Chris LeDoux

Chris LeDoux ( born October 2, 1948 in Biloxi, Mississippi, USA, † March 9, 2005 in Casper, Wyoming, United States) was an American country singer and professional rodeo rider.

Biography

Chris LeDoux 's father was an officer in the U.S. Air Force. His childhood was therefore marked by frequent residence changes. Only after the retirement of his father, the family was in Austin, Texas settle permanently. Chris was at this time twelve years old. In his new home he was enthusiastic about almost instantly for horses and horse riding. At fourteen, he took part for the first time at a rodeo. After winning the national championship of Wyoming, he received a college scholarship. Also during his art studies, he dealt mainly with riding. He also proved a talented artist who specialized in bronze sculptures with designs from the rodeo world.

Beginning of the 70s he became a professional rodeo rider. Around this time he began to write songs and recite his friends. His songs were mostly of horses and rodeos. The positive response encouraged him to record vinyl LPs. Financed by his parents, the first songs were recorded in a Nashville studio and released on their own label, which he founded together with his father. The sale was made exclusively by family members during rodeo events. Gradually LeDoux built up a loyal fan base. Over the years, hundreds of thousands of albums could be discontinued.

The first steps in the music business

1972 Chris LeDoux musicians. With friends, he played 11 songs in a small studio in Sheridan / Wyoming. He played guitar and sang, the friends, there were ranchers also played guitar and a highway cop played bass. Was moved this first plate of Chris LeDoux, titled " Chris LeDoux - Rodeo Sings of Life" at the newly founded record company his father Al LeDoux, the American Cowboy Songs, Inc. label in Mt Juliet, Tennessee.

In 1977, Chris LeDoux decided to revise this first album to omit certain songs and other re-record. Erroneously, this album will be called the first LP by Chris LeDoux. Even the title of this re-release is a little different: " Chris LeDoux - Songs of Rodeo Life".

In the early days of his musical career, made his wife Peggy forth the duplicates for the 8-track cassettes at home, where they also stuck the label by hand on the cassette. These were also the first steps of the American Cowboy Songs, Inc. plate publisher.

Career

After initial difficulties, it went with his career as a professional rodeo upwards. The highlight was winning the 1976 World Cup. In 1984, he finished after a few minor injuries, his career and acquired a ranch in Wyoming. Now he had to devote time and opportunity to his music. With his band, the Saddle Boogie Band, he made ​​numerous appearances and continued to produce records. Until the late 80s, he had recorded 22 albums of his own.

In 1989, the rising star of country music Garth Brooks a hit with the song Much Too Young ( To Feel This Damn Old ), in which his friend Chris LeDoux was mentioned. Abruptly, the former rodeo rider was known throughout the country scene. A little later, he signed a contract with the Liberty / Capitol label. The record company decided, remarkably, to take on all 22 previous albums in their own catalog and publish it. The first new album, Western Underground, appeared in 1991. Sales figures and charts rankings in this and subsequent productions were by no means bad, but seldom came a mediocre addition. His greatest success was with his friend Garth Brooks sung duet Whatcha Gonna Do It With A Cowboy. Some of the radio stations for the lack of big success were responsible because they rarely played the authentic cowboy songs. The popularity with his fan base did not diminish, especially as LeDoux developed into a popular live artist who has completed more than 100 performances per year.

After the turn of the millennium came to a heavy, non- alcohol-related liver disease that made requiring transplantation. Chris LeDoux survived this critical stage unharmed and was after only six months already back on stage. He then lived with his wife, with whom he has been married since the early seventies, and the five common children at his ranch near Kaycee, Wyoming.

March 9, 2005 Chris LeDoux died in Casper, Wyoming, to cancer.

Discography ( albums)

American Cowboy Songs, Inc.

1990, all American Cowboy Songs, Inc. albums by Chris LeDoux, with the exception of "No. 2776 ", of Liberty / Capitol Records were rerouted to CD. However, the design and the pictures used are on that CD covers considerably from the figures that were used on the original album cover art.

Liberty / Capitol Records

The LP "Songs of Rodeo Life - NR 8650 " from 1977, is a re-release of the first album by Chris LeDoux 's " Sings of Rodeo Life - NR 2776 ." 1972 However, the 1977 album contains other songs than the first album. This first album from 1972, includes songs and versions of songs that were released on LP or CD no later more. The album " NO 2776 " is now one of the rarest albums in country music, since this was printed in a small edition and therefore is largely unknown:

1972 - Chris LeDoux - Rodeo Sings of Life - NR 2776 1 Bareback Jack 2 Tweedle Dee 3 Is not No Place For A Country Boy 4 New Bread Riverboat Gambler 5 6 Punchy Bareback Rider 7 Colorado 8 Them Bareback Horses 9 Mountain Wild Man 10 Bull Rider 11 Cowboy's Prayer

Were for a certain period of the albums of the American Cowboy Songs, Inc. Label also available as 8-track tapes.

Kyle Evans and Tony Glenn, both friends of Chris LeDoux took three albums under his own American Cowboy Songs, Inc. label on. Therefore, the " gap" in the plate numbers of the LeDoux 's albums in the 1983 / 84th

Biloxi (Mississippi) Casper (Wyoming) Austin (Texas)
188473
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