pop wagner - bios

In a career spanning more than five decades Pop Wagner of St. Paul, Minnesota has performed in 45 states and 15 countries at clubs, concerts, festivals, museums, libraries, schools, ranches, stockmen's gatherings, rodeos, and farm co-op meetings. He is a top-notch singer, picker, fiddler, songwriter, storyteller, square dance caller, humorist, and trick roper. Ron Miles of Grassroots Concerts, from Brainerd, Minnesota, states "Renaissance cowboy/raconteur Pop Wagner...deadpan funny...his presence is like meeting Woody Guthrie and Will Rogers riding a single, many colored horse.  Pop is a kind of 'textile genius' who is able to spin, at once, both yarn and rope."

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I grew up listening to Woody Guthrie, Spike Jones and Calypso. I got my first guitar when I was fourteen. I was given my Grandfather's fiddle in my early 20's. The shingo was a gift from Alan Scherger on my 21st birthday. I learned trick roping with Sean Blackburn from Glenn Orhlin. I learned horsemanship from Liz Lofgren, Buck Brannaman and my horse, Suzannah-Savanna. I studied mohair cinch making with Darin Alexander. I had a principal role in a Benjamin Britten Opera that won a British Gramaphone award in 1990 (The opera was staged again in Minneapolis, MN in 2013). I joined the circus at the age of 62 (taught lariat spinning for a season with Circus Juventas). I LOVE my job!

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Pop has quite the reputation as a singer, picker, fiddler, lasso twirler, poet and downright funny guy.

He appeared quite frequently on Public Radio's A Prairie Home Companion during the show's formative years and for the last four decades he has worked his cowboy magic throughout 44 states and ten countries.

His cowboy anthems crackle with the warmth of a prairie campfire and his old time fiddle tunes set toes a-tappin' while he serves up spellbinding rope tricks and tall stories -- all with a good dose of friendly humor.