Tonight, I would like to adjourn in memory of Leslie “Les” Buffham, a longtime Western singer and songwriter who performed throughout the past two decades at the Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival since its conception in 1994.
Les was raised on a Colorado cattle ranch, where he learned first-hand what it truly meant to be a cowboy.
After moving to California, Les made waves within the Western scene, winning his first “Song of the Year” title in 1997 for “Below the Kinney Rim,” which was co-written by Michael Fleming, who organized the Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival in the past.
His magnetic performances, fueled by an unbridled passion, effortlessly drew the crowd into his enchanting tales.
With each note he sang, Les painted vivid portraits of the heart of a cowboy and the timeless cowboy experience.
In 2013, Les was named “Western Poet of the Year” and was awarded Song of the Year for “No Wilder Place” by the Western Music Association.
A year later, the local nonprofit, SCVTV, held a tribute to Les as part of the “Outwest Concert Series”.
We are thankful for the long-lasting legacy Les left on our community and the Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival.
Our thoughts are with his family and friends during this difficult time.