Here what other people have to say about Mike Puhallo and his products!
"Mike has a talent just like his mustache: big! original! a little twisted!
and western to the core.
Doris Daley, poet, Calgary Alberta
"Mike Puhallo's range rhymes are true to the cowboy ranch culture because he
lives the life. He is a deep thinking historian with a wacky sense of humor
who singles out words, catches phrases in his loop and dallies his verses to
a solid snubbling post. Mixed with an occasional bit of BS and a whole lot of
common sense, his poetry reflects the cowboy way and shows us the trails we need
to ride to keep our western culture alive and well for future generations..."
Doris Bircham, poet and rancher, Piapot, Saskatchewan
Mike,
Thanks ever so much for thinking of me with a copy of the CD "Knockin' Down Fences." I
will be using eight of the tunes in there on my "Swingin' West" broadcasts. As always, I
always enjoy Tammy Gislason and Matt Johnston. Kraig Jodrey and Aimee Pettersen really
sound great together. We'll be in touch, Mike Gross
Hi Mike,
Just got your new CD "Knockin' Down Fences"!
OUTSTANDING...........................
Thanks for sending it, Tommy Tucker
Dear Mike,
Thank you for sending me a copy of "Knockin' Down Fences." I've listened
several times, completely impressed by the great mix of talent and quality
production. When I first listened, I had a new favorite almost every track. You and
Matt and Tammy never miss. I thought that some of the standouts were "We
Are the Sons and the Daughters," "Fifty's Just a Number" (Bodie was
great), "Rock 'n Roll Cowboy," "Old Flat Top Guitar," "Senorita's Song," "Dog
Creek," "Springtime on the Ranch," "One More Rodeo"....see what I
mean...and that's only the first half. The careful thought that went into the
ordering of these pieces really shows. I really liked the back ups to your poetry,
and the organ at the end of "The Dream Team..." and the voices in the last cut are
examples of the best meld of poetry and sound. I love the way you have the "older
masters"
and all of this young talent; it's a great model for others.
The radio stations are going to be happy about having
so many choices. Thanks again for sending me a copy. It's one of most enjoyable
compilations I've listened to.
Margo
Now here's a note from BC Country Music Hall of Fame member, Bud Webb. Bud is also the
producer of Mike and Matt Johnston's CD - "Smarten Up and Put Your Hat Back On"!
Howdy Folk's
Welcome to our porch at Shadow Mountain Music, where we just recently have had the good
luck to record a project for a couple of cowboys from Kamloops & Clearwater and some
other places we won't mention. These men were a pleasure to meet and work with. They
take their craft very seriously and are excellent at what they do. Mike Puhallo has
great talent at getting good mileage out of a story - as a lot of folk's already know - but
for some of you that don't, well, you are in for a treat - he is a great poet.
Mike is also the President of the BC Cowboy Heritage Society and works hard at
delegating jobs to others. You will find Mike to be very level headed, YEP! it runs out
both ears at the same time. Matt Johnston seems to be the quiet one of this duo but
after hanging out for a few days I'm not so sure. One thing I do know for sure is that
you better make sure your CD player is working good because you are in for a real treat.
This young man is not only a totally AAAWWWSSSSOOOME singer, he is equally
as good at writing his material - it is from the heart.
Mike & Matt are the real deal. These cowboys earned the right to "PUT THEIR HATS ON".
Enjoy Mike & Matt, they are a great treasure.
Thanks guys, from the 2002 Inductee to the
BC Country Music Assn. Hall of Fame, "Bud Webb"
from the porch at Shadow Mountain
From OJ Sykes who has a radio program in New Jersey, New York and writes reviews
for "Rope Burns" and other publications....
"Hi Mike, Many thanks for the new Cd. You were certainly right about Matt's musical
ability! He does a super job! The demo you sent only had 16 selections, but I heard
enough to give it a good review. Many of my next reviews will be done as part of my
column for the next few issues due to limited publication space and a huge backlog of
Cds waiting to be reviewed, but I'll try to do yours justice.
Thanks again! Regards,
O.J."
Paul Aaron has a Radio Show in New York City called Cowboy Joe's Radio Ranch
Mike - Just finished listening to your new demo CD. I like what
I heard; good mix of poems and acoustic cowboy music. Hope it does well for you. Regards,
Paul Aaron.
Debra Hill is last years winner of the Will Rogers Award for Female Cowboy poet of the
year, she does a weekly TV show in Oklahoma...
Mike...Got your CD today and I must tell you that it is GREAT! There is a perfect
balance of poetry and music. I am thrilled to have this pre-release copy! Do you want
me to write you some quotes? I will send some as soon as I come up with words worthy of
your work! Thanks for sharing it with me...I feel privileged! xo Debra
Mike Gross has a radio program called "Swinging West" somewhere in Connecticut..
Thanks so much for thinking of me with the parcel that arrived in my PO Box today. You
are right when you mention about not doing poetry on "Swingin' West" but I have still
been giving air time to the Butch Falk tunes from the CD that you gave to me back in
2000. I will also be giving most of the Matt Johnston cuts from the new preview CD some
airtime also. Don't get me wrong, I like your poetry, it is just that I only feature
music on the show. We'll be in touch, Mike
Veteran Cowboy Poet Mike Puhallo has teamed up with singer, songwriter, and
musician Matt Johnston, a relative newcomer, to create an impressive
recording that is pure cowboy: "Smarten Up and Put Your Hat Back On."
The prolific Mike Puhallo delivers his work in a comfortable style with such
ease that you wonder if he doesn't speak, count, and order his breakfast in
verse. His wit and wisdom with fresh perspectives on ranching and current
events is often delivered in short, polished pieces. Poems such as
"Cowboy's Guide to Gravity" (about shoeing), "Like Wow...Man," and "Hurling
Defecation" (only he could do it with such style) leave you with a lasting
smile. "Not Another Bear Roping Story?" is worth adding to all the others,
and "In the Beginning" and "Vancouver" are good examples of his wacky
imagination. Yet another side of Puhallo's talent takes you to the heart of
matters in sensitive poems, often about horses, such as "Babies,"
"Cinnamon," and his modern classic, "Sacred Orb," which shines brightly
among the 23 original poems on this recording.
Matt Johnston makes his living as a farrier, starts colts, and is an
apprentice saddlemaker. Though this is his debut recording, his accomplished
acoustic guitar and harmonica playing along with a beckoning voice that
draws you into his complex and interesting songs show his natural talent and
a long practice in his art. Once you hear the lonely sounds of his
harmonica in the first track's beautiful ballad, "She's Only a Dream,"
you'll be hooked. Among the other seven versatile, original songs are "When
the Last Calf Hits the Ground," "Driftin' On," and the title track, "Put
Your Hat Back On," about the making of a boy into a man. Johnston was
nominated for the Rising Star Award by the Academy of Western artists last
year and his star is destined to soar with this recording.
The careful arrangement and sequence of poems and songs make for fluid
listening pleasure. Other fine musicians provide backup in this smooth
recording: Ray Goguen on bass, acoustic guitar, banjo, dobro, steel guitar
and back-up vocals; Mike Olexson on acoustic guitar and mandolin; Curly West
on fiddle and steel guitar; and Frankie Schmidt on back-up vocals.
Puhallo's humor and keen observations and Johnston's heartfelt cowboy
songs stay with you long after the last of the generous 31 tracks has
finished. "Smarten Up and Put Your Hat Back On" is a model of collaboration
that is sure to inspire similar recordings, though it will be hard to match
the quality of this one and the perfect pairing of these two large talents
Margo Metegrano, managing editor, CowboyPoetry.com
www.cowboypoetry.com
"Mike is one of those rare cowboys willing to show his sensitive side."
Regards, Gary Fjellgaard
www.fjellgaard.bc.ca
"Mike Puhallo is a great person on stage and off!
I have enjoyed getting to know him through several cowboy gatherings and
always enjoy his show!
He has a special way of connecting with the audience, and sharing his true
cowboy experiences in a way that folks from the city or the country
understand what he's saying.
Not many Cowboys can say they've been to the moon!!!"
Joni Harms, Nashville Recording
Artist www.joniharms.com
"Hi! Mike! Just a short note to let you know how much the 200 ladies and gents enjoyed
your cowboy poetry at our Knights of Columbus Annual Ladies Night, April 13/02. Your clean
humorous poetry is still talked about.Your talent is much needed in today's society. I
hope you continue to share it as much as possible".
All the best--Lucien
Weinmeyer (Brooks, Alberta, Knights of Columbus)
"Mike Puhallo's poetry is real - not all flowered up in an attempt to get folks to take
notice. It comes from the heart and goes to the heart. This boy's been there and done
that, and his rhymes is the t-shirt."
Ben Crane, Cowboy Cartoonist from Eckville,
Alberta www.bencrane.com
"Mike Puhallo is everything a Cowboy Poet is meant to be.... a wonderful
storyteller, a genuine cowboy and a roll model.
Mike has the ability of taking the audience on a journey filled with amazing
imagery and a mixture of emotions.
Whether you're laughing, crying or riding with Vaqueros on the range you¹re
sure to have an entertainming evening!
Mike has been instrumental in keeping cowboy poetry and music alive and
well.
It's not just Mike's performance that makes him such a great entertainer,
it's also his personality off stage.
Generous, encouraging and supportive, he's more than once given a new
western entertainer their first break.
Mike deserves every accolade and award he's received!"
Tammy Gislasen Singer Songwriter from Innisfail Alberta,
www.tammydee.com
"Mike has a talent just like his mustache: big, original, a little twisted, and western
to the core. The only thing bigger than his talent is his heart. Here's a man who not
only writes about the cowboy way but whose handshake is true and who rides the trail as
an ambassador for the west. When I share the stage with Mike I sit up and listen because
I know I'm not only going to be entertained, I'm going to learn something. He may hang
his hat in BC but all of Canada is proud to claim him."
Doris Daley, Calgary, Alberta, Poet
"We all have gifts, sometimes it takes a while to discover them. Mike's gift is putting
events, adventures, feelings and ideas into unforgettable and very readable cowboy poetry."
Hugh McLennan, Syndicated broadcaster
www.hugh-mclennan.com
"Your poetry and 'meadow muffins' always make me smile and think of my country and farming
roots. Your comments and poems on politics or current affairs strike a very true and often
amusing note. I hope your 'meadow muffins' continue to fall and brighten my day."
Kathy Smith, Editor of Canadian Horse Journals
"When I think of all the folks I know who fit the word "Cowboy", Mike Puhallo is in my
Top Ten. His poetry preserves and shares our Western lifestyle with the world and lets
everyone know that the Cowboy is still alive and riding hard into the future."
Debra Coppinger Hill, Academy of Western Artists Cowgirl Poet of the Year and Host of
"Love of the West"
www.oldyellowslicker.com
"There's a cowman in Kamloops
who preserves the cowboy tale
With his muffins wise and witty
Mike Puhallo hits the nail."
Jessi Winchester, Author: From Bordello to Ballot Box
www.jessiwinchester.com
"Mike Puhallo, a man I am pleased to call my friend, walks the walk and talks the talk!
Mike is a single handed spokesperson for the Country Way of life. He's been there, he's
done it, and he will continue to do it for the rest of his days. I've seen him in large
groups and small groups he plays them all in the same professional, generous and openly
humourous manner. No matter the of the crowd or the age therein they get their money's
worth every time and they'll be back for more every time he comes our way."
Patti Gerhardi of Rocking "P" Western Apparel, Vanderhoof, British Columbia
For over twenty years I have entertained all over the Nation with some of the finest
cowboy entertainers of our time. I had long heard of Mike Puhallo. The word was he was a
good entertainer and all around good hand. You can immediately see if an entertainer has
ever lived the cowboy life by his attitude. I can honestly say that "Mike is the real
thing." His material comes from a man who has lived the life.
We did meet at the Miracle Ranch Show in Port Orchard, Washington in July of 2002.
I watched with cowboy pride as he entertained the audience. The faces in the crowd
were mesmerized by his stories as they flowed with great meter and rhyme.
It was indeed one of the highpoints of my entertainment career to share the stage with
Mike. I have, with confidence recommended Mike for shows. (Of course when I was booked
and could not get there myself.) I have received thanks from the events who were well
pleased with my recommendations. "Here is a cowboy with great entertainment value. I
would recommend him with the highest praise for any event lucky enough to book him. Mike
is not a hat act, he is the real McCoy!"
Rudy Gonzales "Idaho's Official Cowboy Entertainer"
www.cowboyrudy.com
"I first became aware of Mike's poetry through a couple of books I received as Christmas
gifts. Unable to make it up to any of his performances in the Interior we decided to
invite him to our annual horse camp up in the hills near Merritt. The humour and genuine
respect for the cowboy way of life found in Mike's poetry made that evening very special
- one that we still talk about 2 years later."
Lindsay J. Babineau Senior Manager, Business Services, Envision Credit Union
"Mike Puhallo's Poetry goes beyond or behind the life of the everyday cowboy. It reaches
back into the history of this province to when the Vaqueros rode north to the gold of the
Fraser River and Cariboo. Mike opens a door to a time and people long forgotten.""Mike
Puhallo's poetry is an important contribution not only to the cowboy genre but to the
history of this province. His words and images tell us of the early days, long before the
Texas cattle drives, when Hudsons Bay men and Californian Vaqueros rode the bunchgrass
country of what became British Columbia. He is showing us a time and people not recognized
in history books."
Richard Wright, historian, rancher and sometimes poet.
goldrushbc.com
The famous cowboy poet from rural Kamloops, Mike has an affinity for the heritage of our
region. Nominated for male poet of the year three years in a row by the Academy of
Western Artists, he is one of the few Canadians recognized throughout the world for his
contributions to cowboy culture. Five books and one CD later Mike’s work has been
immortalized and will inform future generations about our past. Mike brings honour and
recognition to our area’s heritage through his poems, and currently serves as president
of the BC Cowboy Heritage Society. Congratulations!
Betty Hinton Member of Parliament for Kamloops Highland Valley
Here is a letter of reference. May 17, 2002
To Whom It May Concern:
I recently had the pleasure of working with Mike Puhallo during a free special event
produced by the Royal British Columbia Museum and the Museum of the Cariboo-Chilcotin in
Williams Lake, May 2-4, 2002. Called Cattle Tales, Trails, and Dragonflies the show
featured special exhibits, illustrated lectures, booths and demonstrations about the human
and natural history of British Columbia's central Interior. The event was attended by over
900 people.
An important focus for all of us was a series of unique hour-long
student programs for almost 500 children from the Williams Lake area on May 2 and 3. Mike
worked alongside museum curators, interpreters, First Nations and other experts to present
these well -received programs.
I was impressed with both the quality of Mike's
programs and with his easy-going delivery style. The hundreds of students that he worked
with over the two days were attentive and really enjoyed learning about cowboy history and
listening to his original verse. We had excellent feedback from the teachers as well. Mike
easily adapted his programs to fit the various age levels of students that attended his
sessions.
I would welcome the opportunity to work with Mike again on another
project. Don't hesitate to contact me for more information about his role in this special
event.
Sincerely,
Brian Seymour
Coordinator, Travelling Exhibits
Ph: 250-387-2163
Paz 250-387-0535
email:
Bseymour@royalbcmuseum.bc.ca
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