Bobby Bridger
Encyclopedia
Bobby Bridger is a singer/songwriter/poet/actor/playwright/author and painter who for three decades has traveled the globe performing a trilogy of one man shows for audiences in America, Canada, Europe, Australia and Russia. He has recorded numerous albums for labels including Monument Records
, RCA
and Golden Egg Records. On television he appeared twice (1976 and 1978) on the early years of PBS
's "Austin City Limits
", and on ABC's "Good Morning America
", A & E
and C-Span
, as well as on NPR
on radio. He is the composer of "Heal In The Wisdom", the official anthem of the Kerrville Folk Festival
for over 25 years.
Bridger has been an artist-in-residence at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center
in Cody, WY., the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center
in Waterford, CT, the John G. Neihardt Center in Bancroft, NE and Yellowstone National Park
. Bridger starred in Dale Wasserman
's groundbreaking musical, Shakespeare and The Indians and was featured with David Carradine
and Will Sampson
in the drama Black Elk Speaks
. Full company productions of Bridger's Seekers of the Fleece ran for eight consecutive summer seasons in Wyoming
. He is the author of the award-winning book, Buffalo Bill and Sitting Bull: Inventing The Wild West (ISBN 978-0-292-70917-1), A Ballad of the West
, and contributed essays to anthologies on western icons Frank Waters and John G. Neihardt as well as numerous magazine and newspaper features. He is the subject of the documentary film "Quest Of An Epic Balladeer" and a DVD production of live performances of his trilogy of one man shows will be released in 2005.
Monument Records
Monument Records was an American record label, Washington, D.C. named for the Washington Monument, founded in 1958, by Fred Foster and Buddy Deane . Buddy Deane soon left the company, and in the early 60's bought KOTN in Pine Bluff, Arkansas where he retired to until his death...
, RCA
RCA
RCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
and Golden Egg Records. On television he appeared twice (1976 and 1978) on the early years of PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
's "Austin City Limits
Austin City Limits
Austin City Limits is an American public television music program recorded live in Austin, Texas by Public Broadcasting Service Public television member station KLRU, and broadcast on many PBS stations around the United States...
", and on ABC's "Good Morning America
Good Morning America
Good Morning America is an American morning news and talk show that is broadcast on the ABC television network; it debuted on November 3, 1975. The weekday program airs for two hours; a third hour aired between 2007 and 2008 exclusively on ABC News Now...
", A & E
A&E Network
The A&E Network is a United States-based cable and satellite television network with headquarters in New York City and offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, London, Los Angeles and Stamford. A&E also airs in Canada and Latin America. Initially named the Arts & Entertainment Network, A&E launched...
and C-Span
C-SPAN
C-SPAN , an acronym for Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network, is an American cable television network that offers coverage of federal government proceedings and other public affairs programming via its three television channels , one radio station and a group of websites that provide streaming...
, as well as on NPR
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
on radio. He is the composer of "Heal In The Wisdom", the official anthem of the Kerrville Folk Festival
Kerrville Folk Festival
The Kerrville Folk Festival is a music festival held for 18 consecutive days in the late spring/early summer at Quiet Valley Ranch near Kerrville, Texas. The event has run on a yearly basis since 1972. In November 2008, the Kerrville Folk Festival and Kerrville Wine & Music Festival were acquired...
for over 25 years.
Bridger has been an artist-in-residence at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center
Buffalo Bill Historical Center
The Buffalo Bill Historical Center is a complex of museums displaying artifacts and art of the American West located in Cody, Wyoming. Founded in 1917, the Buffalo Bill Historical Center is the oldest museum in the West...
in Cody, WY., the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center
Eugene O'Neill Theater Center
The Eugene O'Neill Memorial Theater Center in Waterford, Connecticut is a 501 not-for-profit theater company founded in 1964 by George C. White. The O'Neill is the recipient of the . The O'Neill is home to the National Theater Institute , and several major theater conferences including the...
in Waterford, CT, the John G. Neihardt Center in Bancroft, NE and Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park, established by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872, is a national park located primarily in the U.S. state of Wyoming, although it also extends into Montana and Idaho...
. Bridger starred in Dale Wasserman
Dale Wasserman
Dale Wasserman was an American playwright. -Early life:Dale Wasserman was born in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, and was orphaned at the age of nine. He lived in a state orphanage and with an older brother in South Dakota before he "hit the rails". He later said:-Career:Wasserman worked in various...
's groundbreaking musical, Shakespeare and The Indians and was featured with David Carradine
David Carradine
David Carradine was an American actor and martial artist, best known for his role as a warrior monk, Kwai Chang Caine, in the 1970s television series, Kung Fu, which later had a 1990s sequel series, Kung Fu: The Legend Continues...
and Will Sampson
Will Sampson
Will Sampson was an American actor and artist.-Life and career:Sampson, a Native American Muscogee , was born in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. Sampson's most notable roles were as "Chief Bromden" in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and as "Taylor the Medicine Man" in the horror film Poltergeist II...
in the drama Black Elk Speaks
Black Elk Speaks
Black Elk Speaks is a 1932 book by John G. Neihardt, an American poet and writer, who relates the story and spirituality of Black Elk, an Oglala Sioux medicine man or shaman. It was based on conversations by Black Elk with the author and translated from Lakota into English by Black Elk's son, Ben...
. Full company productions of Bridger's Seekers of the Fleece ran for eight consecutive summer seasons in Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
. He is the author of the award-winning book, Buffalo Bill and Sitting Bull: Inventing The Wild West (ISBN 978-0-292-70917-1), A Ballad of the West
A Ballad of the West
Inspired by John G. Neihardt's A Cycle of the West, Bobby Bridger's A Ballad of the West is a three-part story told in Homeric verse and song about the Mountain Men, William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody, and the Lakota Sioux people....
, and contributed essays to anthologies on western icons Frank Waters and John G. Neihardt as well as numerous magazine and newspaper features. He is the subject of the documentary film "Quest Of An Epic Balladeer" and a DVD production of live performances of his trilogy of one man shows will be released in 2005.