CARL T. SPRAGUE
Carl T. Sprague (1896–1979) was one of the earliest and most influential singing cowboys in American recorded music. Raised on a Texas ranch, he learned many traditional cowboy songs firsthand before becoming one of Victor Records' first successful western artists in 1925. His authentic singing style and straightforward guitar accompaniment helped establish the image of the singing cowboy years before Gene Autry and Roy Rogers brought it to Hollywood.
THE LAST LONG HORN
Recorded October 13, 1929 – Dallas, Texas (Jefferson Hotel)
Matrix BVE-56377-2- Victor V-40197
"The Last Longhorn" is a nostalgic tribute to the disappearing open-range cattle era and the passing of the Texas longhorn. Like many classic cowboy songs, it looks back on a vanishing way of life, contrasting the freedom of the old cattle trails with the changes brought by fencing and modern ranching. Sprague's understated voice and guitar allow the song's reflective lyrics to take center stage, making it one of the finest examples of the early recorded cowboy tradition. The poem is generally attributed to John Wesley, although its authorship has long been debated.
