Western Writing

Composer Max Steiner scored the theme from the film “The Searchers,” written by American songwriter and actor Stan Jones and sung by the Sons of the Pioneers. The period ballad introduces and concludes the film’s narrative, with its melody fitting whatever’s on the screen. Moreover, the Sons of the Pioneers expressed the song in a […]

John Denver and Mike Taylor wrote the folk-rock song “Rocky Mountain High” in 1972. Denver released the song as the title track of his sixth studio album Rocky Mountain High, which became his first US Top 10 album. Among its achievements was its peak position at #9 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It also reached […]

American singer-songwriter Billy Edd Wheeler wrote the song “Desert Pete.” Then, The Kingston Trio recorded and released it as a single in 1963, under the Contemporary Folk genre. It rose to #12 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary Chart, spending five weeks on the chart. “Desert Pete” b/w “Ballad of the Thresher” was also the lead-off single […]

“Whatever Happened to Randolph Scott” is a song written by Harold Wilson Reid and Don Reid. Moreover, their singing group, Statler Brothers, first released it in 1973. It was also part of the mentioned group’s compilation album, The Best of the Statler Brothers, in 1975 under Mercury Records. Members of Western Writers of America included this song in the […]

The Old Chisholm Trail is a famous song sung by cowboys during the 1870s, with its tune based on an English lyrical song way back to 1640. Members of the Western Writers of America declared the song’s inclusion in the Top 100 Western songs of all time. Its earliest publication was by John Lomax in 1910, as part of his […]

“Life’s Railway to Heaven,” also known by its first line, “Life Is Like A Mountain Railroad,” is a gospel song written by Charlie D. Tillman, M.E. Abbey, and J.R. Baxter. M.E. Abbey added the chorus while Tillman published its lyrics and composed the music. Sources state that Eliza R. Snow originally wrote the classic hymn […]

Billy the Kid was a traditional folk song in the public domain. Sources reveal that American country singer and songwriter Vernon Dalhart first recorded and released the song in 1927. Since it was available in the public domain, many artists recorded their versions, including those by the Sons of the Pioneers, Burl Ives, Mark Graham, […]

Summer Wages is a song in Ian & Sylvia’s 1967 album, So Much for Dreaming, and Ian Tyson’s 1986 album, Cowboyography. It was under the Folk and Country genre, depicting a workingman’s tale. Sources also noted the song as Tyson’s ode to B.C. and possibly the best song written about the place. So Much For Dreaming demonstrates the […]

American folk singer/songwriter Jane Bowers wrote: “Remember the Alamo” in 1955. A proud Texan, Bowers’ knowledge about the Texas lore was evident in the several songs she has composed in the past. Country music singer and actor Tex Ritter first recorded it in 1955 with Orchestra conducted by Rex Koury. He released “Remember the Alamo” […]

Navajo Rug is a song in Cowboyography, an album by Ian Tyson, first released in 1986. Additionally, Tyson co-wrote the song with Tom Russell, who released his version of it in 1989 with his band. Sources also say the recording date for Tyson’s version was in August 1986 in Sunday Sound Studios, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Cowboyography became […]

W.C. Jameson produced the song “When Roy Rogers Was Around.” He was an American writer, award-winning singer/songwriter, recording artist, and performer. As an author, his writings primarily focus on American Western subjects. He was also the past president of the Western Writers of America. Jameson also won their Stirrup Award for best magazine article twice. […]

Sweet Betsy from Pike is an American Gold Rush-era ballad with lyrics (believed to be) written by San Francisco-based entertainer John A. Stone in 1858. He collected and published folk songs primarily about gold miners and their life in the California Gold Rush during the mid-19th century. Moreover, the earliest publication date for the song […]