Ian Tyson
September 25, 1933 – December 29, 2022
Proudly receiving the Stu Grant Memorial Award at the 2016 Ponoka Stampede
Photo By Pyper Geddes
The World Professional Chuckwagon Association is mourning the peaceful passing of International Recording Star and Active Chuckwagon Supporter Ian Tyson, at his ranch near Longview, Alberta, after a lengthy illness at the age of 89.
For over 60 years, Ian Tyson was an internationally renowned singer/songwriter who as a solo artist, part of the group Great Speckled Bird and part the duo Ian & Sylvia, recorded over 30 albums, charted over 30 singles worldwide, and collected Gold and Platinum albums along the way. He wrote or co-wrote many classic songs such as “Four Strong Winds”, “Someday Soon”, “Cowboy Pride”, “Navajo Rug” and “Summer Wages” among many many others. His songs have been covered by well over 50 recording artists of many different genres, including such notable artists as Judy Collins, Bob Dylan, John Denver, Neil Young, Waylon Jennings, Blue Rodeo, Joan Baez, Harry Belafonte, Johnny Cash, The Carter Family, Moe Bandy, Suzy Bogguss, Glen Campbell, Chris LeDoux, Tanya Tucker, Crystal Gayle and the Kingston Trio just to name a few. But with his strong association with Alberta and the Canadian West, it was only natural that Ian would have a connection to the chuckwagon races, and would formalize that bond through his music.
Back in the 1970’s – the golden era for many of the early chuckwagon drivers – Ian was asked to write a chuckwagon song about the Rangeland Derby in Calgary. In 1978 he used the title from Art Belanger’s 1970 book of the same name and wrote and recorded the song “Half Mile of Hell.” The song was the only single released from Tyson’s 1978 album “One Jump Ahead of the Devil”, and it would go on to become a hit song, reaching #26 on the Canadian Country Music Charts in 1979. As well, “Half Mile of Hell” ultimately became the sport of chuckwagon racing’s anthem.
“It came very easy,” explained Tyson, “I wrote it one afternoon, I had some good pickers who were around at that time and we went into the studio and cut it and it turned out pretty good!” Some of the drivers mentioned in song (see below) were friends of Ian Tyson’s, and at the time the song was written, those competitors were the last generation of the older drivers who were the pioneers and legends of the sport of whom Ian wanted to pay tribute to. Over the years “Half Mile of Hell” has been covered by many artists all throughout Canada, and even as far away as Australia.
Over the years Ian could be found enjoying the chuckwagon races in Calgary, Ponoka and High River, and even made the occasional guest appearance on the WPCA Radio Show. In 2016 at the Ponoka Stampede, Ian was honored by the Black Aces Chuckwagon Promotion with the Stu Grant Memorial Award and a beautiful one of a kind belt buckle. The Black Aces Chuckwagon Promotion were a non-profit, promotion-focused group whose main focus was to recognize and honor “Black Aces” – persons involved in chuckwagon racing in a supportive role that go about their business, receive little reward, and play a necessary role. Ian Tyson was the last recipient of that very prestigious award.
Ian is survived by his son Clay in Toronto, daughter Adelita (Hunter) and granddaughter Mesa in Texas. A closed family service will be held to celebrate Ian’s life.
Ian will be missed by all in the WPCA, and we extend our sincere condolences to the Tyson family.
Billy Melville
(Drivers mentioned in the song “Half Mile of Hell” included Tom Lauder, Hank Willard, Dick Cosgrave, Ron Glass, Hally Walgenbach, Kelly Sutherland and the Dorchester’s – Tom, Garry, Dennis and Dallas).
