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GO WEST TO THE CORRAL
WITH THE BOISE MASTER CHORALE
BOISE – Perhaps it is at his six-acre ranch home "on the range" with his three horses Blackie, Tani and Copper and his loyal dog "Snoopy" at his side, where Willis (Bill) Carr feels most at home. But this former city-slicker-turned-cowboy poet has found a second home that's almost as comfortable as Blackie's saddle. Carr, who also has a penchant for singing classical music has found a perfect blend for his musical and poetic hobbies with the Boise Master Chorale this year.
Tickets Available for Westward Ho, March 5th and 6th:
Carr, along with fellow cowboy poet Scott Rhead, will showcase their Cowboy Poetry talents during a Chorale concert, "Westward Ho: Cowboys and the American West." The upcoming concerts are a dramatic change in tempo for Boise's premier choir as they leave the romance of the classics in the dust and journey west.
A first-generation "city kid," Carr spent a lot of time visiting his family's Colorado ranch, singing cowboy songs and playing the guitar around a campfire, but it wasn't until the late 90s when he attend a cowboy poetry event in Emmett that the art form caught his full attention.
"I started learning and writing poems and performing them for my friends on river rafting trips," recalled Carr. "They all thought it was pretty amusing."
But what began as "fun" turned into a full-fledged hobby for Carr who is a member of the Cowboy Poets of Idaho. Now, when he's not at work, he spends his summers entertaining friends with his poetry as they navigate Idaho's wilderness areas and rivers by horse and river raft. But when the temperature changes force winter hibernation, Carr switches gears and lends his high baritone voice to the Boise Master Chorale, singing romantic classics by composers such as Handel and Mendelssohn.
The upcoming Chorale concert also puts Carr in attire that's a tad more comfortable for him than the choir's standard issue black tuxedo: cowboy boots, blue jeans and, of course his hat.
The public is invited to enjoy performances of humorous and poignant cowboy poetry by Willis Carr and Rhead as well as familiar melodies and beautiful harmonies from America's westward expansion.
”My connection to this style of music began in junior high and elementary school when we sang many of these songs in music class,” said Dr. Jim Jirak, director of the Boise Master Chorale.
“Then our family moved to western Colorado and we listened to The Sons of the Pioneers on the radio every morning before school. Having the two Cowboy Poets on our concert seems so natural. I know the audience will enjoy themselves even more after hearing Willis and Scott recite their poems.”
Songs will include favorites such as Yellow Rose of Texas, Don't Fence Me In, Goodbye Old Paint and others made famous by groups like The Sons of the Pioneers and Roy Rogers and Dale Evans.
The public can enjoy the concert March 5th (at Centennial High School Auditorium) or March 6th (BSU Special Events Center). Tickets are $20 each, students are free with a student ID card.
Special guests will be the Centennial High School Chamber Choir directed by Ryan Batcheller and a portion of the concert proceeds will benefit the CHS choir.