Naked Cowboy
Naked Cowboy
Most New Yorkers and visitors to Times Square know of The Naked Cowboy.
For the past 10 years, he's the guy you've seen on the sidewalk, with the great body, strumming his guitar and singing, dressed in a cowboy hat, cowboy boots and underwear -- and nothing else, even in the dead of winter.
As a native New Yorker, I will admit that at times, it has been my guilty pleasure to walk or drive by The Cowboy to see if he can bear the elements. To my amazement, he's always there and pretty naked -- in rain, sleet, snow, heat or bitter cold.
I've even taken pictures with him.
Robert John Burck (born December 23, 1970; Cincinnati, Ohio), better known as Naked Cowboy, is an American busker and prominent fixture of New York City's Times Square. His routine consists of playing guitar wearing only cowboy boots, a hat, and a pair of briefs, with the guitar strategically placed to give the illusion of nudity. He later inspired the Naked Cowgirl, who wears pasties, cowboy boots with spurs, a hat, and a mini-skirt.
Biography:
Burck began his street performance career in 1998 after a shoot at Playgirl and first appeared on Venice Beach. After some disappointing starts, a friend had suggested to him that he dress only in his underwear.
In 2000, Burck was in the short-lived Moral Court starring conservative/libertarian talk show host, Larry Elder. His girlfriend brought him to the show because she thought the Naked Cowboy persona was immoral. Elder ruled that Burck's persona was not immoral and not a danger to public safety. Burck replied, "Actually, I think I am an inspiration to public safety."
Burck auditioned for American Idol during its first season, but he was not admitted to the next round. He also auditioned for the talent show Star Search, but was again turned down. As of 2006, the Naked Cowboy is part of USA Network's "Characters Welcome" campaign. The Naked Cowboy appeared briefly in the PBS documentary Origins to give his opinion on the possibility of extraterrestrial life. The Naked Cowboy is also featured singing in the 2005 video game True Crime: New York City at Times Square.
In addition to his New York City appearances, Burck is a regular in the streets of the French Quarter during the New Orleans Mardi Gras season, the Memorial Day weekend Taste of Cincinnati festival and the Riverfest Labor Day Festival in Cincinnati, Ohio. He has also made appearance in Austin, Texas, during the South by Southwest Music Conference.
Burck has been loosely associated with The Rick and Bubba Show over the years. The relationship began when Burck appeared as one of the featured acts at Rick and Bubba's First Annual FatFest.
Burck was also in an episode of the game show Street Smarts, and featured in the music video for Cake's 2001 song "Short Skirt/Long Jacket". He was also in Nickelback's music video for the song "Rockstar". In addition, he is known to have discussed possible television show concepts with several production houses, including one in the Greater Cincinnati area, though nothing is known to have come of these talks yet.
Burck has started to release mobile phone ringtones.
The Naked Cowboy had a cameo appearance in a Chevrolet commercial, based on a winning contest submission, which aired during Super Bowl XLI. He also had a cameo appearance in a Guinness advertisement only shown in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Also, the Naked Cowboy is featured in Nickelback's newest music video, "Rockstar". On July 13, 2007, the Naked Cowboy went live on Justin.tv and at www.NakedCowboy.tv.
On January 2, 2008, the Naked Cowboy appeared as the plaintiff in an episode of Cristina's Court.
Naked Cowboy has agreed to be a cameo in the first consumer generated Super bowl Commercial, MySuperAd.
There is a short animated feature of Blue M&M as the Naked Cowboy on the electronic animation display that hangs outside the M&M's store at Times Square. The Naked Cowboy is now suing the Mars company for using his identity on the Blue M&M.
The Naked Cowboy filed a $6 million trademark-infringement lawsuit against M&M’s manufacturer Mars Incorporated on February 15, 2008. The company, alleges Burck, used his likeness — cowboy boots, briefs and a cowboy hat — to design a blue M&M for an advertising video broadcast in Times Square, territory the Naked Cowboy claims is his turf.
The Naked cowboy’s lawsuit, filed in federal court in Manhattan, included a request for an injunction stopping Mars from using the Naked Cowboy’s likeness to advertise M&M’s.
Comments