Chris LeDoux
Chris LeDoux credits his rodeo career to Cheyenne Frontier Days. Might ought a credit his music career that way too. LeDoux’s Frontier Days credits begin when his family moved to Cheyenne while Chris was in high school. He attended Cheyenne Central High School. Competing in high school rodeo bareback bronc riding he twice won the Wyoming State Rodeo Championship in that event. From there he went on to win the Intercollegiate National bareback riding title as a Junior at Eastern New Mexico University. In 1970 he joined PRCA and turned pro.
What do you do traveling the pro rodeo circuit to defray expenses? Write songs. Cut tapes and sell them out the back of your pick-up between events. Actually, his introduction to music started with a family booth below the Frontier Days grandstands. He made it to Cheyenne as a contestant in 1974, realizing a boyhood dream of competing in the ‘Daddy of ‘em All. Along the way he became the only person to participate in and perform for crowds at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. In 1976 he won world championship honors with its coveted gold buckle at the National Finals Rodeo. He hung up his spurs in 1980, moving his family to a ranch in Kaycee, Wyoming.
Music followed Chris into retirement. He played concerts accompanied by a mechanical bull he rode between songs. In 1989 his work caught the eye, or should we say ear of Garth Brooks. Following a duet with Brooks Chris LeDoux found his place on the country music walk of fame. His vocal collaboration with Brooks was honored with Grammy a nomination in 1992 and similar recognition by the Academy of Country Music. Thirty six albums later, two gold, one platinum, earned him ACM’s Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award.
Chris LeDoux was inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs in 2005, the only person so honored in two categories, bareback bronc riding and notable music entertainer. He died of cancer that same year. The sculpture titled Good Ride Cowboy stands in a memorial park in Kaycee Wyoming dedicated to his honor. Good ride indeed.
Next Week: Cheyenne Frontier Days ‘Fan…dango’
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Ride easy,
Paul
What do you do traveling the pro rodeo circuit to defray expenses? Write songs. Cut tapes and sell them out the back of your pick-up between events. Actually, his introduction to music started with a family booth below the Frontier Days grandstands. He made it to Cheyenne as a contestant in 1974, realizing a boyhood dream of competing in the ‘Daddy of ‘em All. Along the way he became the only person to participate in and perform for crowds at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. In 1976 he won world championship honors with its coveted gold buckle at the National Finals Rodeo. He hung up his spurs in 1980, moving his family to a ranch in Kaycee, Wyoming.
Music followed Chris into retirement. He played concerts accompanied by a mechanical bull he rode between songs. In 1989 his work caught the eye, or should we say ear of Garth Brooks. Following a duet with Brooks Chris LeDoux found his place on the country music walk of fame. His vocal collaboration with Brooks was honored with Grammy a nomination in 1992 and similar recognition by the Academy of Country Music. Thirty six albums later, two gold, one platinum, earned him ACM’s Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award.
Chris LeDoux was inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs in 2005, the only person so honored in two categories, bareback bronc riding and notable music entertainer. He died of cancer that same year. The sculpture titled Good Ride Cowboy stands in a memorial park in Kaycee Wyoming dedicated to his honor. Good ride indeed.
Next Week: Cheyenne Frontier Days ‘Fan…dango’
Return to Facebook to comment.
Ride easy,
Paul
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