Buddy Johnson A Colorado Original covers Buddy’s entire life in the context of his family, history and Colorado, a state that he loved. The biography of Buddy Johnson and his career in music, on television and on the radio through numerous shows like The Barn Dance and Colorado Hayride from the 1940s to the 1980s.In addition to extensive information on his professional career, it presents a more complete picture of a man many baby boomers fondly remember from The Buddy Johnson Adventurer's Club show which ran from the early 1950s to the early 1960s. As Buddy had a Western Swing band, The Colorado Rangers, from 1946 until 1986, extensive coverage is given to this important aspect of his life and the many musicians who contributed to it.
The portrait above of Buddy was taken in the KCSJ TV studio in the late 1950s. The original is in the Beulah Historical Society Museum, Beulah, Colorado, in its wood-burned decorated frame by Adele Russell.
This site and book celebrate the unique entertainer from the 1940s through 1980s.
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The book Buddy Johnson A Colorado Original is 178 pages with 378 images.
Available below by credit card or off the shelf at museums in Southern Colorado.
This is the biography of Buddy Johnson and his career in music, on television and on the radio through numerous shows like The Barn Dance and the Colorado Hayride from the 1940s to the 1980s. Also, as this was the era of live local TV which included visits by many national celebrities, people such as Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Ernest Tubb and Hank Williams to mention a few. Included are images and stories of the many Western actors, musicians and TV personalities that he knew, many of whom became his friends. In addition, information on Pueblo, Beulah, Cañon City and his restaurant/dancehall at Gayway Park and its Jamboree are also extensively covered. Written as a celebration of the centennial of Buddy's birth in 1919, the reader will gain an understanding of the very early days of television. A time when networks weren't really all that connected yet and of many of the characters who represented the West in music, on film and on TV were among those that crossed Buddy’s path.
Readers have remarked about the rich, coffee table book, “beautiful”, “very professionally done”, “I received the book today and it’s stunning.”, “very nice”, “You did a great job.”, “a beautiful and lasting memorial”, “I'm so glad you got it written and published.”, "I felt like I knew him when I was through.”, “Very classy.”, “It is WONDERFUL!”, "I told my wife about being on the show and in the book on page 80 there I am in my western shirt and cowboy boots!" and “It's lyrical, reads like poetry in places.”
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The book Buddy Johnson A Colorado Original, now in its second edition, can be purchased at:
Pueblo Heritage Center 201 West B Street located in the Union Avenue Historic District. (719) 295-1517 The Center has a large display on Buddy and his career.
Beulah Historical Society Museum located at 8505 Hwy. 78, “the fork in the road” at the base of Beulah hill as you enter the beautiful valley of Beulah, Colorado. (719) 485-1976
Part of the purchase price will go to these wonderful museums.
And at the John Deaux Gallery 221 S. Union Avenue, Pueblo. (719) 545-8407
Located in Pueblo’s Historic Union Avenue District.
Or purchase a copy below for $40.00. There is a $5.00 shipping/handling fee.
We ship internationally too. We’ve shipped books to the United Kingdom and Sweden. For international orders, pay as usual and then email me your address. I will find what additional amount is needed and let you know, which you can then pay separately through PayPal.
You can use PayPal or your debit or credit card.
For bulk or special orders please email me at tamarackprod@mac.com.
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Other websites on another book and 2 of the films made by John Henry Johnson:
“John Henry Johnson Selected Black & White Photographs 1967-1979” The book is about his fine art photography, with information on his filmmaking and teaching. Included are 200 photographs with technical and aesthetic notes on each, many produced using the difficult Zone System process. Also is a Zone System overview, a chronology of his life and work, along with correspondence with such notable photographers as Ansel Adams, Minor White and Paul Caponigro. 232 pages with 224 images. johnhjohnson.net
"Damon Runyon's Pueblo" is a CINE Golden Eagle award-winning film about the famous New York writer's early formative Colorado years and experiences in the frontier West with people such as Bat Masterson and Doc Holiday. Channel 6 Denver called it “an eye-opening and vastly entertaining semi-documentary based on the life and work of the author who became the highest-paid writer of his time,” having written Guys and Dolls and dozens of other stories which became major motion pictures with stars such as Frank Sinatra, Marlon Brando and Betty Davis. DVD 30 minutes. damon-runyon.com
"Zebulon Pike and the Blue Mountain" is a CINE Golden Eagle and American Association for State and Local History Certificate of Commendation award-winning film based on the 1806-07 journals of the first American explorer through the American Southwest. 27-year-old Pike led a mounted troop on a tortuous route through some of the West’s roughest country in the dead of winter. Photographed where it happened, in the same severe weather conditions the expedition encountered, with rich narration by Burgess Meredith and a sweeping musical score performed by the Denver Symphony. DVD 60 minutes. zebulonpike.net
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Pueblo Chieftain article about Buddy Johnson A Colorado Original, October 31, 2020.
Front page banner headline with two photographs.
Section A, page 4.
Section A, page 5.
