About Baxter Black

Former large animal veterinarian Baxter Black provides commentary to NPR’s Morning Edition. In 1988, Black wrote several poems about “hot and dry” in response to a drought in the West and wildfires in Yellowstone National Park. He sent one of his original writings to NPR, where staff deemed his words worthy of air time, and the rest is, as they say, history. Black contributes regularly, with his unique perspectives on the world today, and on life in the West as he knows it.

Baxter Black can shoe a horse, string a barbed wire fence, and bang out a Bob Wills classic on his flat-top guitar. Raised in New Mexico, he spent his working life in the mountain West tormenting cows. Now Baxter lives in Arizona and travels the country tormenting cowboys.

Since 1982, Baxter Black has been rhyming his way into the national spotlight, and now stands as the best-selling cowboy poet in the known universe. He has written 12 books (including a rodeo novel), recorded over a dozen audio and video tapes, and achieved notoriety as a syndicated columnist and radio commentator. From The Tonight Show and PBS, to NPR and the National Finals Rodeo, Baxter’s unique verse has been seen and heard by millions. His works are prominently displayed in big city libraries and small town feed stores.

Black, who still doesn't own a television, fax machine, or cellular phone, hasn't changed a thing about his subject matter or his delivery. Driven by a left-handed sense of humor, Black continues to focus on the day-to-day ups and downs of ordinary people who live with livestock and work the land.

Baxter’s philosophy is simple enough-in spite of all the computerized, digitized, high-tech innovations now available, there will always be a need for someone who can “think up stuff.”