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 1 st and 2 nd place, as well
as Best Country Western Song of 2024 & 2025 from the New Mexico Music
Industry. This 11 th 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 & 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 1999. 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!

Talents: Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist musician, live sound engineer, record
producer, humorist.
*2025 New Mexico Music Award; "Best Original Western Song" for
"As I Lay Dreaming"
*2024 International Western Music Association “Male Performer of the Year”
*2024 Western Writers of America Spur Award; "Best Western Song" both 1 st and 2 nd
place for "High Country Trail" and "Cowboy Afterlife"
*2024 New Mexico Music Award; "Best Original Western Song" for 
"High Country Trail"
* 2019 International Western Music Association “Presidents Award” for outstanding
contributions to western music.
*2019 New Mexico Music Award; "Best Remake" for "Big Iron"
*2018 Wrangler Award for "Outstanding Traditional Western Music Album" from The
National Cowboy Hall of Fame & Western Heritage Museum for "Sunset on the Rio
Grande Revisited"
*2014 New Mexico Music Award; "Best Original Western Song" for “I’m Always a
Cowboy in My Dreams”
*2014 New Mexico Music Award; "Best Country CD” for “I’m Always a Cowboy in
My Dreams”
* 2011 Academy of Western Artists Will Rogers Award for “Male Vocalist of the
Year”
* 2009 "Under New Mexico Skies" voted into law to become the “Official
State Cowboy Song of New Mexico” by State Legislature and Governor Bill Richardson.
*2007 New Mexico Music Award; "Best Vocal Performance"
*2007 New Mexico Music Award; "Best Remake" for "El Paso"
*2007 New Mexico Music Award; "Best Humorous Song" for "Frying Bacon in the
Nude"
*2004 New Mexico Music Award; "Best Humorous Song" for "My Dog"
*2003 New Mexico Music Award; "Best Country Song" for "Out in the Country"
*2001 New Mexico Music Award; "Best Vocal Performance”
*2000 Named USA Musical Ambassador to 26 Foreign Countries by The US Dept. of
State Bureau of Diplomatic Security Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program
* 11-time New Mexico Music Industry Award Winner. Currently the winningest
recording artist in the 40 history of the New Mexico Music Awards.
* Named Official Ambassador to GUITAR 4 VETS. A non-profit organization providing
guitars and lessons as a therapy program to US veterans suffering from PTSD.
* Composer & Recording Artist of the Official National Game & Fish Dept. Song "The
Game Warden" used on multiple TV series broadcast nationwide.
* Sound Track Composer & Actor in motion pictures and documentaries including
the Universal Studios Movie "Paul", Doug Morrione’s cowboy music and poetry film
“Everything in the Song is True”, “Artisans of Santa Fe”, and many more.

Talents: Musician, Singer, Songwriter

Awards:

• 2025 Entertainer of the Year
• 2024 Male Performer of the Year
• 2019 President's Award

Nominations:

• 2023 Male Performer of the Year Nominee