Award-winning Western music artist Syd Masters and his band, The Swing Riders, will bring an authentic cowboy sound to the 76th Annual TorC Fiesta.
Known for his deep roots in traditional Western music, Masters is the writer and recording artist behind New Mexico’s Official State Cowboy Song and a two-time National Male Vocalist of the Year, as recognized by the Academy of Western Artists. His latest album, Cowboy Songs, recently earned top honors from the Western Writers of America, which awarded both first and second place Song of the Year distinctions to tracks from the release.
Masters’ career spans decades of accolades and recognition across the Western music community. His album Sunset on the Rio Grande Revisited received the prestigious Wrangler Award from the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum for Outstanding Traditional Western CD, while his contributions to the genre have also been honored with the International Western Music Association’s President’s Award. With more than 40 award nominations over the past 20 years — including multiple wins for Vocalist of the Year, Best Album, and Song of the Year — Masters remains a leading figure in preserving and promoting cowboy music traditions.
Beyond the stage, Masters has represented American culture internationally, serving as a Cultural Ambassador for the U.S. Department of State and performing for security agencies in 26 countries. He also supports veterans through his role as an ambassador for Guitars for Vets, a program that provides music therapy for those affected by PTSD. With appearances spanning national television networks and even a role in the Universal Studios film Paul, Masters and The Swing Riders deliver a lively, humorous, and heartfelt performance that celebrates the spirit of the American West — a show designed to keep vintage cowboy music alive, one two-step at a time.
