Mountain Men by Kenneth M. Freeman

Kenneth M. Freeman Fine Art Gallery

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THE MODELS OF KENNETH M. FREEMAN

....................► In His Own Words: Life is just too short to worry ... Kenneth M. Freeman

RAY HERNDON

Ray Herndon may be new to the world of country music as a solo artist, but this singer/songwriter is far from new within the industry. As a former member of McBride & The Ride, Herndon already has eight country chart hits including four Top 10 songs. He is the longtime guitarist for Lyle Lovett and the co-writer behind the Kenny Chesney hit "Me and You." It's no wonder why he titled his debut solo album Livin' The Dream.

Ray was the subject of many Ken Freeman paintings including 'Ray.'

Video Interview: Ray Herndon, Singer/Songwriter

FLINT CARNEY

Flint Carney, Comanche Indian from Oklahoma. Met Ken at the Handle Bar J back in the 1980's when HBJ was the neighborhood gathering place for everyone who embraced the west.

Everyone dressed western and participated in western activities. The Handlebar J was THE place to come and socialize.

Flint was running the Arizona Bound Jeep Tours at the time. Flint opened up the Plains Indian world for Ken. Flint brought many of his friends out to AZ from Oklahoma.

Video Interview: Flint Carney, Native American

JACK (JR) ROBERTSON

Jack is an antique gun collector, gun maker and knife maker. He is a member of the arizona Ranger's Historical Society. He was first a Cowboy Gun Fighter and Re-enactor as the Mountain Man Buckskinner and character actor.

Jack met Kenneth Freeman in 2002 at the Festival of the West, where they made their plans for the first photo shoots, because Ken wanted to paint this rugged mountain man.

The painting of JR was unveiled at the Pioneer Living History museum 2005.

The legends and feats of the mountain men have persisted largely because there was a lot of truth to the tales that were told. The life of the mountain man was rough, and one that brought him face to face with death on a regular basis--sometimes through the slow agony of starvation, dehydration, burning heat, or freezing cold and sometimes by the surprise attack of animal or Indian.

The mountain man's life was ruled not by the calendar or the clock but by the climate and seasons. In fall and spring, the men would trap. The start of the season and its length were dictated by the weather. The spring hunt was usually the most profitable, with the pelts still having their winter thickness.

Spring season would last until the pelt quality became low. In July, the groups of mountain men and the company suppliers would gather at the summer rendezvous. There, the furs were sold, supplies were bought and company trappers were divided into parties and delegated to various hunting grounds.

Video Interview: J.R. Roberson, Mountain Man

SERGEANT MAJOR BILL McCURTIS

We are committed to teaching the history of the BUFFALO SOLDIERS in general and the 9th U.S.Cavalry in particular. These Officers and Men of the 9th U.S. Cavalry fought to make the civilian population of the west secure in their quest for places of their own and to realize their peace and security did NOT come cheap. The men of the 9th were never heard, much less acknowledged or recognized. We as descendents and beneficiaries of this outstanding legacy have a duty to insure these men get the recognition they deserve and finally to take their rightful places in the written and visual history of our country. We now have a solid base to build on. We are becoming firm in our knowledge of not only the men we represent, but also in recognizing other races that helped and / or served with them.

When we don uniforms or period dress, we have a duty and responsibility to represent these people in the best we possibly can and continue to make the name "BUFFALO SOLDIERS" a household word: wear the titles of storekeeper, muleskinner, school-teacher, marshal, etc., with pride, dignity and respect. So, as your President, let me say; "THANK YOU" for your support and confidence; as Regimental Sergeant Major I say, very proudly, "WE CAN, WE WILL !!!

Kenneth M. Freeman is a Captain in the 9th Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers.

Video Interview:

Sergeant Major Bill McCurtis