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 From what I have researched on the subject of Baxter Black, I would say
this is a ‘man of few words,’ except on page, stage, or airways, though
considered the number one cowboy poet of our time.
Baxter Black was born January 2nd, 1945, at a naval hospital in
Brooklyn, New York, where his father was stationed at the end of WW11.
He was raised in Las Cruces, New Mexico, on a ranch.
During his high school years, he enjoyed being president of the FFA
(Future Farmers of America), senior class president, and lettering in
wrestling. He also started riding bulls in high school, and continued
this practice through college.
Baxter attended college at the University of New Mexico, and Colorado
State, graduating in 1969. He became a veterinarian, married, had
children, and worked at his career until 1982 when poetry and speaking
engagements were proven to be a better way to make a living. He was in
his mid thirties when he started writing cowboy poetry.
Because of his dry wit and sense of humor, this guitar playing,
mustachioed cowboy (who claims he has more hair on his upper lip than on
his head,) has been compared to Will Rogers. He can bring squeals of
laughter from any crowd by speaking on such subjects as: how to lasso a
cow, or just how screwy politics can be.
Baxter is renowned for his cowboy poetry, speaking engagements, radio
commentaries on a show he hosts being broadcast on over two hundred
stations across America and Canada (Baxter Black on Mondays), column he
writes for agricultural magazines (On the Edge of Common Sense), books
and tapes. And he claims he owes it all to his mother, who always
inspired him.
He refuses to accept awards of any kind, which leads me to believe he is
a humble man, wanting not to bring any great attention to himself, (even
though he has appeared on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.)
He now lives quietly on his ranch in Arizona with his wife, and has no
TV, cell phone, or fax machine; claiming his philosophy of life to be:
“In spite of all the computerized, digitalized, high-tech innovations of
today, there will always be a need for folks who can think up stuff.”
He says he never decided to be a cowboy, “Ya either are one, or ya
aren’t!”
In Baxter Black’s own words, he wants to be remembered as: “Someone who
didn’t embarrass his friends.”
Written by Tamara Hillman ©2006
Links to find Baxter Black’s poetry, books, and tapes…….
http://www.readthewest.com/baxter.html
http://www.cowboypoetry.com/bb.htm
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