Though he calls himself simply a “songster and storyteller,” Andy Hedges is compiling a rich, unique audio archive of cowboy music and poetry—and bringing the legends of the genre together on CD and stage.

"The Cowboy Folklorist" originally appeared in Craftsmanship, a digital magazine about master artisans and innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — free of charge and free of ads.

You can see more fantastic photos of cowboy poets by Meredith Lawrence on the Craftsmanship website.   That’s also where you can make a donation to support our independent  journalism. We’re funded by grants and individual donations, and every bit of financial support goes a long way.

Written and photographed by MEREDITH LAWRENCE

Introduction by PAULINE BARTOLONE

Narrated by GÖRAN NORQUIST

Produced by PAULINE BARTOLONE

Music by ANDY HEDGES, DOM FLEMONS, RAMBLIN' JACK ELLIOT, JACK THORP, BRENN HILL, MAGGIE ROSE HEDGES, BLUE DOT SESSIONS.