Wylie Gustafson

Wylie Galt Gustafson (born June 7, 1961) is an American singer-songwriter who has toured nationally and internationally with his band, "Wylie & The Wild West". The band is known for its blend of cowboy, traditional country, folk and yodeling. Wylie is renowned for his creation of the ubiquitous Yahoo! yodel used in the tech company's worldwide advertising campaign. He is the younger brother of Lieutenant Governor of Montana Kristen Juras.

Life and career

Gustafson was born June 7, 1961, near Conrad, Montana, the son of R.W. "Rib" Gustafson, a traditional folk/cowboy singer, retired large-animal veterinarian, and author. The elder Gustafson, who taught his son to sing and yodel, learned to yodel from Austrians on the ski team at Montana State College (now Montana State University), Bozeman, Montana. It was there that Gustafson showcased the first version of the Wild West Show which then included guitarist Will Ray. The group developed their sound alongside artists such as Dale Watson, Lucinda Williams, Dwight Yoakam, Rosie Flores and Dave Alvin.

Gustafson is particularly noted as a virtuoso yodeler, having originated the slow and ethereal High Plains Yodeling style. He also created and voiced the signature "Yahoo-oo-oo!" for Yahoo, Inc. He later sued Yahoo! for copyright infringement over the terms of the contract and use of his yodel. The case was settled out of court for an undisclosed amount. His book and album, How to Yodel: Lessons to Tickle Your Tonsils, was published by Gibbs Smith in 2007 and is the top selling publication on the rejuvenated vocal art. As of 2016, Gustafson remains one of the top choices of yodelers and his style can be heard frequently on national advertisements, television and movies. Some major companies that have used his yodel include Yahoo!, Walt Disney Films, Porsche, Mitsubishi, Miller Lite, Taco Bell and Montana Tourism.

In 1996, Gustafson (as himself) appeared on the Cartoon Network's Space Ghost Coast to Coast (episode "Freak Show").

Gustafson is also an accomplished horseman (2005 & 2008 NCHA Western National Finals Top Ten Open Finalist) and cowboy. When not performing, he operates his Cross Three Quarter Horse Ranch near Conrad, Montana breeding, raising and training cow horses. When Gustafson was young, he was a competitive team roper. Sometimes when at home at his ranch, he participates in roping contests at local ranches. In 1998, he was a champion team roper at the Reba McEntire/Ben Johnson Celebrity Rodeo.

On April 25, 2007, "Montana Lullaby" was declared the official lullaby of Montana. A yodel by Gustafson was used to write the lullaby. As a result, Montana was the first state to have an official lullaby.

In October 2019, Wylie was named as an inductee into the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame.

Gustafson continues to front Wylie & the Wild West Show and they continue to record and tour on a regular basis performing 60–80 shows a year on average. Wylie & the Wild West Show have released twenty-one albums through March 2024.

Personal life

Wylie currently resides at his horse and cattle ranch in northern Montana with his wife Jenny and 3 children. His older sister, Kristen Juras, is the current lieutenant governor of Montana. Gustafson also has a brother, Erik, who performed at the 2018 International Blues Challenge Competition.

Notable appearances

Grand Ole Opry, WSM Radio, Nashville, Tennessee (more than 50 guest appearances) National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, Elko, Nevada (2000, '01, '02, '03, '04, '05, '06, '07, '08, '09, '10, '11, '12, '13, '14, '15, '16, '18, '19, '20, '21) National Folk Festival 2022 Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame Induction 2019 Montana Pro Rodeo Wall and Hall of Fame 2017 American Routes to China Tour 2015 CMC Rocks Australia Country Music Festival 2015 Thredbo Country Music Festival Australia 2015 American Routes to China Tour 2013 Yahoo! on the Road Summer 2013 promotional tour for Yahoo! God Made a Farmer Dodge television advertisement. January 2013 & 2014 Super Bowl commercial Merlefest- Wilkesboro, NC -April 2012. Wylie featured in Songwriter Showcase with Jim Lauderdale and Claire Lynch Horse Talk with Lizzie Iwerson- RFD TV 2012 American Seasons Tour in Russia sponsored by The American Folklife Center and CEC Arts Link- March thru April 2012 Don't Fence Me In West Coast tour hosted by the National Council for Traditional Arts- March 2012 Push the Button, hosted by Ant and Dec (2010 season debut) Gold Coast Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, during the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (2008, 2009) The National Folk Festival Lowell Folk Festival Bangor Folk Festival Great Lakes Folk Festival Richmond, VA Folk Festival Late Night with Conan O'Brien (2008) A Prairie Home Companion (2006, 2010) Lincoln Center The Kennedy Center The Los Angeles Music Center Western Folklife Center tour of Brazil and Argentina 2007 Country Gold Festival, Kumamoto, Japan Tom Russell's Vancouver-to-Toronto Canadian Cow Train (2005, 2007) Merlefest, Wilkesboro, North Carolina (2002, 2010, 2012) Bumbershoot International Music & Arts Festival, Seattle, Washington Equiblues Festival, St. Agreve, France Personal Appearance with lines in the movie "Slaughter Rule" Space Ghost Coast to Coast (1996 episode: "Freak Show")

Discography

Albums Year Album 1992 Wylie & the Wild West Show 1994 Get Wild 1996 Glory Trail: Cowboy & Traditional Gospel Songs Cattle Call 1997 Way out West 1998 Total Yodel! 2000 Ridin' the Hi-Line 2001 Paradise 2004 Hooves of the Horses Cowboy Ballads and Dance Songs 2005 Live! at the Tractor 2007 Bucking Horse Moon Christmas for Cowboys 2008 Yodel Boogie! 2009 Hang -n- Rattle! 2009 Unwired: Western Warehouse Jubilee Live 2011 Raven on the Wind 2012 Rocketbuster 2013 Sky Tones- Songs of Montana 2014 Relic 2015 Song of the Horse 2017 2000 Miles from Nashville 2019 Cowboy Vernacular- Songs of the Ranch Culture 2022 Bunchgrass

Singles Year Single Chart Positions Album CAN AC 1994 "Ugly Girl Blues" 38 Get Wild 1995 "Hey Maria" — "Cattle Call" — Cattle Call 1998 "Girl on the Billboard" — Way out West 2001 "Saddle Burn" — Paradise

Music videos Year Video Director 1992 "This Time" Randy Cohen 1993 "Doctor My Heart" Brooks Dailey 1993 "Black Boots and Blue Jeans" Mitchell Cohen 1993 "Yodeling Fool" 1994 "Ugly Girl Blues" 1995 "Hey Maria" "Cattle Call" 1998 "Girl on the Billboard" 2005 "Live! at the Tractor Tavern" Brian Barnett