Born in Biloxi, MS on October 2, 1948, the son of an Air Force pilot, Chris traveled through many areas of the country and overseas. He developed an early passion for the west, horses and rodeo. Whether spending the summer in Michigan at his grandfather’s farm or with his family in Austin, TX and later Cheyenne, WY, Chris was dreaming of gold buckles and riding every chance he could. His hard work and determination proved their worth at the age of 16 when he became the 1964 Little Britches World Champion Bareback Rider. After graduating high school from Cheyenne Central in 1967 and winning the H5 State bareback championship that same year, Chris was learning how to win and loved the adrenaline that came with it. With a rodeo scholarship in hand, Chris made a commitment to the sport and won the 1969 Intercollegiate Championship at Sheridan College. At the same time, he was discovering a new passion as well. Songwriting allowed Chris the ability to tell stories about the rodeo lifestyle he loved and to share them with his friends. He recorded his first album of rodeo songs in 1971 and with his parents’ help, created an independent record label, American Cowboy Songs. By 1972, he had met his one true love. Chris and Peggy were married that year and made the small town of Kaycee, WY their permanent home. He continued his quest for the buckle while they raised 5 children: Clay, Ned, Will, Cindi and Beau.

At the 1976 National Finals Rodeo, Chris won the World Bareback Title and took home the coveted Gold Buckle. He started the Haywire Ranch in 1979, retired from rodeo by 1984, and started focusing more on his music. In 1989, Chris recorded his 22nd independent album and his small family record company had earned over $4 million in sales. In April of that year, his “soon to be” friend, Garth Brooks, mentioned Chris’ name in his first hit song, “Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old),” which caught the attention of Capitol Records Nashville. Chris signed a major record deal with Capitol the following year and exploded into the national spotlight. Known for his high powered, pyrotechnic filled, rodeo rock and roll shows, Chris traveled and entertained with the same focus and hard work he had given his rodeo career. He released another 18 albums in his time at Capitol Records and sold over 6 million around the world. Respected by his peers and admired by his fans, Chris was a cowboy, an artist and a troubadour, in the true meaning of the word. Beyond all of his accomplishments and success, his most endearing quote will always be, “What I want to be known for, on top of everything else, is that I was a good husband and family man.”