Colt grew up on a ranch in eastern Idaho. He was born in Hog Hollow, a suburb of St. Anthony. “We lived so far out in the sticks, we had to bring our own sticks and everyone had to have their own tomcat. We went back towards town to go hunting and it was all uphill.”
He grew up a cowboy learning the trade from his grandfather and father “and that’s where I learned my profession of fixing things with lots of baling wire.”
Colt started playing music at 5 years old, learning songs to the record player. His first instrument was a diatonic push button accordion given to him by his great grandmother, Ruby. Next he moved to piano and the obsession of playing music became a reality. He decided he wanted to play everything, so he did! Colt picks a mean guitar. He also plays fiddle and upright bass. “I’ve tried to make a living on playing music and went broke every time (successfully).”
At 14 years old he met a group by the name of Riders in the Sky and was mentored by the King of the Cowboy Fiddlers, Woody Paul. He traveled around the country touring with Riders and selling merchandise. His love of music propelled from there. Colt has been a member of Cowboy Poets of Idaho since 1986, when he was just 6 years old. (The youngest member of Cowboy Poets.) He was also a member of the Western Music Association (WMA) and played music all over the country.
Colt still lives in Hog Hollow on the family ranch, raises a little hay and has a few horses. Colt is a man of many talents and will lend a hand to anyone in need.
A lot of the inspiration for his music has been the fondness he has for his family and past loves. He writes about his life experiences; the good, the bad, and the ugly. He loves the cowboy way of life, for that is who he is.