Dan Roberts is a cowboy songwriter, singer and musician. Dan won both the “Male Vocalist of the Year” in 2001 and the “Entertainer of the Year” in 2002 by the Academy of Western Artists. He has written Number One hits for several country music stars, including his good friend and sometime co-writer Garth Brooks. The first big-hit for Dan Roberts was when Brooks recorded their song, “The Beaches of Cheyenne”.
Tell us when you first started riding?
My folks moved to the country (Oregon) when I was in the 3rd or 4th grade. Although we only had 6 acres, our property backed up to a “wonderland” of open land. There were deer, fox, wild goats and raccoon. My Uncle decided I should have my own horse so he sent “Brownie” to me on the train. You can imagine my excitement! We couldn’t afford a
saddle for awhile, but that didn’t stop me from learning to ride and swim with my horse.
How did music fit into your Country upbringing?
My Dad always sang with a barbershop quartet so when our family started to grow to 3 boys & 1 girl, he started his own quartet! “The Mellow-D’s” stood for Dad, Dave, Dean and Dan. We entered loads of competitions. We took an 11th place out of 12 for one particular contest, but won 75 silver dollars. We thought we had won the jack pot! Dad said that he
would match that 75 dollars, so we all decidedwe would buy a $150 horse. “Chief” was ½ Morgan and ½ Quarter horse. From an early age, I’ve always combined my love of horses and music.
Can you tell us about riding the Rodeo?
Our family was always interested in sports. In fact, my older brother even played professional baseball. I was fresh out of college and had the desire to get back to my roots. I asked Lyle Sankey, a famous Rodeo star if he would teach me all he knew about riding broncs. I traveled all over the country riding Amateur Rodeo broncs, bulls and eventually learned how to shoe horses too.
What brought you to Nashville?
While I was learning to ride Amateur Rodeo, my brother bought me my first guitar from Mexico for $7.50! I loved music and knew riding the Rodeo wasn’t going to work out for me, so I decided to try my hand at song writing, and moved to Nashville. To support myself, I shoed horses and worked hard at learning how to make a career in music. I became
good friends with Garth Brooks. I opened for Garth’s World Tour which lasted almost 3 years and performed in over 275 shows. Is there any similarity between riding in front of an audience in the Rodeo and performing music?
Both test your nerves, courage and free spirit. My competitiveness came out when I was riding broncs and bulls. When I began to perform music in front of a big audience I decided to “go for it”. I knew I had fallen off horses, got up and rode again. That experience taught me to do the same with my music. Many of your Album and Song Titles refer to the Cowboy Life.
Can you explain?
After I returned from traveling with Garth Brooks and started my family, I decided once again, to return to what I love and what shaped my life….riding horses and music. My first CD “There’s a Little Cowboy in All of Us” started
selling and finding a niche. Cowboy gatherings across the country found my music and I found a home writing Cowboy music.
Do you still find time to ride horses?
Absolutely! My son J. D. was my team penning partner until he left for college. In between traveling and performing music, I run Texas Ranch Management. I manage and improve other people’s ranches, take care of big ranches, build barns, pens, cattle guards and water wells. Most of these ranches still do things the old fashioned way. It’s fun for me to
gather cows and calves, brand, vaccinate and put on ear tags.
Where can our readers learn where you will be performing?
Visit our website at www.danroberts.net
