with westward expansion.
During the cattle drive era, more than 5,000 black cowboys worked and made vital contributions to the transformation of the West. They excelled in their work, having come from generations of skilled labor, and this was the first time they were compensated for their efforts.
While many books have been written about black cowboys, only a few of their songs have been officially documented and recorded. In putting together the black cowboys album, I had to distinguish between black cowboy music and the well-established canon of white cowboy songs.
I aimed to showcase the folk aspects of cowboy singing, implying a sense of openness on the range, while also incorporating elements from the Hollywood cowboy tradition, which evolved from shows like Buffalo Bill’s Wild West.
I wanted to pay tribute to this part of history while adjusting the lens to highlight the African-American roots of these musical cultures. Acknowledging black cowboys through song reveals the historic diversity of the West and a unique culture that endures today.
It’s important to remember that there are two Wests: the West of the imagination and the real Wild West. Acknowledging black cowboys also brings to light the contributions of Mexican vaqueros, Native American cowboys, and Asian American cowboys, showcasing a diverse history.
Times have changed, but the sounds that define the West remain timeless. The sound of the West is the echo off the mountains, and I wanted to showcase that purity in my album by featuring a single voice singing out, allowing the sound to resonate through the mountains, hills, and valleys.
[Music]
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This version removes any unnecessary repetition and clarifies the content while maintaining the essence of the original transcript.
Music – The art or science of combining vocal or instrumental sounds to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion. – The study of music history reveals how different cultures have influenced the development of musical genres over centuries.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs, often with a focus on understanding cultural and societal developments. – Understanding the history of jazz music provides insight into the social changes of the 20th century.
Culture – The arts, customs, and habits that characterize a particular society or nation. – The culture of the Renaissance period significantly impacted the evolution of Western classical music.
Diversity – The inclusion of different types of people and ideas, often leading to a rich variety of perspectives and innovations. – The diversity of musical styles in the 21st century reflects the global exchange of cultural influences.
Cowboys – Historically, cattle herders in the American West, often romanticized in music and folklore. – Cowboy songs have played a crucial role in shaping the musical heritage of the American frontier.
African-American – Relating to the cultural and historical experiences of Americans of African descent. – African-American spirituals have profoundly influenced the development of gospel and blues music.
Frontier – The edge of settled or developed territory, often associated with exploration and expansion. – The musical traditions of the American frontier were shaped by the diverse groups who settled there.
Traditions – Customs or beliefs passed down from generation to generation, often reflected in music and art. – Folk music traditions are essential for understanding the historical context of a region’s cultural identity.
Exploration – The action of traveling in or through an unfamiliar area in order to learn about it, often leading to new cultural exchanges. – The exploration of new musical forms during the Baroque period led to the development of opera.
Legacy – Something handed down from an ancestor or predecessor, often in the form of cultural or artistic contributions. – The legacy of Beethoven’s compositions continues to influence contemporary classical music.
