Hal Cannon
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Hal Cannon

Resume


Professional Experience 1985 - Present: Founding Director, Western Folklife Center & National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, Elko, NV and Salt Lake City, UT; Radio Producer

1984 – Director, Institute of the American West, Sun Valley, ID.

1976-1985: Folk Arts Coordinator, Utah Arts Council, Salt Lake City, Utah

Books   



Buckaroo: Visions and Voices of the American Cowboy,  co-editor with an introduction and accompanying CD (Wrangler Award, Cowboy Hall of Fame) Simon and Schuster Publishers, 1993.   New Cowboy Poetry: A Contemporary Gathering, editor with an introduction, a collection o   contemporary cowboy poetry, Gibbs M. Smith Publishers, 1990.  

Rhymes of the Ranges, editor with an introduction, a collection of the cowboy poetry of Bruce    Kiskaddon, Gibbs M. Smith Publishers, 1987.

Songs of the Sage, an introduction to a reprint of the 1935 classic by cowboy poet, Curley Fletcher, (Wrangler Award, Cowboy Hall of Fame, 1987) Gibbs M. Smith Publishers, 1986.


Cowboy Poetry, A Gathering, editor, with an introduction, a collection of contemporary and historical cowboy poetry, (Wrangler Award, Cowboy Hall of Fame, 1986) Gibbs M. Smith Publishers, 1985.

The Grand Beehive, editor,  exhibit curator, with introduction. The illustrated history of the beehive in Mormon and Utah history, University of Utah Press, 1980

Utah Folk Art: A Catalog of Material Culture, editor, exhibit curator, with introduction, a guide to Utah's pioneer and native folk art, Brigham Young University Press, 1980.

Music Recordings



Snake River Outlaw Retrospective, CD, co-producer, Deep West Records, 2008

Song of Yellowstone & the Tetons, CD, co-producer, Deep West Records, 2008

Songs and Stories from Sheepherding, CD, co-producer, Deep West Records, 2006

Songs and Stories from Grand Canyon, CD, co-producer, Smithsonian Folkways Records, 2005

Stories from Native America, CD, co-producer, Deep West Records, 2005

Cluck, Cluck, CD, Secondhand Band, Okehdokee Records, 2004

Songs of Statehood: CD and PBS Special, Utah Centennial CD and TV program,  KUED, Deseret String Band, 1996

Roll On Little Dogies: Songs and Activities for Young Cowpokes, CD, Bunkhouse Orchestra, Gibbs M Smith Publisher, 1995.


The Cowboy Gathering: Elko, Nevada, co-producer with an introduction to a C.D. recording and an accompanying booklet, Rhino Records, 1993.

Old-Time Cowboy Songs ,  producer and editor, a cassette and book of cowboy songs performed by the Bunkhouse Orchestra, Gibbs M. Smith Publishers, 1988.

The Deseret String Band, L.P. of Deseret String Band live performances, Shanachie Records, 1985.

New Beehive Songsters, Volume I and II, co-editor, two LP’s and booklets documenting Utah's pioneer folk music  traditions, University of Utah Press, 1976-77.

Land of Milk and Honey, L.P. of string band music, Deseret String Band, Okehdokee Records, 1974.

Utah Trails, L.P. of string band music from Utah's pioneering past, Deseret String Band, 1973.

Radio, Films, Exhibits  

In the Footsteps of John A. Lomax: co-producer with Sherre Delys. An hour radio documentary for Radio National ABC, Sydney, Australia, 2012

A Zion Canyon Song Cycle: Red Rock Rondo: co-producer with Taki Telonidis. An hour-long HD musical special for PBS, release May, 2009, 2 Rocky Mtn. Emmys and NETAS Best Entertainment Special 2010, National PBS distribution through NETA.

What’s in a Song: co-producer, regular series on NPR’s Weekend Edition on 800 plus stations nationwide

Why the Cowboy Sings: the Music Video: co-producer/director. A 16-minute high definition video for
 Western Folklife Center permanent exhibit, also signature project of the 2002 Cultural Olympics

Why the Cowboy Sings: co-producer/director. A 60-minute documentary with KUED-TV, broadcast nationally on PBS, winner best documentary, Rocky Mountain Emmy

Western Folklife Center Media:  director and host of over 100 cultural features and on NPR's Weekend Edition, Marketplace and  Savvy Traveler


Voices of the West :  co-produced with Mary Beth Kirchner. Six holiday radio specials for Public Radio International, co-producer and host, 1996-97.

Elko: A Cowboy Gathering, co-produced with Alan Sacks, entertainment special broadcast nationally on PBS, 1995. Produced in cooperation with KUED 1994.

Curated exhibits The Grand Beehive at the Renwick Gallery, National Museum of American Art, The Utah Folk Art Exhibit, Salt Lake Arts Center, 1980

Notable Lectures & Performances:

Port Fairy Folk Festival & Australian performance tour, 2012, 
Keynote address annual NAASA, Boise, ID
Utah Arts Festival & Mountain West Song Fest
Red Rock Rondo Ensemble performance for First Lady Laura Bush, At Chabysh Horse Festival in Kyrgyzstan, 2006
Olympics Final Medal Ceremony, Deseret String Band Performance, Nagano, Japan, 1998
Festival of American Fiddle Tunes, Centrum Foundation, faculty, 1990, 1996.
America's Cup, America/3 official band, Bunkhouse Orchestra, San Diego, CA, 1992
International Olympic Committee Meetings, Burmingham, England, 1991, Deseret String Band

Drovers Reunion, Stockman's Hall of Fame, Longreach, Qld, Australia, 1990

Offices, Honors & Other Projects 

University of Utah College of Humanities, Distinguished Alumni Award, 2011
Utah Arts Council Board Member, 2005 to 2011
Alta Club Laureate, 2003 to present
Road Scholar – Utah Humanities Council 2003-2006
Max Karant AOPA Gold Medal for Aviation Journalism, 2004

Community Builder Award, Utah Alive for a Better Community, 2004
Grantmakers in the Arts, Board of Trustee, 2001 to 2006
Smithsonian Folkways, Advisory Board, 2002 to 2008
Fund for Folk Culture, Board of Trustees, 2003 to 2008
Utah Governors Award for the Humanities, 2002
Artistic Director for Folk Arts, 2002 Olympics
Botkin Award from American Folklore Society, 2001
Utah Governors Award for the Arts, 1999
Distinguished Alumni Award, Communications Dept. University of Utah, 1999
Wrangler Award, Cowboy Hall of Fame, three awards for books about ranching traditions
Will Rogers Lifetime Achievement Award, Academy of Western Artists Fort Worth, TX, 1998

Education 



Rhode Island School of Design, MAE film, 1972
University of Utah, BS, Journalism, 1970