New Mexico nearly has own cowboy song

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SANTA FE, Texas, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- The state of New Mexico should soon have its very own cowboy song as a commission attempts to choose the very best song it can find, an expert says.

Music commissioner Rick Huff said after carefully listening to 26 musical entries for a state song contest, the New Mexico Music Commission has tabbed "Under New Mexico Skies," by Edgewood resident Syd Masters as its winner, the Albuquerque Journal said Thursday.

Huff was careful to say that Wednesday's decision in Santa Fe, N.M., did not represent a new Western song for the state.

A Western song and a cowboy song are close," the Western Music Association official said. "A Western song can incorporate more of locale. But a cowboy song covers life, loves, lore, locale and legacy of the North American cowboy."

Before "Skies" can officially become the state's cowboy song, it must be approved by the Legislature during its 2009 session, the Journal reported.