Craig-O Ringland's recording "Songs from the Saddle" released during June of 2005. The album includes 12 original songs written and composed by Craig-O that range from ballads of the old west with southwestern flare and savvy, to experiences drawn from today.
Born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Craig-O was influenced by music at a young age. "It seemed that everyone in my family played an instrument - or at least tried to play one. My brother had a trombone in grade school and my Mom had an autoharp with some of them Mel Bay books on how to play. My Dad also had a cool collection of harmonicas that he picked up during his travels in Europe" Those experiences coupled with Craig-O's father's passion for loud stereos - brought music into the house ranging from Steppenwolf & Neil Diamond to the Four Freshmen & Tijuana Brass. These influences lead the young dreamer to ask his parents for his first guitar on his 11th birthday.
After the College years, Craig-O migrated out to Tempe, AZ in the desert southwest where he dabbled in songwriting and playing for parties and camping outings. Then, on a rainy Saturday afternoon somewhere around 1990 he was abducted by some friends and taken to the Rusty Spur Saloon in Scottsdale where he took-in a show by a talented local musician Ronnie Glover. Fueled with the inspiration that he received from that show, he sharpened his pencil and playing skills and got to work. A few years later he was able to perform his new songs during a solo gig that he landed at that same Saloon. All-in-all, his efforts ultimately resulted in the tunes brought to you on "Songs from the Saddle".
Although his saddle is mounted on a Harley these days - his hope is to continue to bring you well written lyrics and entertaining musical compositions for your enjoyment. As Craig-O put it recently... "When you get down to the basics - it's just me, a guitar, a pencil and some words on paper".
