CHRIS ISAACS POET,  HUMORIST & STORYTELLER

A three-time winner of the Academy of Western Artists "Will Rogers" Award, Chris Isaacs is a poet/storyteller who has lived the life that he tells about. He has seen life from a Cowboy's point of view for all of his 58-plus years, and his poems and stories are alive with the heart and humor of life from a cowboy's point of view. He can usually find the funny side of any situation, and is considered by many to be one of the finest humorists in the country, but is also passionate about his art form.

"It always bothers me that so many people seem to think that Cowboy Poetry is nothing more than funny stories and bad grammar. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Good poetry is good poetry whether it is THE BALLAD OF WILLIAM SYCAMORE by Stephen Vincent Benet, MAUD MULLER by John Greenleaf Whittier, or ANTHEM by Buck Ramsey. The story of an American experience is being related, and if it is well written it should be recognized".

He has performed his poetry from coast to coast and into Canada. He has conducted poetry and creative writing clinics in schools, grades four through college, in Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas, California, and Canada, encouraging young people to write.

Isaacs has been published in numerous Magazines including American Cowboy and Western Horseman. He has two books of his work published. "Bringing it Home", and "Rhymes, Reasons & packsaddle Proverbs". nominated for Western Heritage Award by the Cowboy Hall of Fame and winner of the Will Rogers Medallion Award for Excellence by the Academy of Western Artists.

Isaacs also has five albums of his poetry recorded. His album "Both Sides" was voted Poetry album of the year for 1997, by the AWA. And in 2002, his latest album "Out With The Crew" was voted as the Album of the Year.

He has worked at many different aspects of the cowboy life from being a full time working cowboy, to rodeoing, to many years as a packer. In between jobs you could usually find him making a living as a horseshoer. He has a passion for good horses and mules and has even owned a good dog or two. All of these things have given him lots of material for his poems and stories and he has had the opportunity to share these all over the country.

 The last year has found him performing more and more with two of his old pardners Jesse Smith and Sunny Hancock as the Cardiac Cowboys. Their look at the plight of three old cowboys trying to cope with old age, the modern world, and each other has had audiences rolling in the aisles from coast to coast.

 When Chris is not working he can usually be found at home in Eagar AZ with Helen, his wife of 37 years. You can reach him there at 928-333-5800 or at 502 N Harless, Eagar AZ 85925. Now days you can even e-mail him tubi6@go.com.