ALAMOSA — Society Hall is excited to welcome award-winning western artist Syd Masters and his band the Swing Riders for a performance at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 9.
His superb accompanists in the Swing Riders are multi-instrumentalist Bob Goldstein and bassist Gary Roller.
Tickets are $20 and are available at the Green Spot at 711 State Ave. in Alamosa, or online at www.societyhall.org. The concert will also stream live on the Society Hall Facebook page and You-Tube channel.
Masters is an American singer and songwriter of traditional western music. Born and raised in the woods and water country of rural Wisconsin he now makes his home of many years in the Rocky Mountains of Northern New Mexico. He is the author and recording artist of the Official State Cowboy Song of New Mexico and was recognized by The Academy of Western Artists as Male Vocalist of the Year — twice.
His recent CD "Sunset on the Rio Grande Revisited" won the Wrangler Award from the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum for "Outstanding Traditional Western Music CD". Later in the same year, Masters was the recipient of the prestigious Presidents Award from The International Western Music Association for his contribution to Western music, and he also took home his 10th New Mexico Music Industry Award.
Says Society Hall board member and Alamosa musician and record producer Don Richmond, “Syd's won just about every award there is out there, but you need to see him live to really appreciate what he does – this guy is an entertainer! He's a hoot and puts on a great show, and his Swing Rider pals Bob Goldstein and Gary Roller are as good as it gets. Don't miss them.”
Syd's newest CD, “Cabin Songs” hit No. 8 on the Western Music Charts its first week out, while the first single, “High Country Trail” entered at No. 5 on the singles chart. This tune also won “Best Original Western Song” from both The Western Writers of America and The New Mexico Music Awards in 2024.
The Western Music Association, Academy of Western Artists and The New Mexico Music Industry have combined to nominate him for more than 40 awards over the past 20 years. “Vocalist of the Year,” “Country Song of the Year,” “Best Album,” Best Band,” Most Humorous Song,” "Best Remake," and “Best Song” are some of the categories in which he was awarded.
Earlier this century the US Department of State named him Cultural Ambassador for his work entertaining the secret service departments of 26 foreign countries in the Diplomatic Security Antiterrorism Assistance Program. In 2020, Masters was named official ambassador to Guitars for Vets, an organization that provides therapy by giving acoustic guitars and lessons to returning veterans suffering from PTSD. Syd has been seen on television commercials and billboards throughout the west as spokesman for the Powerball Lottery Campaign.
His original compositions have been used in numerous film productions ranging from documentaries and television broadcasts to the Universal Studios motion picture “Paul” where he can also be seen as an actor in the film. Whether solo or with his Swing Rider trio Masters provides a highly talented, thoroughly entertaining, good time cowboy show!
Tickets are available at the Green Spot or online at www.societyhall.org, and the concert will also stream live on the Society Hall Facebook page and You-Tube channel.
