Wylie Gustafson
Encyclopedia
Wylie Gustafson is an American
singer-songwriter
who has toured nationally and internationally with his band, 'Wylie & The Wild West' (formerly 'Wylie & The Wild West Show'). The band is known for its blend of Western swing, classic country, cowboy, rockabilly, folk and yodeling.
Wylie Gustafson founded his band, The Wild West, in 1988 in Los Angeles at the world famous Palomino Club
where they were regulars on Ronnie Mack's Barn Dance. It was there that Wylie met fellow band member, guitarist and harmony singer Ray Doyle. Since then, Gustafson and his good-time cowboy band have released 16 albums and appeared in concert around the world.
Gustafson is particularly noted as a virtuoso yodeler
, having created and voiced the signature "Yahoo-oo-oo!" for Yahoo, Inc. In 2007, he released an instructional book and CD titled, How to Yodel: Lessons to Tickle Your Tonsils, published by Gibbs Smith Publishing.
Aside from his music career, Gustafson is a skilled working cowboy. In 1995, he started the Cross Three Quarter Horse Ranch near the tiny town of Dusty
. There, he trained and sold quarter horses
. He moved back to his hometown Conrad, Montana in 2009 where he continues to ranch and train horses when he is not touring.
Gustafson frequently competes in cutting horse
competitions and rodeos. He wakes up at 5:30 a.m. to feed his cattle and horses. Wylie claims tending to his livestock is what keeps him grounded and is the backbone of his art.
On April 25,2007 "Montana Lullaby" was declared the official lullaby
of Montana. A yodel by Gustafson was used in collaboration with lyrics by Ken Overcast to write the lullaby. Montana was the first state to have an official lullaby.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
who has toured nationally and internationally with his band, 'Wylie & The Wild West' (formerly 'Wylie & The Wild West Show'). The band is known for its blend of Western swing, classic country, cowboy, rockabilly, folk and yodeling.
Life and career
He learned to sing and yodel from his father, R.W. "Rib" Gustafson, who is a traditional singer, retired large-animal veterinarian, and author. The elder Gustafson learned to yodel from Austrians on the ski team at Montana State College (now Montana State University), Bozeman, Montana. Among Rib's credits are two books about his life as a pioneering Montana veterinarian.Wylie Gustafson founded his band, The Wild West, in 1988 in Los Angeles at the world famous Palomino Club
Palomino Club (North Hollywood)
The Palomino Club was a music venue in North Hollywood, called "Country Music's most important West Coast club" by the Los Angeles Times. It featured such performers as Johnny Cash, Linda Ronstadt, Buck Owens, Patsy Cline, Delaney Bramlett, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Johnny Carver, Hoyt Axton,...
where they were regulars on Ronnie Mack's Barn Dance. It was there that Wylie met fellow band member, guitarist and harmony singer Ray Doyle. Since then, Gustafson and his good-time cowboy band have released 16 albums and appeared in concert around the world.
Gustafson is particularly noted as a virtuoso yodeler
Yodeling
Yodeling is a form of singing that involves singing an extended note which rapidly and repeatedly changes in pitch from the vocal or chest register to the falsetto/head register; making a high-low-high-low sound.The English word yodel is derived from a German word jodeln meaning "to...
, having created and voiced the signature "Yahoo-oo-oo!" for Yahoo, Inc. In 2007, he released an instructional book and CD titled, How to Yodel: Lessons to Tickle Your Tonsils, published by Gibbs Smith Publishing.
Aside from his music career, Gustafson is a skilled working cowboy. In 1995, he started the Cross Three Quarter Horse Ranch near the tiny town of Dusty
Dusty, Washington
Dusty is an unincorporated community in Whitman County, Washington, United States. It lies on Secondary State Highway 11A.-Geography:The community is located in the Palouse Region, which is known for its rolling hills and agricultural production...
. There, he trained and sold quarter horses
American Quarter Horse
The American Quarter Horse is an American breed of horse that excels at sprinting short distances. Its name came from its ability to outdistance other breeds of horses in races of a quarter mile or less; some individuals have been clocked at speeds up to 55 mph...
. He moved back to his hometown Conrad, Montana in 2009 where he continues to ranch and train horses when he is not touring.
Gustafson frequently competes in cutting horse
Cutting (sport)
Cutting is an equestrian event in the western riding style where a horse and rider are judged on their ability to separate a single animal away from a cattle herd and keep it away for a short period of time.-Description:...
competitions and rodeos. He wakes up at 5:30 a.m. to feed his cattle and horses. Wylie claims tending to his livestock is what keeps him grounded and is the backbone of his art.
On April 25,2007 "Montana Lullaby" was declared the official lullaby
Lullaby
A lullaby is a soothing song, usually sung to young children before they go to sleep, with the intention of speeding that process. As a result they are often simple and repetitive. Lullabies can be found in every culture and since the ancient period....
of Montana. A yodel by Gustafson was used in collaboration with lyrics by Ken Overcast to write the lullaby. Montana was the first state to have an official lullaby.
Influences
- Elton BrittElton BrittElton Britt , born James Elton Baker, was a country music guitarist and singer-songwriter.-Biography:Elton Britt was born in Searcy County, Arkansas...
, Marty RobbinsMarty RobbinsMartin David Robinson , known professionally as Marty Robbins, was an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist...
, Bob NolanBob NolanBob Nolan was a Canadian-born American singer, songwriter, and actor. He was a founding member of the Sons of the Pioneers, and composer of numerous Country music and Western music songs, including the standards "Cool Water" and "Tumbling Tumbleweeds." He is generally regarded as one of the...
, Johnny CashJohnny CashJohn R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
, Chuck BerryChuck BerryCharles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
, Erik "Fingers" Ray
Notable appearances
- Push the Button, hosted by Ant and Dec (2010 season debut)
- Gold Coast Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, during the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (2008, 2009)
- Grand Ole Opry, Nashville, Tennessee (more than 50 times)
- The National Folk Festival (most recently in 2009)
- Late Night with Conan O'BrienLate Night with Conan O'BrienLate Night with Conan O'Brien is an American late-night talk show hosted by Conan O'Brien that aired 2,725 episodes on NBC between 1993 and 2009. The show featured varied comedic material, celebrity interviews, and musical and comedy performances. Late Night aired weeknights at 12:37 am...
(2008) - National Cowboy Poetry GatheringNational Cowboy Poetry GatheringThe National Cowboy Poetry Gathering takes place in Elko, Nevada, US. Founded by folklorists in 1985, and now an annual event, it showcases poets, musicians, musical groups, and plays of cowboy poetry at various venues around the town. The inaugural year featured 40 poets, and an audience of less...
, Elko, Nevada (2000, '01, '02, '03, '04, '05, '06, '07, '08, '09, '10, 11) - A Prairie Home Companion (2006, 2010)
- Lincoln Center
- The Kennedy Center
- Tom Russell's Vancouver-to-Toronto Canadian Cow Train
- Merlefest, Wilkesboro, North Carolina (2002, 2010)
- BumbershootBumbershootBumbershoot is an annual international music and arts festival held in Seattle, Washington. One of North America's largest such festivals, it takes place every Labor Day weekend at the 74-acre Seattle Center, which was built for the 1962 World's Fair. Seattle Center includes indoor theaters,...
International Music & Arts Festival, Seattle, Washington - Equiblues Festival, St. Agreve, France
- Space Ghost Coast to CoastSpace Ghost Coast to CoastSpace Ghost Coast to Coast is an American animated parody talk show hosted by the 60s Hanna-Barbera cartoon character Space Ghost. The show premiered on April 15, 1994 on Cartoon Network...
(1996 episode: "Freak Show")
Albums
| Year | Album |
|---|---|
| 1992 | Wylie & the Wild West Show |
| 1994 | Get Wild |
| 1996 | Glory Trail |
| Cattle Call | |
| 1997 | Way out West |
| 1998 | Total Yodel! |
| 2000 | Ridin' the Hi-line |
| 2001 | Paradise |
| 2004 | Hooves of the Horses |
| Cowboy Ballads and Dance Songs | |
| 2005 | Live! at the Tractor |
| 2007 | Bucking Horse Moon |
| Christmas for Cowboys | |
| 2008 | Yodel Boogie! |
| 2009 | Hang -n- Rattle! |
| 2009 | Unwired |
| 2011 | Raven on the Wind |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAN AC | |||
| 1994 | "Ugly Girl Blues" | 38 | Get Wild |
| 1995 | "Hey Maria" | — | |
| "Cattle Call" | — | Cattle Call | |
| 1998 | "Girl on the Billboard Girl on the Billboard "Girl on the Billboard" is a 1965 single released by American country music singer Del Reeves. The novelty song was Reeves' fourth entry on the U.S. country chart and his only No. 1 single. "Girl on the Billboard" spent two weeks at No. 1 and a total of 20 weeks on the chart, in addition to... " |
— | Way out West |
| 2001 | "Saddle Burn" | — | Paradise |
Music videos
| Year | Video | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | "Doctor My Heart" | Brooks Dailey |
| 1994 | "Ugly Girl Blues" | |
| 1995 | "Hey Maria" | |
| "Cattle Call" | ||
| 1998 | "Girl on the Billboard" |