Released in France by INEDIT and in the United States by Documentary Arts, Inc.
Details: Audio CD, 2003, 31 Tracks, 76mins, Produced and Recorded by Alan Govenar, also available on Cassette from 1988
Track Listing: Kentucky Waltz (listen to MP3 sample), Texas Bill, Trail to Mexico, Ain't Got No Use for the Women, The Blood of the Lamb, My Love is a Rider, Jake and Roanie, He was Just a Lonely Cowboy, Sweet Hour of Prayer, Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie (listen to MP3 sample), Tennessee Waltz, Zebra Done, Empty Cot in the Bunkhouse, Water, Cold Water (listen to MP3 sample), Rovin' Gambler, Way Out in Reno, Nevada, When the Work's All Done This Fall, I'm Counting on You, Lord, Bill Venaiah, Cowpuncher Riding the Range, Turkey in the Straw, Git Along Little Doggies (listen to MP3 sample), Sorry Peaks, Streets of Laredo, Plenty of Time, Just as I Am, Wings of a Dove, Sam Bass Without Him, Old Chisholm Trail, Let Me Be (not on INEDIT release) (listen to MP3 sample)

Listen to samples of this CD in high-quality, 192k, MP3 format: Kentucky Waltz, Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie, Git Along Little Doggies, and Let Me Be

About

John Burrus started singing when he was twenty-three years old. He was a rodeo cowboy, who, while the other cowboys went into town, stayed back at camp to practice his guitar. He learned a few basic chords, G, D, C and A, and then tried singing along as he played. He remembered the traditional songs he had heard as a child and later added to his repertoire his own arrangements of songs he saw in cowboy song books and hymnals. Although ranch work has become too strenuous, John Burrus still likes to ride and participate in the Old Timers Rodeo Association, competing in the breakaway and ribbon roping events, and singing at Camp Meetings, old age homes, and Sunday morning Rodeo ceremonies. This audiocassette tape was produced by Alan Govenar and, funded by Documentary Arts, Inc.

Liner Notes

Alan Govenar recorded John Burrus in 1987 at his home in Stephenville, Texas. These recordings were first released in 1988 with the following notes. This CD combines the original masters with additional recordings.

1988
On a Sunday morning before the final day of the Old Timers Rodeo outside of San Angelo, Texas a group of men congregate in the bleachers. Sixty three year old John Burrus stands in front of the group and reads New Testament verses and then sings cowboy songs and country hymns, accompanying himself on guitar and harmonica.

John Burrus started singing when he was twenty-three years old. He was a rodeo cowboy, who, while the other cowboys went into town, stayed back at camp to practice his guitar. He learned a few basic chords, G,D,C and A, and then tried singing along as he played. He remembered the traditional songs he had heard as a child and later added to his repertoire his own arrangements of songs he had seen in cowboy song books and hymnals.

John Burrus grew up in Eldorado, Texas, between San Angelo and Sonora. For most of his life, he worked as a ranch cowboy, breaking and training horses for barrel racing and calf roping events in rodeo competition. Since the mid-1960's Burrus has owned a rodeo arena and ninety-six acres of grazing land west of Stephenville. In 1986 he was forced to stop breaking horses because of a leg injury, but he is able to work with his son, William, who assumed the horse-breaking responsibilities

Although ranch work has become too strenuous, John Burrus still likes to ride and participate in the Old Timers Rodeo Association, competing in the breakaway and ribbon roping events, singing at camp meetings, nursing homes, and Sunday morning rodeo ceremonies.

2003
While John no longer works on the ranch, he still has one horse, named "Shorty", whom he seldom rides, but sometimes takes out to keep him reining properly. John and his wife, Gwendolyn, divided their property among their children and kept a small piece of land for themselves. John plays guitar and harmonica at home, singing to pass the time and to entertain his wife and family. He's taught two of his grandsons, William and Brant, to play guitar and sing cowboy songs and country hymns "just like him."

Alan Govenar, 2003

See also the audio cassette "Texas in Paris"