A Little Bit More About Us

Syd Masters & The Swing Riders

Syd Masters is an American singer and song writer of traditional western
music. He is the author and recording artist of the Official State Cowboy Song
of New Mexico. In 2024 Syd was named the International Western Music
Association Male performer of the Year. He then received the Western Writers
of America’s Spur Award for “Song of the Year”, both 1st and 2nd place, as well
as Best Country Western Song of 2024 & 2025 from the New Mexico Music
Industry. This 11th accolade made Syd and his band the winningest recording
artists in the 40 year history of the NM Music Awards. A recent Swing Riders
CD, Sunset on the Rio Grande Revisited, won the highly coveted Wrangler
Award from the Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Museum in
Oklahoma City, OK, for “Outstanding Traditional Western CD”.
Multi-instrumentalist Uncle Bob and bassist Jared “Slim J” Putnam have
been performing with Syd as Swing Riders since 1998. Both are renown
nationwide as accomplished musicians and fine singers. Their vocal talents
contribute to the polished three part harmonies The Swing Riders have been
performing and recording for decades.

Syd Masters & The Swing Riders enjoy opportunities to support our
troops and veterans. Earlier this century the U.S. Department of State named
Syd and the band Cultural Ambassadors for their work entertaining the secret
service departments of 26 foreign countries in the Diplomatic Security
Antiterrorism Assistance Program. Syd was recently named official
ambassador to Guitars for Vets, an organization that provides musical healing
therapy by giving acoustic guitars and lessons to returning veterans suffering
from PTSD. The Swing Riders have been seen on television commercials and
billboards throughout the west as spokesmen for the Powerball Lottery
Campaign. Other media appearances have been on The Travel Channel, CMT,
RFD-TV, MTV, New Mexico True, PBS Colores, and more.

 

Syd’s original
compositions have been used in numerous film productions ranging from
documentaries about the west, television broadcasts, and the Universal Studios
motion picture “Paul”, where he and the band can also be seen as actors in the
film. Syd Masters & The Swing Riders are a multi-talented, thoroughly funny,
high energy cowboy band out to save vintage western music one two-step at a
time!