Cowboy Poets of Utah host symposium in Salem
Not every country song or cowboy poem includes a list like Tom T. Hall’s: “I love little baby ducks, old pick-up trucks, slow-moving trains, and rain…” but cowboy poets and songwriters continue to recite and write about things that touch them. Cowboy poets might recite a pensively funny piece about reincarnation or a tearful elegy for an old dog or horse, but one thing is guaranteed: the emotions are real and the talent is genuine.
Cowboy Poets of Utah will hold a full day of lectures on reciting, writing and music on Saturday at Salem Hills High School. Lovers of cowboy poetry and music are invited to listen, while beginning and seasoned performers are invited to participate.
“It’s always difficult to get people involved in the cowboy poetry/western music events,” CPU spokeswoman Lisa Stubblefield said, “but once they get there and realize the quality of entertainment available right here in their own communities, they love it.”
The first lecture starts at 11 a.m. in the school auditorium. Then the stage is turned over to cowboy poets, singers, musicians and oral interpreters. The first session starts at 2 p.m. The last session starts at 5 p.m. CPU will hold a passing of the gavel for outgoing presidents, then the final program starts at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 at the door. Entry is free to CPU members. The entertainers will also sell their works that day.
Sunday, Jan. 9, the CPU will hold Cowboy Church, 9 a.m. at the Peteetneet Museum in Payson. Marion Manwill, cowboy poet and CPU Chaplain is in charge of the non-denominational service. Manwill said anyone who wants to participate in the service is welcome. He added, “Lots of members have good poems they’ve written and singers have good gospel songs.”
Manwill began writing and reciting in 1990 and is one of the CPU founding members. He is from Payson.
Paul Bliss, a cowboy poet and an organizer of the symposium said, “It’s really neat to watch people perfect themselves.” He added the CPU is for improving poets and their work.
CPU gives them a platform and introduces Utah to the entertainers.
“We would like cities to see the hometown talent and know who is in their town that has some talent and ability,” Bliss said. He hopes booking agents and community event organizers will attend and meet some of the talent available for bookings.
CPU will produce a compact disc for poets and musicians who want to record. Bliss arranged access to a recording studio starting at 7 p.m. at Booth Bros. Music, 130 N. Main St. in Spanish Fork on Friday, until 9 a.m. on Saturday for $35 per hour plus discs for copies of their recording. “If everyone is prepared it won’t cost much to have the tracks done. Last year I had 3 tracks done, it cost $15,” Bliss said.
Stubblefield added, “We are particularly interested in preserving our western heritage through the voices of our youth, and do seek to encourage young poets and performers to develop their talents and to perpetuate the values of our traditional western culture.”
Cowboy Poets of Utah was organized in 2003 as a nonprofit corporation to pass on the cultural traditions of poetry, storytelling, music and other folk arts of the American West and the cowboy life.
To learn more about CPU go to http://cowboypoetsofutah.homestead.com.
