Bobby Bullet's 'Bigfoot': A Terrific Northwoods Encounter | Headwaters

Bigfoot Does the Rub-a-dub in the Northwoods

Bigfoot sightings exist on almost every continent. Reasons for the sightings run the gamut, from mere misidentifications, hoaxes, folklore, to visits from the spirit world. Shining a new light on the enduring legends of Bigfoot, the Upper Peninsula’s very own Ojibwe folk and country singer-songwriter and musician Bobby Bullet, sings of an 8-foot tall, red-eyed, masterful dancer who does the “rub –a-dub” in a country boogie on his latest album, “Bigfoot”.

Bullet and his band, Appaloosa Sky, serve up some traditional country music treats, like story songs, heartache ballads, and a little honky tonk. The artist’s Nashville roots are evident in the album’s countrypolitan sound and arrangements built on layers of guitars, keyboards, strings and back-up vocals. Bullet, born in 1942, on the Lac du Flambeau Reservation in Wisconsin, traveled back and forth to Nashville throughout the seventies and eighties looking to play, sell and record his songs and music.

Bobby Bullet’s experience as a songwriter and performer spans over 50 years. He was recently recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 12^th Annual Native American Music Awards (commonly referred to as the Nammys) on November 12^th in Niagra Falls, New York.

Bullet at the NAMMYS, Courtesy Bobbybullet.com

The Nammys began in 1998 to honor indigenous people throughout the Americas while raising awareness and appreciation for Native American history and culture, and helping to inspire Native youth to pursue careers in the music industry. Nammys’ hall-of-famers include legendary artists like Jimmy Hendrix, Hank Williams, Crystal Gayle, Kitty Wells, and Richie Valens,to name a few. Bullet shares his Life Time Achievement Award with well-known singers and musicians, Robbie Robertson, Rita Coolidge, and John Densmore of the Doors, among others.

Bullet’s talents are evident on his latest album, ‘Bigfoot’. It is versatile and likely to appeal to a broad audience with its harmonic balance of light-hearted, fun tunes and thoughtful messages many can relate to, of love, loss, mistakes, faith and making difficult choices. In his music, it is apparent that the artist has walked a somewhat tumultuous path, but has found the strength to face and embrace the many challenges in his life in order to become the talented songwriter and musician he is today.

In a recent interview with Bullet it was clear he was as multifaceted as his latest album—as rambunctious as ‘Hattin’ Up’, as passionate as ‘Play Me’, as mysterious as ‘Rose in the Garden’, and as full of faith as ‘The Cape,’ one of Bullet’s favorite songs on the album:

I think one would be a song by Guy Clark, ‘The Cape’, because it puts a positive spin on life, to have faith in things. And then, of course, Bigfoot is right up there. I have a lot of fun with that.

When asked what inspired him to write a song about Bigfoot, Bullet remarked:

I think it just was floating along in the air and it happened to enter my head, and by that I mean while I was writing the song there was a whole slew of activity about Bigfoot on the TV and books—like a burst of Bigfoot energy—and I happened to be standing in the way and caught some of the sparks.

Bullet’s music has evolved over the years alongside of his life experiences:

…started off in country music, listening to the radio—those old music radio shows—years ago when I was a kid. When I went to Germany, I listened and learned from music from black people, from blues to jazz, and opened up a different world for me. I have a great deal of love for jazz, can’t play it, but can certainly listen to it.

In the service, in 1960 to 63 when I was over there, the Beatles were playing in the Cavern in Germany—just starting out. I heard about them, they said, ‘go up and see the Beatles.’ I said who are the Beatles?

…came back from Germany and got into rock and roll. Elvis Presley, and all those guys opened up another type of thing, ‘rockabilly’ and then from there rhythm and blues.

When asked about his influences, Bullet quickly gave a nod to one of his all-time favorites, Hank Williams, as far as his writing style goes, but also to his family’s history in ‘showbiz’.

My uncles played guitars and fiddles and banjos; my aunt on my mom’s side played banjo and mandolin and traveled in a tent show. Her husband Russell, and this other fiddler, played trick fiddling behind their back and neck. They did a bull whip act, one would stand with a cigarette in his mouth, the other would hit it with a whip.

“I guess you could say there’s a history of show business,” he laughed.

Bobby’s choice instrument is the guitar:

I do all my writing and coming up with songs and different sounds and things like that. That’s my old friend, the guitar, been with me since the age of 13. I guess maybe even before.

Today, Bobby Bullet lives in a small cabin with his wife, Pam Nesbit (a talented backup singer along with Bob’s daughter Dawn), in Iron River, Michigan. Bobby Bullet’s first album is titled, “Scrapbook” and he is already planning his next album that he says will be themed in Native American roots, including a song about smallpox, as well as other messages and stories Bullet would like to share with the world.

So, if you love music and are looking for a rollicking good time, or to shed a few tears, check out bobbybullet.com to sample or purchase the album.

Being a folk and country singer can be hard work with not a whole lot of money involved, so it’s a love for music and the messages and stories he has to offer that help keep Bullet playing. The messages in the album are ablaze with a love for life as catchy as the words in Bullet’s cleverly penned songs.