Tx2Tn Podcast Ep 144 Dusty Vaquero / J.B. Zielke

Dusty Vaquero is the creative alias and media brand of J.B. (Jake) Zielke, a Wyoming-based working cowboy, award-winning author, videographer, and promoter of authentic Western and cowboy music. Zielke, originally from Saratoga, Wyoming, embodies the rugged cowboy lifestyle while blending it with storytelling through music videos, live sessions, and events. His work focuses on “where day-working cowboys meet starving musicians,” highlighting independent artists with deep roots in ranching, agriculture, and the American West. Influences draw from traditional cowboy culture, global adventures, and artists like Colter Wall, with a neo-traditional country sound emphasizing raw, honest narratives of rural life.Background and Persona• Early Life and Cowboy Roots: Born and raised in Wyoming, Zielke has cowboyed professionally across six continents (North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia), from feral cattle in Argentina to reindeer herding in Mongolia. These experiences inspired his writing and media work, capturing the universal spirit of the cowboy.• Author Career: Debut memoir The Lost Cowboy (2023, self-published) chronicles his global adventures, including gunfights, bank truck robberies, and horseback journeys. It won two Spur Awards from the Western Writers of America in 2024 (Contemporary Western and First Novel), making him the only Wyoming author to achieve this dual honor that year. The book is praised for its vivid, no-holds-barred tales and is available on Amazon and thelostcowboy.com.• Creation of Dusty Vaquero: Launched around 2020–2021 via YouTube, Dusty Vaquero started as a platform to promote under-the-radar Western musicians tied to real ranch life. Zielke films acoustic sessions in barns, saddles, and remote locations, often covering classics or unreleased tracks. The name evokes the dusty trails of vaquero (Spanish cowboy) heritage. He operates from Austin, Texas, but remains Wyoming-rooted, with Instagram (@dustyvaquero) and YouTube channels under the moniker.Career Highlights in Music and Media• YouTube and Video Production: The Dusty Vaquero YouTube channel (5.75K subscribers) features “Saddle Shop Sessions” and “The Ranch Recordings”—intimate performances by artists like Colter Wall (covers of “I Never Go Around Mirrors,” “Prairie Evening”), Sam Munsick (“One Horse Town”), and others. Videos have garnered hundreds of thousands of views, showcasing non-mainstream talent. Zielke also produces music videos for his company, Dusty Vaquero Productions.• Dusty Vaquero Days Festival: Founded by Zielke in partnership with Gold Towne Music (manager Ryan Klein), this annual event debuted May 30–31, 2025, at the CAM-PLEX in Gillette, Wyoming. It celebrates the cowboy-music intersection with a lineup of working-ranch artists. The 2025 inaugural drew crowds for two days of live music, rodeo vibes, and Western heritage. The 2026 edition is set for May 28–30 in Gillette. Past/billed performers include The Lowdown Drifters, Carson Jeffrey, Kenny Feidler, Dave Stamey, Summer Dean, Kellen Smith, Kade Hoffman, Colten Jesse, Logan Ryan Band, Tris Munsick, and Sam Munsick. Reviews highlight its authentic, grassroots feel, with high-energy sets and a focus on storytelling over pop-country gloss.