Red Steagall

HISTORY WITH BILLY BOB’S: 

A young Oklahoma singer named Reba McEntire opens for Merle Haggard in August of 1981. McEntire was discovered a few years earlier by another Fort Worth favorite, Red Steagall, singing the national anthem in Oklahoma City.

ABOUT RED STEAGALL:

The entertainment career of Red Steagall has covered a period of over 45 years and has spanned the globe from Australia to the Middle East, to South America and to the Far East.  He has performed for heads of state including a special party for President Reagan at the White House in l983, plus three overseas tours to the Middle East, the Far East, Europe, Australia, and South America. As a native Texan, Red Steagall enjoyed a career in Agricultural Chemistry after graduating from West Texas A&M University with a degree in Animal Science and Agronomy.  He then spent eight years as a music industry executive in Hollywood, California and has spent the last thirty-seven years as a recording artist, songwriter, and television and motion picture personality.  He currently ranches outside of Fort Worth, Texas where in addition to his entertainment activities; he is involved in numerous horse related activities.

Although Red Steagall is best known for his wonderful Texas Swing dance music and such songs as “Here We Go Again”, “Party Dolls and Wine”, “Freckles Brown”, and “Lone Star Beer and Bob Wills Music”, he also is beloved by Texas cowboys for the quiet times they have spent with him around chuck wagon campfires.  In their opinion, the public has never heard Red Steagall’s best music.  And, if you ask Red where his favorite place to play music is, he might say The White House, some famous stage in Nashville, California, Spain, or Germany – or he might say at some lonesome cow camp in West Texas.

Songwriter – Steagall has had over 200 of his compositions recorded both by him and other artists.

Recording Artist – He has recorded 26 consecutive singles that tracked on the national charts and released a total of twenty two albums. Red’s 24th album, CLASSIC RED STEAGALL was released in September, 2014.

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Personal Appearances –

Red Steagall performs in varied venues all across the United States.  He performs either by himself, with an acoustic band, or with an eight piece western swing band.

Television Personality –

Steagall was a regular on the NBC series, Music Country USA; host of two television pilots, (which he produced); numerous appearances on syndicated television shows such as Hee Haw and Nashville on the Road; four years as host of the national televised National Finals Rodeo; host of the Winston Pro Tour on ESPN for the l985 season; numerous television and radio commercials; co-host of the College National Finals Rodeo for the Freedom Sports Network, l988 through l99l.  He is the host and creator of  SOMEWHERE WEST OF WALL STREET televised on RFD TV.​

Radio Host –

In April of l994, Red launched his one hour syndicated radio show, COWBOY CORNER, currently broadcast on over 160 stations in 34 states. COWBOY CORNER celebrates the lifestyle of the American West through the poems, songs and stories of the American cowboy.  It features guest artists such as Reba McEntire, Charlie Daniels, Don Edwards, Waddie Mitchell, Baxter Black, Barry Corbin, and Buck Taylor, as well as ranching and agricultural notables.

Motion Pictures –

Steagall had a major role in the Disney motion picture, BENJI THE HUNTED that was released in the summer of l987.  He also had a role in the motion pictures, DARK BEFORE DAWN and ABILENE. Red Steagall produced the motion picture, BIG BAD JOHN, starring Jimmy Dean, Jack Elam, Ned Beatty, Bo Hopkins, and directed by Burt Kennedy.

Organization Affiliations –

Original member of the Board of Trustees of the Pro Rodeo Hall of Champions; Honorary Member of the Cowboy Artists of America; Former Chairman of the Board of The Academy of Country Music; Board member of the National Advisory Board of the Ranching Heritage Association; Member of the Board of Directors of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Foundation

In June, 2012, Red Steagall was presented with the Boss of the Plains Award from The National Ranching Heritage Center in Lubbock, Texas.  The Boss of the Plains Award was created in 1999, named for Stetson’s premier Western hat. It recognizes individuals who are highly regarded in their professions and who have provided noteworthy support of the National Ranching Heritage Center. In January, 2015 Red was named by the Fort Worth Farm & Ranch Club as the 2015 recipient of the W. A. “Bill” King Award for Excellence in Agriculture.   The W. A. “Bill” King Award recognizes a business, individual or family which has significantly contributed to agriculture or to the agribusiness industry.

Honors –

In May 2005 the Texas Commission on the Arts named Red the Poet Laureate for the state of Texas for the year 2006.  He was honored in Austin before both the House and the Senate.  In April of 2003, Red was officially inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. The men and women honored within the Hall of Great Westerners, the national museum’s highest honor, represent the heart and spirit of western heritage and include such notables as Will Rogers, Teddy Roosevelt, Charles Goodnight and Charlie Russell. Explorers, Native American leaders, writers, poets, statesmen and others who have revered the land, cherished freedom of individuality, inspired their fellow man and found the strength of character to overcome tremendous adversity, find a home within this unique and enduring national memorial.

In 2009 Red launched his television show, IN THE BUNKHOUSE WITH RED STEAGALL, seen on RFD TV.  It ran for four years. His current show on RFD TV is entitled RED STEAGALL IS SOMEWHERE WEST OF WALL STREET.   In January of 2004, Red was inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame.  He was the recipient of the prestigious Spirit of Texas award.  The Texas State Legislature named Red Steagall the Official Cowboy Poet of Texas in April of l99l. He is also the official Cowboy Poet Laureate of the City of San Juan Capistrano, California.

In December, 2006 Red was presented with the Charles Goodnight Award.  This award is presented each year to an individual, group or institution that personifies the ideals of the Old West and has made noteworthy contributions to the preservation of the Western heritage that has meant so much to the economy and culture of Fort Worth and all of Texas.  In 2005, Red was inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame.  In 2006, Red was inducted into the Western Music Hall of Fame. In recognition of Red Steagall’s significant contribution to the western way of life, he was inducted into the Texas Trail of Fame in October 1999. Bronze inlaid markers have been placed throughout the walkway of the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District, where Red’s marker proudly joins other inductees like Gene Autry, Charles Goodnight, Quanah Parker, and Roy Rogers just to name a few.​

Red was inducted into the National Cowboys of Color Museum and Hall of Fame in Fort Worth, Texas.  In August of 2007, Red was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame and Tex Ritter Museum in Carthage, Texas.  On April 30, 2006, Red was presented a membership into the Southern Legends Entertainment and Performing Arts Hall of Fame. In August of 2007, Red was inducted into America’s Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame in Missouri Valley, Iowa.  In 2003, Red was inducted into the Colorado Country Music Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  In 1999, Red was inducted into the Texas Music Hall of Fame in Austin, Texas. In 2011, Red was the recipient of the Charles M. Russell Heritage Award from the Charles M. Russell Museum in Great Falls, Montana, and in  January, 2016 , Red was named the WESTERN SWING monthly MAN OF THE YEAR “for his stellar and exemplary western lifestyle, his distinct vocals, and western swing phrasing, and for being the role model our nation has long sought”.

Special Awards –

Red Steagall’s music has been the winner of 8 Wrangler Awards from the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.  The first time, for Best Original Music honoring his l993 Warner Western album, BORN TO THIS LAND. In l995 he received the Best Original Music Wrangler for his Warner Western album, FAITH AND VALUES. In 1997 for Best Original Music, his Warner Western album, DEAR MAMA, I’M A COWBOY was recognized. His 4th project with Warner Western, LOVE OF THE WEST, won the Wrangler for Best Traditional Music for 1999. In the fall of 2002, Red released his 20th album, a Western  Jubilee Recording, entitled WAGON TRACKS. This multi-generational journey from the shores of Ireland across frontier America, as told in story and song, received the Wrangler for Best Traditional Music. In April of 2006, Red was presented with another Wrangler award for best original music for his song, HOW GREEN WAS THE GRAZIN’ BACK THEN from his release, THE WIND, THE WIRE AND THE RAIL, from Wildcatter Records.  In 2008, DAWSON LEGATE, from his Wildcatter Record HERE WE GO AGAIN won a Wrangler Award –  Red’s 7th – and in 2009, A COWBOY’S SPECIAL CHRISTMAS from his Christmas CD COW CAMP CHRISTMAS won an 8th Wrangler Award for Red Steagall.

Publications –

In March of 1993, Texas Christian University Press published Red’s first book, entitled RIDE FOR THE BRAND; a 168-page collection of poetry and songs embracing the western lifestyle that Red loves and lives.  The book includes lead sheets and is illustrated by Cowboy Artists of America members, Bill Owen, Fred Fellows, Joe Beeler and Howard Terpning.  Red released his second book, THE FENCE THAT ME AND SHORTY BUILT, in April of 2001. This book of poetry and songs is a 142-page collection of poems and songs, including lead sheets, all written since his first book was published.   In the fall of 2003, Texas Tech University Press released his third book, BORN TO THIS LAND.  This book is a collection of his poetry combined with black and white photographs from Pulitzer Prize winning photographer Skeeter Hagler.   In 2004, Red released his fourth book titled  COWBOY CORNER CONVERSATIONS, published by State House Press, McMurry University.   This is a collection of interviews from his COWBOY CORNER radio show.   These interviews are with folks who everyday, play or who have played, a major part in preserving and perpetuating the history, traditions, heritage, and values of the western way of life.

Special Event –

Each year since 1991, Red has hosted THE RED STEAGALL COWBOY GATHERING in the Stockyards National Historic District of Fort Worth, Texas. This authentic western event, which draws thousands each year, features a ranch rodeo, chuck wagon cookoff, youth poetry contest, youth fiddle contest, youth chuck wagon cookoff, western swing dances, cowboy music and poetry, a trappings show, and horsemanship clinics.

Cowboy Corner Radio Show –

In April of 1994, Red launched his one hour syndicated radio show, COWBOY CORNER, currently broadcast on over 160 stations in 34 states. COWBOY CORNER celebrates the lifestyle of the American West through the poems, songs and stories of the American cowboy.  It features guest artists such as Reba McEntire, Charlie Daniels, Don Edwards, Waddie Mitchell, Baxter Black, Barry Corbin, and Buck Taylor, as well as ranching and agricultural notables.

Songwriting –

In the spring of 2005, the Grammy awards were handed out for the year 2004.  There were several Grammys awarded for Ray Charles’ last album, GENIUS LOVES COMPANY.  One of the songs on that album, HERE WE GO AGAIN, co-written by Steagall, won record of the year. Ray Charles and Norah Jones were rewarded for vocal collaboration in the pop category, and the album was recognized as album of the year.  The album has currently sold over 3 million copies.