Search - Wylie & the Wild West :: Raven on the Wind

When I write songs, I really try to strike the balance between good old tradition and the West's innate trait of forging ahead into new territory. My favorite Western song crafters, book writers, and artists have always uncovered the West's true identity by throwing off the superficial, expected layers and digging deep into what makes our way of life so unique. Our West is so colorful and vibrant. What makes it so enchanting to me is this hybrid of existence that draws its sustenance from so many different streams. I grew up in an era of music that was morphing so fast! All the great sounds and rhythms of the 60s and 70s is what drew me to love music, that and having my dad sing all those earthy folk and cowboys songs in the family living room. I was lucky to grow up with such musical diversity. It is only natural that the medley of sounds shows up on my recordings. I still hang out with some of the toughest ranahans in cowboydom. When I peek into their CD collection, I am always amazed: Jimmy Reed, CCR, Bob Dylan, AC/DC, Bob Marley, the Stones. It's an ever-eclectic mix of sounds and soul. To me, that is what the West is all about. Out here, to be an individual is the highest calling. Sheep are distained. Our life is unpredictable. It's wild, it's laid back, it's doctoring a Tasmanian devil of a steer, it's idyllic mornings along a stream bank, it's Classical, it's a waltz, it's fast and furious, it's Rock n Roll, and everything in between. Wylie Gustafson