Bob Dylan, Billy Joe Shaver, Jerry Jeff Walker, Jimmy Buffett, Jerry Garcia, Bob Nolan, Buck Ramsey, Ken Moore, Dave Stamey, Jerome Campbell, Jeanne Cahill, God and the American West.
Arizona singer/songwriter Jon Messenger brings to his audiences a hearty stew concocted from the influences of an eclectic musical background. Influenced by everything he’s heard, he likes to say, “I play what I can, and what I can’t, I want to learn.” Jon’s original Folk and Western tunes have been well received by audiences at festivals and gatherings throughout the West, and these songs reflect Jon’s love of the West and the American Cowboy.
Bringing a unique approach to today’s Cowboy and Western Music, Jon’s vocal and acoustic guitar stylings blend together to bring to all his audiences a haunting and authentic portrait of cowboy life, past and present. Interspersed with the fine Western Music are some wonderful selections of Cowboy Poetry, some by traditional authors, and some original poems from Jon’s pen.
Jon has been playing at gatherings, festivals, churches, parties, dinners, etc., etc., for a long time…almost exclusively performing Western Music around the southwest and points east, west and north of Sierra Vista, Arizona for nearly fifteen years with a smattering of bluegrass and western swing in the between spots. He was a founding member of the Western trio, Rimfire, and played guitar for the very popular Raw Deal Bluegrass Band. An ongoing collaboration with Jeanne Cahill and Jerome Campbell … they of Oklahoma’s Call of the West, in 2004 produced the recording Ponydance…the recording features ten original tunes and two treatments of old and new classics…the title tune was also recorded by award winning Western singer-songwriter Kip Calahan, and Ponydance was among the top five nominees for the Western Music Association’s 2004 Song of the Year. The trio of musicians also collaborated on Jon’s latest release, entitled Spirits. The tune Spirits of Truth, which inspired the album title, was nominated for Song of the Year by the WMA in 2005, and the recording was also among the top five nominees for Traditional Album of the Year.
The love and appreciation of the Western state of mind is in every tune he writes; Jon has earned his spurs among true cowboy poets and musicians. He writes some of the most hauntingly beautiful songs of our time and has found a way to express insights into the livestock community that most people simply overlook. He’s become an integral part of the Western Music community, and is well respected as a performer and songwriter by all.
Jon served four years as a member of the Board of Directors of the Western Music Association; three years of which were served as the President of the Board of Directors. After a brief reprieve, he has found himself once again occupying a seat on the WMA Board, serving two years as the Executive Director. Beginning in 2009, he is once again serving as President of the Board of Directors. He is also a member of the WMA Advisory Board.
With an eye on the future, Jon’s presentations of Western song and verse are dedicated to the fierce spirit of liberty exemplified by the ranching community and the love of self-sufficient freedom.
What a great show out at Bob Fees place! You just keep getting better all the time! Wish we could have hung around, but it was a drive...with a stop at El Corral on the way....
Jon, It is so wonderful to see you here. I sure miss you, friend, now that you are spending so much time as a mud man. Blessings in the new year and always...
