Ramblin' Ralph

"The World's Oldest Living Cowboy"
Ramblin' Ralph was born at an early age, in the hills of Kentucky in 1859. He became a cowboy when his Ma and Pa lit out for Texas after the War, and went "up the trail" with several cowherds.  He knew Wyatt Earp, Calamity Jane, Wild Bill Hickok, and many other famous Westerners. 
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In the Lincoln County War Ramblin' and Billy the Kid fought on the same side.  Ramblin' knew the real Billy, not the one depicted in so many books, movies, and song.

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He tells and sings all about it with tunes and tales, true history blended with humor and song, accompanied by autoharp and guitar.

Click here for a one-page flyer 		Ramblin' Ralph - large image

New Mexico Humanities Council
Chautauqua Troubadour

Board of Directors, Western Music 
Association (WMA) 
Ramblin's appearances include New Mexico's Old Lincoln Days, Hubbard Museum of the American West, Albuquerque Museum, Albuquerquer Folk Festival, Western Music Association International Festival, various state parks & monuments

Some of Ramblin's
programs
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  • Me and Billy
  • My Life As a Cowboy
  • Cowboy Campfire Singalong
  • The Autoharp and the Carter Family
(see below for more detail)
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Hear a bit of Ramblin's "The Cowboy Way"		 
Programs of story and song, by Ramblin' Ralph
Appropriate for state/federal parks, monuments, and campgrounds; house concerts, libraries, senior centers
festivals, schools and colleges, RV resorts, conventions, corporate retreats
  1. Western programs with autoharp and guitar presented by “The World’s Oldest Living Cowboy”
    2. (for a performance program flyer that can be printed and posted, click here)
    1. “Me and Billy” - songs and tales of Ramblin’s days with Billy the Kid during and after the Lincoln County War (approximately 45 minutes)

      2.
        This is a New Mexico State Humanities Council Chautauqua program, largely funded by the state (schools pay $50, other nonprofits $100).   For a Chautauqua program booking guide and online application, click here
        For full information about the Chautauquas including a catalog of performers, go to nmhum.org

    2. "My Life as a Cowboy” - experiences of a cowboy including driving herds up the Chisholm Trail, stampedes, flooded rivers, Wichita, Wyatt Earp, the Goodnight-Loving Trail, and yes, Billy the Kid (50-60 minutes)

    3. “Cowboy Campfire Singalong” - Songs that take us back to our youth, the western movies, radio serials - or brand new treats for those too young to have experienced this music firsthand.  We’ll all sing great old numbers like “Don’t Fence Me In,” “Cool Water,” I’m An Old Cowhand,” and “Back In the Saddle Again.”  Variable length as appropriate.
II.    “The Autoharp and the Carter Family” - Music of the Carter Family is used to demonstrate the autoharp, its history,  construction, importance as a folk instrument, and accessibility for personal accompaniment and pleasure. Audience is encouraged.to sing along with familiar songs.
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Ramblin' can provide a personal sound system suitable for most indoor venues but iffy for wide open outdoor sites.  Most programs will also work well in venues in which amplification is not required.  Question and answer or simple conversation sessions between audience and Ramblin’ are usual, and enhance the educational value of the programs.  Home is in Corrales, New Mexico.

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Here's an Albuquerque Journal article that tells a lot more
about Ramblin' than you would ever want to know

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Contact information:
ramblin@ralphestes.com
(505) 792-1480