R.W. Hampton (born June 17, 1957 in Houston, Texas) is an award-winning American western music singer-songwriter and playwright.

Hampton has achieved both critical and popular success, winning multiple awards from the Western Music Association and the Academy of Western Artists and a pair of Wrangler Awards from the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, as well as developing a widespread devoted fan base.

After more than a decade as a dedicated cowboy enjoying the hard-working western ranch lifestyle, Hampton decided to explore his other passion: music. In 1984, R.W. released his first album, Travelin’ Light, and began building a reputation for his songwriting and performance talents, with appearances at The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee and the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

Throughout the 1990s, Hampton continued his prolific recording career, with 5 albums in 6 years from 1994 to 1999. In 1996, R.W. received the Academy of Western Artists’ first Will Rogers Awards honoring him with both Male Vocalist of the Year and Entertainer of the Year. A year later, his album, Ridin’ The Dreamland Range, won recognition as the association’s Album of the Year. The Academy named Hampton its Male Vocalist of the Year again in 1999.

The 1990s also saw Hampton’s skills as a playwright blossom. The one-man stage play The Last Cowboy was written with his brother, Jeff, and playwright Dave Marquis in 1993. The show has received high praise not only for Hampton’s performance, but for his insightful interpretation of the cowboy past as well. In addition, his album, The Last Cowboy – His Journey, which was inspired by the play, earned him his first Wrangler Award in 2000 for Excellence in Dramatic Presentation and Original Music Composition from the National Cowboy Museum and Western Heritage Center.

Hampton’s success continued into the 2000s with a Western Music Association award for Top Male Performer in 2004. In 2006, R.W. won the WMA Song of the Year award for his composition "For the Freedom" (which appears on his album I Believe). As described by American Cowboy magazine, "For The Freedom" "touches the heart in a personal way. Regardless of how one feels about war, it beautifully honors the soldiers’ work and commitment." [1]

In 2008, R.W. won his second Western Heritage Award, this time for his album Oklahoma… Where the West Remains! which was named Outstanding Traditional Western Album. The album is Hampton’s first performance with a full orchestra, and was praised by Western Horseman magazine for showcasing Hampton’s “deep, velvety vocals, idyllic lyrics and cowboy authenticity” which has “captivated audiences worldwide.” [2] Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.