 When Buzz Potter's grown children asked him to write down his
experiences riding the rails in his youth, no one was more surprised
than Buzz when the words came to him in the form of poetry. Potter
always harbored an extreme fondness for the freedom and independence
he encountered while being a "hobo on the road". Initially, Buzz
took to the trains just for the sheer boyish adventure of it but
later he became a "boomer" or traveling worker on the hobo road.
Along the way, he discovered it to be a profound learning event
that taught self-reliance, discipline, optimism, empathy for his
fellow man and a deep appreciation of America.
The CD, Poems of the Hobo Road is a collection of poetry written and narrated by Buzz Potter.
With his deep, earthy voice, Potter paints vivid pictures of the
hardship, adventure, camaraderie and the fascinating characters
he encounters crossing the expansive American landscape. The 65
minute/12 poem collection is an artistically drawn view of a unique
time and way of life through the eyes of a man who lived it. The
tales he weaves are at times gritty, beautiful, historic, and
always engrossing.
Utah Phillips, the nationally known traveling folk singer, and
storyteller says, "... Buzz Potter speaks from the heart to the
heart; if the Traveling Nation wants a Hobo Poet Laureate, here
he is."
The spoken portion of the CD was recorded in December 1999 at
Potter's lakeside home in Nisswa, Minnesota. Then over the next
few months Cloutier composed and recorded the music that underscores
the many moods of the narration. Buzz Potter died March 9, 2003.
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Poems of the Hobo Road
by Buzz Potter - with Music by Steve Cloutier
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- The Hobo and the Loser (10:06)
- Places Far (2:36)
- The Hidden Hobo Side (7:47)
- Gila Monster Route (2:35)
- The Trip West (16:17)
- Hobo Cemetary (1:32)
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| Hobo Road CD $14.99 + shipping |
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