John Chandler & The Gang Album

I had the good fortune of hearing John Chandler sing at this year’s Western Writers of America convention in New Mexico. Chandler sang two songs from his album The Gang and it was one of the most impressive performances I’ve ever witnessed. Chandler’s music breathes life into some colorful characters of historical note, as well as some of the colorful characters he’s known as a 30-year member of the Hole In The Wall Gang. The spirit that inhabits the magnificence of Wyoming shines brightly in these songs. “Morning Star Moon,” the album’s cornerstone, was awarded a 2012 Spur award for Best Western Song by the Western Writers of America. It was inspired by Wyoming’s Dull Knife Battlefield, where the 4th Cavalry raided a Cheyenne encampment in 1876. Many Cheyenne froze to death during the winter that followed. The entire album is a treasure.