Ryan Bingham – From a Rodeo Cowboy to a Grammy-Nominated Musician

Ryan Bingham began his musical journey after years spent traveling around as a rodeo cowboy. From his debut album Mescalito onward, Bingham’s songs feature lively tunes with subtle moments of introspection.

His voice possesses the rich tones associated with Woody Guthrie. We caught up with him ahead of sound check for his show in Denver.

His Music

Ryan Bingham has lived a remarkable journey. From Southwest drifter and rodeo champion, to star of hit TV series and Grammy and Oscar-winning musician – his experiences have inspired memorable soundtracks that tell tales of survival, sacrifice and often just having a good time.

His music defies classification, with elements from folk, blues, and country all present in its composition. It’s both authentic and powerful; with his aged yet powerful voice delivering strong messages.

Bingham made his major label debut with Mescalito in 2007 and released Roadhouse Sun two years later, working closely with producer T-Bone Burnett on the soundtrack for Oscar-winning movie Crazy Heart’s soundtrack and co-writing its title track. Since then he’s released three more albums while touring worldwide to sold-out audiences.

His Life

Bingham was born in New Mexico but spent much of his life wandering West Texas. While living there he learned mariachi tunes on beer soaked porches, rode bulls, and performed music from trailers – experiences which helped shape Mescalito, his debut album for Lost Highway which featured rustic campfire balladry to roots-rock with roadhouse energy that won him recognition from Americana Music Association as Artist of the Year 2010.

Since then, his path has been an unpredictable ride with both thrilling highs (he won a Golden Globe and Grammy for “The Weary Kind” from Jeff Bridges film Crazy Heart) and devastating lows (the deaths of both parents). Yet through all this turmoil he has kept up a sense of gentle politeness that indicates a more stable approach now than when things were spinning out of control.

He’s since become a father himself, which may have softened his connection with this timeless Woody Guthrie song; nonetheless, he still appreciates how many lives it has touched and how its impact continues to expand his audience.

His Family

Bingham’s family roots run deep throughout the Southwest: his great-grandfather was a rancher in Lovington and both parents and grandparents worked there too. Today, however, Bingham spends much of his time performing and touring to packed audiences across North America and abroad.

Bingham’s success can be largely attributed to his music, which defies classification. From rock, blues and country genres – as well as elements influenced by travel – comes together into something truly original.

Bingham has drawn from his life experience when crafting Roadhouse Sun. Bingham’s latest release features an orchestra of multi-instrumentalist Corby Schaub, drummer Matt Smith and bassist Elijah Ford playing songs about life’s back alleys and crossroads that have had such an effect on him; these tracks offer both knee-slappery tunes as well as songs that provoke thought – earning both critics’ acclaim as well as his fans’ appreciation.

His Friends

Ryan Bingham has experienced both thrilling highs and crushing lows since debuting with 2007’s Mescalito, the album which won him both an Oscar and Grammy award. From hereon out has led an extraordinary life: both thrilling upswings and devastating downturns occurred – sometimes all at once!

He’s been traveling nonstop across the world, playing dive bars and sweaty punk-rock clubs but his success hasn’t altered him one bit.

One weekend in 2006, he ventured to Marfa, an art enclave in West Texas. While there, he met outlaw country musician Terry Allen as well as Joe Ely and Robert Earl Keen – musicians that would help hone his craft and transform both his life and music in profound ways. Junky Star, released last year, featured more hardscrabble soundscapes than its Lost Highway predecessor; its themes explored working man hardships while reflecting his experience as a Southwest drifter and professional bull rider in its themes than its predecessor did in its release years prior.