Wylie Gustafson


Wylie Galt Gustafson is an American singer-songwriter who has toured nationally and internationally with his band, "Wylie & The Wild West". The band is known for its blend of cowboy, traditional country, folk and yodeling. Gustafson is a fifth generation Montana cowboy and is a 2019 inductee into the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame.

Life and career

Gustafson was born June 7, 1961, near Conrad, Montana, the son of R.W. "Rib" Gustafson, a traditional folk/cowboy singer, retired large-animal veterinarian, and author. The elder Gustafson, who taught his son to sing and yodel, learned to yodel from Austrians on the ski team at Montana State College, Bozeman, Montana. Among Rib's credits are two books about his life as a pioneering Montana veterinarian. Gustafson also has a brother, Erik, who now teaches Mathematics at a private school in Northern New England. Erik also heads his own solo music ventures in the greater White Mountain region and performed at the 2018 International Blues Challenge Competition.
Wylie Gustafson founded his band, The Wild West Show, in 1988 in Los Angeles at the Palomino Club where they were regulars on Ronnie Mack's Barn Dance. It was there that Gustafson showcased the first version of the Wild West Show which then included guitarist Will Ray. The group developed their sound alongside artists such as Dale Watson, Lucinda Williams, Dwight Yoakam, Rosie Flores and Dave Alvin.
Gustafson is particularly noted as a virtuoso yodeler, having originated the slow and ethereal High Plains Yodeling style. He also created and voiced the signature "Yahoo-oo-oo!" for Yahoo, Inc. He later sued Yahoo! for copyright infringement over the terms of the contract and use of his yodel. The case was settled out of court for an undisclosed amount. His book and album, How to Yodel- Lessons to Tickle Your Tonsils, was published by Gibbs Smith in 2007, and is the top selling publication on the rejuvenated vocal art. As of 2016, Gustafson remains one of the top choices of yodelers and his style can be heard frequently on national advertisements, television and movies. Some major companies that have used his yodel include Yahoo!, Walt Disney Films, Porsche, Mitsubishi, Miller Lite, Taco Bell and Montana Tourism.
Gustafson is also an accomplished horseman and cowboy. When not performing, he operates his Cross Three Quarter Horse Ranch near Conrad, Montana breeding, raising and training cow horses. When Gustafson was young, he was a competitive team roper. Sometimes when at home at his ranch, he participates in roping contests at local ranches. In 1998, he was a champion team roper at the Reba McEntire/Ben Johnson Celebrity Rodeo.
On April 25, 2007, "Montana Lullaby" was declared the official lullaby of Montana. A yodel by Gustafson was used to write the lullaby. As a result, Montana was the first state to have an official lullaby.
In October 2019 Wylie was named as an inductee into the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame.
As of 2019, Gustafson continues to front Wylie & the Wild West Show, and they continue to record and tour on a regular basis performing 60-80 shows a year on average. Wylie & the Wild West Show have released twenty-two albums through 2019.

Notable appearances

Albums

Singles

Music videos