Jake Riley grew up, for the most part, in the upper Arkansas Valley of the Colorado mountains. He began roping and rodeoing as a kid, which led to helping out on some local ranches, feeding his love of cowboy culture.
He has always enjoyed the magic of poetry, especially after seeing poet Waddie Mitchell at Copper Mountain, Colorado in the mid 1990s. One of the poems Jake wrote for a high school project was published his senior year, and he has continued writing ever since. Jake first shared his work at his church, and then at the Nebraska Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Valentine, Nebraska in 2016. Since then, he has performed at events from Minnesota to Nevada, including 5 times at the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko.
Jake's work leans toward the more contemporary, which draws old and young alike. He loves to share a good story, and his delivery is engaging and often quite animated. He also enjoys reciting the classics, and considers himself extremely blessed to take part in carrying the tradition forward. Jake, along with his wonderful wife and a teeming hoard of youngins, now calls central Nebraska home.
Website: theotherjakeriley.com
