Biography

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Ashley Moyer - Rounder Records
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TOM RUSSELL - GALO DEL CIELOS (5:58)

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Songwriter: Tom Russell
Publishing &PRO: End of the Trail Music, SOCAN

Release Date: 1991

Musicians:
Tom Russell: Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals
Hank Bones: Bass, String Bass
Andrew Hardin: Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Percussion, Timpani, Tiple, Background Vocals
Fats Kaplin: Accordion, Dobro, Tin Whistle, Instrument Whistle
Ian Tyson: Vocals

"I wrote "Gallo del Cielo" in 1978 in a garage in Mountain View, California. I was inspired by Marty Robbins' epic hit - "El Paso" - and his gunfighter ballads. Also Mexican traditional corridos- Mexican historical story songs. I also took a trip into the Copper Canyon country in Mexico in the 1970's and heard outrageous stories about Pancho Villa stealing land and ladies for the "Revolution." Gallo has a deep legacy...I was driving taxi in NYC in 1981, picked up Robert Hunter - who wrote lyrics for The Grateful Dead - and writes with Bob Dylan, and I sang him Gallo in the taxi and he was blown away and got me to open shows for him. Got me back into the music business. Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen also like "Gallo" very much… that's some of the story! It has an enduring history.” ~
Tom Russell


Bio
Fans of folksinger Tom Russell won't be surprised to learn that his father was an Iowa horse trader or that his brother is a rancher and cattle supplier; all of his albums leave little doubt that he has the cowboy spirit in his blood. This particular album leaves less doubt than most, though, since Russell focuses exclusively here on his favorite cowboy songs. His warm, evocative voice is in fine form throughout the all-acoustic collection of originals, covers, and adaptations, and the 11 tracks are just about all winners. Highlights include "Zane Grey," a song about a horse that Russell first recorded in the mid-'70s with then-partner Patricia Hardin; "Gallo del Cielo" and "Navajo Rug," both duets with Canadian folkie Ian Tyson; and "Claude Dallas," a tale of a real-life modern-day outlaw who shot two game wardens in Nevada in 1981.