"The Cowboy Folklorist" - a podcast presented by Craftsmanship Magazine

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 fantastic photos of these cowboy poets by Meredith Lawrence on the Craftsmanship site. That’s also where you can make a donation to support Craftsmanship’s independent, ad-free 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.

Read the original story "The Cowboy Folklorist:" https://craftsmanship.net/field-notes...

Read more stories about by Craftsmanship Magazine: https://craftsmanship.net/

The Craftsmanship Initiative was founded in 2015 to reclaim craftsmanship’s principles of excellence, beauty, and durability as a pathway to a more sustainable world. The flagship venture of the initiative (which operates as a non-profit) is our multimedia digital magazine, Craftsmanship, which offers most features free of charge and free of ads. The magazine includes podcasts, films, photo galleries, and richly illustrated stories of artisans and innovators whose work informs our quest: to create a world built to last.

Throughout history, works of craftsmanship have always been defined by precision, integrity of purpose, and material economy. Today, those principles matter more than ever as we struggle with a consumer culture built around throw-away products and the stresses this has put on our environment and our local businesses. While most of us notice fine craftsmanship in acclaimed works such as a Stradivarius violin or a famous temple or mosque, craftsmanship’s timeless principles can, in fact, be found almost anywhere. They can be seen in disappearing traditional arts, and in efforts to preserve them; in manufacturing innovations that think about long-term needs instead of short-term profits; and in sustainably produced food, clothing, and other goods, the best of which are often found—used, and well-worn—at a local flea market.