|
|
Hank Mattson is a
working Cracker Cowboy Poet who lives in
He has performed at
cowboy poetry gatherings from
Hank uses his own works and those of turn-of-the-century punchers to chronicle and preserve the life and times of the many Florida Folks who for over 400 years have been workin’ cattle.
As Hank says, “Iffin
yer hard-pressed to find a speaker who’s willin’ ta work fer a little less
than ya think ya ken afford, I’m yer man.” For bookings, call: (863)
699-0562; write to: Hank Mattson Or
click here to email:
hank@crackercowboypoet.com
|
Copyright © 2006 Hank Mattson – All rights reserved.
|
You may order Hank’s audio CD, Tellin’ It Like It Was, by mailing a check or money order in the
amount of $15.00 (shipping and handling included) made
payable to Hank Mattson at the above “write to” address. If you’re in Lake Placid, Florida, you
can purchase Hank’s audio CD at LAKE PLACID FEED
& WESTERN WEAR 417 US 27 South Telephone: (863) 465-4731
|
|
Copyright © 2006 Hank Mattson – All rights reserved.
Have you heard?
Hank was named the winner of the
2007 Laura Rider Award
for
My thanks to Jimmy Peters
for this photo (jimpetersphotography.com).
You can view the
Cow Cavalry Memorial Monument Dedication
slide show at:
You can watch a video of
Hank
Reciting the Poem, “Whisperin’
Bill”
by clicking here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWdyqozFqis
Hank will be speaking at these events:
Selby
Library
September 20, 2008 – Saturday - 10 AM – 4 PM
Polk Museum
of Art – FAMILY DAY - FREE
Telephone: (863) 688-7743
http://www.polkmuseumofart.org/
Lake Wales
Public Library
290 Cypress Gardens Lane
Lake Wales, FL 33853
Telephone: (863) 678-4004
http://www.cityoflakewales.com/library
Annual
More details available later.
Telephone: (863) 534-3766
Osceola
County Pioneer Days – FREE EVENT
Telephone: (407) 396-8644
http://www.osceolahistory.org/
December 13, 2008 – Saturday – 7:00 PM
Starkey
Ranch
Telephone: (813) 727-2358 – Eston Crowder
http://www.info@superior-events.com/moonlightevent.html
Southwest
Florida Heritage Festival
16405 Myakka Road
Sarasota,
Telephone: (941) 322-1000
http://www.crowleymuseumnaturectr.org/
Clewiston
Museum
109 Center Avenue
Clewiston, FL 33440
Telephone: (863) 983-7979
http://www.clewistonmuseum.org/
Read one of Hank’s works, below:
|
When This Old Hat Was New A Song by Hank Mattson I am an old Cowhunter boys Come listen to my tale Memories now are twice as sweet Of the old cracker trail. Fer Jacob Summerlin we rid Fences then were few When I was just a skinny kid And this old had was new When the yearly ‘round up came We rode off unaware How often we’d be preyed upon By Seminole or bear. But when the herd was sold And shipped across the blue What bounty we’d behold When this old hat was new. At the Summerlin Hotel Old Jake he’d take his place And shake our hands as we came in A smile upon his face. His son sat at the table And gave each man his due In Spanish gold, believe me boy When this old hat was new. But the good times quickly
changed The Country was at war And while the battle raged
up north Down here, the Federals
closed our shore. But Jake the blockade runner Kept goods a sailin’ through And Cuban trade was still maintained When this old hat was new. Well we lost the war but not the land Full pardons we was given Our beef again was in demand And we thanked Jake and Heaven. But lovin’ the work ya do’s the thing It made our dreams come true When Jake was Cracker Cowhunter King And this old hat was new. |
The
above photo of Hank appeared in the Highlands Today Newspaper, on page 8A,
Copyright © 2006 Hank Mattson – All rights reserved. |
