J.W. Brooks is interviewed by Chris Dawson and Russell Dilday. J.W. Brooks was born in Durango, Colorado, and raised on the ranchlands of Colorado and Wyoming. He believes that it was this lifestyle that instilled in him the desire to preserve the country lifestyle and western heritage. From a very young age, it became apparent that J.W. was destined to become an Artist. At the age of ten, J.W. illustrated a children’s book and by the time he graduated high school, he was being commissioned for his western art. In 1994, J.W. was the youngest artist commissioned to render Phoenix, Arizona’s “Rodeo of Rodeos” rodeo lithograph. Phoenix later asked J.W. to be the featured artist again in 1996 and 1997. In 2004, he was honored again by Scottsdale, Arizona’s Parada Del Sol Rodeo to be their featured artist. In 1991, J.W. was hired by legendary hat maker, Kevin O’Farrell, owner of O’Farrell Hat Company, on a hunch that J.W.’s artistic hand would lend itself naturally to the crafting of a cowboy hat. It was during his apprenticeship under Mr. O’Farrell that J.W. realized a sense of pride and accomplishment in producing pieces of wearable art that stemmed from his own western heritage. J.W. has been the custom hat maker of choice for many professional cowboys as well as actors and entertainers. In addition to handcrafting cowboy hats and drawing western art, J.W. has gained popularity as a country-western singer. In 2004, J.W. entered and won the Arizona regional competition which propelled him to the top 15 contenders to be considered for CMT’s televised “Nashville Star.” Shortly thereafter, J.W. joined the house band at the famous country-western bar, Mr. Lucky’s where he had the honor of singing on the very stage where legends had sung before him, such as Waylon Jennings, Charlie Pride, J. David Sloan, Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, and many others. You can listen to J.W. at JWbrooksmusic. 

Presented by the Southwest Reined Cow Horse Association! 

Southwest Reined Cow Horse Association

405-818-7556

http://www.srcha.org/