Naked Cowboy
{{short description|American street performer}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Naked Cowboy
|image = Naked Cowboy on Times Square.jpg
|caption =
|occupation = Singer, songwriter, writer, former political candidate, actor
|birth_name = Robert John Burck
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1970|12|23}}
|birth_place = Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
|years_active = 1998–present
|spouse = {{marriage|Patricia Burck, The Naked Cowgirl|2013}}
|homepage = [http://www.nakedcowboy.com nakedcowboy.com]}}
Robert John Burck (born December 23, 1970), better known as the Naked Cowboy, is an American street performer, singer, songwriter, and occasional actor. He is best known for singing regularly in New York City's Times Square.{{Cite news |date=July 22, 2009 |title=Naked Cowboy Runs for NYC Mayor _ in His Underwear |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/feedarticle/8621060 |access-date=November 22, 2011 |work=The Guardian |location=London, UK}} Burck is also a regular in the streets of the French Quarter during the New Orleans Mardi Gras season.{{Cite magazine |date=April 16, 2020 |title=The Naked Cowboy Won't Let COVID-19 Derail His 20-Year Career |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/naked-cowboy-covid-19-new-york-city-985111/ |magazine=Rolling Stone}}{{Cite tweet |number=439077183722504192 |user=TheNakedCowboy |title=Touchdown New Orleans, French Quarter bound!! Carnival time. |date=February 27, 2014}} He wears only cowboy boots, a hat, and white briefs, with a guitar strategically placed to give the illusion of nudity.
On October 6, 2010, Burck formally announced that he was running for President of the United States in the 2012 U.S. election as a candidate representing the U.S. Tea Party movement.(October 6, 2010) [http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=13279147 "NYC's Naked Cowboy suits up for presidential run"]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Associated Press. Retrieved on October 6, 2010.{{Cite web |last=Bayer |first=Casey |date=October 6, 2010 |title=Naked Cowboy for President: Top Celebrities (Past and Present) Who Aimed for the White House |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Election-2010/2010/1006/Naked-Cowboy-for-president-Top-celebrities-past-and-present-who-aimed-for-the-White-House/The-Naked-Cowboy-2012 |access-date=October 6, 2010 |website=Christian Science Monitor}}{{Cite news |date=October 6, 2010 |title=Naked Cowboy Briefs Nyers on His Presidential Bid |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/06/AR2010100604582.html |access-date=October 6, 2010 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}
Background
Burck was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and attended Our Lady of the Rosary elementary school in nearby Greenhills, Ohio. He later earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Cincinnati College of Arts and Sciences in 1995.{{Cite web |title=One Grad's Naked Ambition Keeps Turning Heads As He Furthers His Internationally Known Brand |url=https://magazine.uc.edu/issues/0315/barecatRobertBurck.html |website=University of Cincinnati}} He began busking in December 1997, and first appeared on Venice Beach, Los Angeles.
He is best known as a fixture of Times Square in New York City, where he has appeared almost daily since September 1999.{{Cite magazine |last=Ehrlich |first=Brenna |date=2020-04-16 |title=The Naked Cowboy Won't Let COVID-19 Derail His 20-Year Career |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/naked-cowboy-covid-19-new-york-city-985111/ |access-date=2021-05-29 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}} He made an appearance in Donnybrook, Dublin, Ireland, on January 25, 2009, where he performed his theme song "I'm the Naked Cowboy" at a Leinster Rugby game before 18,000 spectators.{{Cite web |title=Joe.ie |url=http://www.joe.ie/joe-life/life-stories/naked-cowboy-threatens-to-sue-naked-cowgirl/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140403035446/http://www.joe.ie/joe-life/life-stories/naked-cowboy-threatens-to-sue-naked-cowgirl/ |archive-date=April 3, 2014 |access-date=July 27, 2013}} In May 2014, Burck temporarily switched from his usual briefs to boxer briefs, after being sponsored by Fruit of the Loom.{{Cite news |date=July 22, 2009 |title=New York's Naked Cowboy changes underwear after 12 years |url=http://www.wlwt.com/news/new-yorks-naked-cowboy-changes-underwear-after-12-years/25864138#!UqHfM |access-date=May 7, 2014 |publisher=WLWT |location=New York City, NY}}
On November 11, 2020, while Burck was performing in New York in front of a few tourists, a person pulled down and ripped his briefs.{{Cite web |date=November 12, 2020 |title=Someone tried to pants Times Square's Naked Cowboy |url=https://nypost.com/2020/11/11/someone-tried-to-pants-times-squares-naked-cowboy/amp/}}
=Music=
Burck has made appearances in three music videos, including Cake's "Short Skirt/Long Jacket", Tyler Hilton's "When It Comes", and Nickelback's "Rockstar". In 2007, Burck released an album of his own, signing to 4Sight Music Productions and recording the pop-rock album Year of the Cowboy produced by Lee Evans and producer Dante Lattanzi at JAMBOX Recording Studios in New York City. The album was featured on MTV News.{{Cite web |date=January 10, 2007 |title=Naked Cowboy: Behind The Bulge |url=http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?id=1549698&vid=127613 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014112943/http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?id=1549698&vid=127613 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 14, 2007 |access-date=November 22, 2011 |publisher=Mtv.com}}
=Politics=
On July 20, 2009, it was announced that Burck would challenge Mayor Michael Bloomberg in the 2009 New York City mayoral election.{{Cite web |date=July 22, 2009 |title=Naked Cowboy Runs for Mayor |url=http://www.babelgum.com/nakedcowboy |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111105082744/http://www.babelgum.com/nakedcowboy |archive-date=November 5, 2011 |access-date=November 22, 2011 |publisher=Babelgum}}{{Cite news |last=Parsons |first=Claudia |date=July 20, 2009 |title=Naked Cowboy for NYC mayor: briefs or Bloomberg? |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nakedcowboy-idUSTRE56J52220090720 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120725233851/http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/07/20/us-nakedcowboy-idUSTRE56J52220090720 |archive-date=July 25, 2012 |access-date=January 16, 2012 |publisher=Reuters}}{{Cite web |date=October 6, 2010 |title=Secaucus' Naked Cowboy runs for president |url=http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2010/10/secaucus_naked_cowboy_runs_for.html}} In response, Jonny Porkpie, the self-proclaimed "burlesque Mayor of NYC" announced that he would run against him.{{Cite news |date=August 5, 2009 |title=New York's 'Mayor of Burlesque' Wants to be New York's 'Mayor of New York' |url=http://www.thelmagazine.com/2009/08/jonnie-porkpie-new-yorks-mayor-of-burlesque-wants-to-be-new-yorks-mayor-of-new-york |access-date=2015-09-06 |publisher=Reuters |archive-date=November 25, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151125092853/http://www.thelmagazine.com/2009/08/jonnie-porkpie-new-yorks-mayor-of-burlesque-wants-to-be-new-yorks-mayor-of-new-york/ |url-status=dead }}{{Cite news |date=March 13, 2011 |title=After Dark Inquiry: Jonny Porkpie |url=http://www.timeout.com/newyork/clubs-nightlife/after-dark-inquiry-jonny-porkpie |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151124124227/http://www.timeout.com/newyork/clubs-nightlife/after-dark-inquiry-jonny-porkpie |archive-date=November 24, 2015 |access-date=2015-09-06 |publisher=TimeOut}} On September 5, 2009, Burck withdrew from the race.
On September 29, 2010, he announced his intentions to challenge President Barack Obama in the 2012 presidential election. At his announcement, Burck stated that he has a "very conservative policy" and that he had an "unapologetic commitment to our borders, our language and our culture", borrowing a well-known catchphrase of radio host Michael Savage. He changed his appearance by wearing a dress suit and had his hair cut.{{Cite web |date=September 30, 2010 |title=Naked Cowboy on the Run ... for U.S. President |url=http://www.tmz.com/2010/09/29/naked-cowboy-president-of-the-united-states-of-america-robert-john-burck/ |website=TMZ}}{{Cite web |date=October 4, 2010 |title='Naked Cowboy' to Run for US president |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iRO8sDv0IaYlsFGAuY9CVosenNcA?docId=CNG.9403c818e8fadcc9cdb55a9cd13428ac.221 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101005042621/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iRO8sDv0IaYlsFGAuY9CVosenNcA?docId=CNG.9403c818e8fadcc9cdb55a9cd13428ac.221 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 5, 2010 |website=Associated Press}}{{Cite news |title=A Naked Cowboy President in 2012? |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/blog-post/2010/10/a_naked_cowboy_president_in_20.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120614224229/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/blog-post/2010/10/a_naked_cowboy_president_in_20.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 14, 2012 |access-date=August 8, 2014 |newspaper=The Washington Post}} On October 6, 2010, Burck officially declared his presidential candidacy at a press conference in Times Square. He stated that he was neither a Democrat nor a Republican, but rather "an American" and that he intended to lead the U.S. Tea Party movement into the Oval Office.{{Cite news |date=October 6, 2010 |title='Naked Cowboy' to Run for U.S. Presidency |url=http://www.torontosun.com/news/world/2010/10/06/15608976.html |newspaper=Toronto Sun}}
Bloomberg referenced the Naked Cowboy during the tenth 2020 Democratic primary debate in Charleston, South Carolina, on February 25, 2020. When asked whether he would support expanding his signature soda ban policy nationwide, Bloomberg stated that what is right for one city is not necessarily right for every city, "otherwise every town would have a Naked Cowboy."{{Cite web |last=Singman |first=Brooke |date=February 25, 2020 |title=Bloomberg Attempts Joke About NYC's 'Naked Cowboy' in Dem Debate |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/bloomberg-attempts-joke-about-nycs-naked-cowboy-in-dem-debate |website=Fox News}}
According to The Wall Street Journal in December 2020, Burck is "a big Trump supporter."{{Cite web |last=Kadet |first=Anne |date=December 22, 2020 |title=Neither Rain, Nor Snow Nor a Pandemic Discourages NYC's Naked Cowboy |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/neither-rain-nor-snow-nor-a-pandemic-discourages-nycs-naked-cowboy-11608649201 |access-date=December 24, 2020 |website=The Wall Street Journal}} He participated in a rally in Washington, D.C., prior to the storming of the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021.{{Cite web |last=Gaber |first=Hannah |date=January 7, 2021 |title=Trump Rally Turns Violent As Rioters Storm US Capitol |url=https://eu.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/news/nation/2021/01/06/trump-supporters-protest-election-results-washington/6560880002 |access-date=January 7, 2021 |website=USA Today}}
Infringement lawsuits filed
=Mars Inc.=
Mars, Incorporated created a short animation of the Blue M&M's character playing a guitar while dressed in a white cowboy hat, cowboy boots and underpants on the electronic animation display that hangs outside the M&M's store at Times Square. Burck, who owns registered trademarks to the Naked Cowboy name and likeness, filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Mars Incorporated on February 15, 2008.{{Cite web |last=Slater |first=Dan |date=February 13, 2008 |title=The Naked Cowboy Sues the Naked M&M |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/law/2008/02/13/the-naked-cowboy-sues-the-naked-mm/?mod=googlenews_wsj |website=The Wall Street Journal}}
Burck alleged that the ads infringe on his trademark by "using his likeness, persona, and image for commercial purposes without his written permission and by falsely suggesting that he endorses M&M's candy."{{Cite news |last=Slater |first=Dan |date=February 15, 2008 |title=The Wall Street Journal Law Blog, "Cowboy's Lawsuit Drives M&M Out of Dodge", February 15, 2008 |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/law/2008/02/15/naked-cowboys-lawsuit-drives-mm-outta-dodge/ |access-date=November 22, 2011 |publisher=Blogs.wsj.com}} The Cowboy's lawsuit, filed in federal court in Manhattan, requested an injunction stopping Mars from using the Naked Cowboy's likeness to advertise M&M's products, up to $100 million in punitive damages, and attorney's fees.{{Cite news |date=June 24, 2008 |title=Middleton, Ekin, "'Naked Cowboy' can sue makers of M&Ms" |url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/06/24/naked.cowboy/index.html |access-date=November 22, 2011 |publisher=Cnn.com}} On June 23, 2008, the court issued a decision that dismissed a portion of the suit relying on New York law but rejected a motion by the defendants to dismiss the trademark claims.{{Cite web |title=Justia.com |url=http://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/new-york/nysdce/1:2008cv01330/320985/20/0.swf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121233823/http://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/new-york/nysdce/1:2008cv01330/320985/20/0.swf |archive-date=January 21, 2012}} Burck and Mars Incorporated settled the lawsuit in November 2008, the terms of which were never disclosed.{{Cite news |date=November 8, 2008 |title=Naked Cowboy, M&Ms settle lawsuit |url=https://www.upi.com/Naked-Cowboy-MMs-settle-lawsuit/40481226177639/ |access-date=February 6, 2019 |agency=UPI}}{{Cite news |last=Fredericks |first=Bob |date=May 2, 2014 |title=The Naked Cowboy is finally changing his underwear |url=https://nypost.com/2014/05/02/the-naked-cowboy-is-finally-changing-his-underwear/ |access-date=February 6, 2019 |work=New York Post |quote=the terms were never disclosed}}
=CBS=
Burck filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against CBS in February 2011, saying the network's use of a 'Naked Cowboy'–like figure in an ad for a television show demeaned his image with CBS's "drunk and sexually charged" portrayal of his likeness.{{Cite news |last=Martinez |first=Jose |date=February 14, 2011 |title=Naked Cowboy getting dressed for court: Files lawsuit against CBS for 'Bold and the Beautiful' promo |url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-02-14/entertainment/28616102_1_naked-cowboy-robert-burck-files-lawsuit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120609134134/http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-02-14/entertainment/28616102_1_naked-cowboy-robert-burck-files-lawsuit |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 9, 2012 |access-date=November 22, 2011 |work=Daily News |location=New York}}
Personal life
On February 15, 2013, Burck married Patricia Burck, a woman from Mexico City who was 25 at the time. Patricia, a professional belly dancer and group fitness instructor, is also a licensed Naked Cowgirl franchisee.{{Cite web |last=Ornitz |first=Darren |date=July 12, 2013 |title=My day with the Naked Cowboy |url=http://blogs.reuters.com/photographers-blog/2013/07/12/my-day-with-the-naked-cowboy/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130716051614/http://blogs.reuters.com/photographers-blog/2013/07/12/my-day-with-the-naked-cowboy |archive-date=July 16, 2013}}{{Cite web |date=August 16, 2019 |title=The Naked Cowboy exposed: A day in the life of Times Square's most famous one-man-show |url=https://roadtrippers.com/magazine/naked-cowboy-nyc/ |website=Roadtrippers}}
Burck is a resident of Queens.via The Wall Street Journal. [https://www.wsj.com/articles/neither-rain-nor-snow-nor-a-pandemic-discourages-nycs-naked-cowboy-11608649201 "Neither Rain, Nor Snow Nor a Pandemic Discourages NYC’s Naked Cowboy"], The Wall Street Journal, December 22, 2020. Accessed December 23, 2020. "Robert Burck prepares for the day at his apartment in Queens."
=Arrest=
On March 6, 2021, Burck was arrested in Daytona Beach, Florida, where he was appearing at Daytona Beach Bike Week. He was arrested on charges of panhandling and resisting an officer without violence, as his act violated Daytona Beach's panhandling policies.{{Cite web |last=Reeser |first=Matt |date=March 9, 2021 |title=WATCH: 'Naked Cowboy' arrested during Bike Week in Daytona Beach |url=https://www.wftv.com/news/local/naked-cowboy-arrested-during-bike-week-daytona-beach/WV6QRSMVWJBZDPKJIOP7SAU3ZE/ |access-date=2021-03-09 |website=WFTV |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Volz |first=Brianna |date=2021-03-08 |title=New York City's 'Naked Cowboy' arrested during Bike Week in Daytona Beach |url=https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2021/03/07/new-york-citys-naked-cowboy-arrested-during-bike-week-in-daytona-beach/ |access-date=2021-03-09 |website=WKMG |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Times Square Performer Known as the 'Naked Cowboy' Arrested in Daytona Beach While Performing at Bike Week |url=https://people.com/crime/times-square-performer-known-as-the-naked-cowboy-arrested-in-florida-while-performing-at-bike-week/ |access-date=2021-03-09 |website=PEOPLE.com |language=en}} After spending a night in jail, Burck entered a plea of no contest to the resisting an officer without violence charge.{{Cite web |date=March 13, 2021 |title=Naked Cowboy gets hero's welcome a week after arrest |url=https://apnews.com/article/naked-cowboy-robert-burck-heroes-welcome-time-square-7ca07a9826aaa2d2c13f1adcedf95664 |access-date=2021-06-28 |website=AP NEWS |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Abbott |first=Jim |title=The Naked Cowboy rides again on Main Street after arrest at Daytona Beach's Bike Week |url=https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/regional/bike-week/2021/03/12/naked-cowboy-robert-burck-returns-bike-week-daytona-beach/4644263001/ |access-date=2021-06-28 |website=Daytona Beach News-Journal Online |language=en-US}}
Following his plea, the judge involved in Burck's case withheld adjudication on the resisting arrest charge, making it not appear as a conviction on his criminal record, dropped the panhandling charge, and sentenced Burck to time served. Following his release, Burck reportedly received a "hero's welcome" from attendees at Daytona Beach Bike Week after he returned and a local music store, along with Takamine, donated him a new acoustic guitar to replace the one that was damaged during his arrest. In May 2021, it was reported that Burck had asked a judge to allow him to withdraw his no contest plea and that his attorney sent a letter stating that he plans to sue the Daytona Beach Police Department over the arrest.{{Cite web |last=Fernandez |first=Frank |title=Naked Cowboy seeks to take back plea; Daytona police chief counters he used n-word |url=https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/courts/2021/05/10/naked-cowboy-plans-sue-daytona-beach-police-say-he-used-n-word/5019179001/ |access-date=2021-06-28 |website=Daytona Beach News-Journal Online |language=en-US}} On July 20, 2022, Burck, having sued the city and the two arresting police officers, received a $90,000 settlement.{{Cite web |date=July 20, 2022 |title=Daytona Beach Agrees to $90,000 Settlement with Naked Cowboy After Bike Week Arrest |url=https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/07/20/daytona-beach-considers-90000-settlement-with-naked-cowboy-after-bike-week-arrest/ |website=ClickOrlando.com}}
See also
{{Portal|Biography|New York City}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{Official website}}
- The Naked Cowboy [http://jamboxstudio.com/nakedcowboysmusic.htm rock music page] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140114044806/http://jamboxstudio.com/NakedCowboysmusic.htm |date=January 14, 2014}}
- {{IMDb name|0961445}}
{{Times Square}}
{{United States presidential election, 2012}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Naked Cowboy}}
Category:American street performers
Category:Performance art in New York City
Category:Musicians from Cincinnati
Category:Candidates in the 2012 United States presidential election
Category:University of Cincinnati alumni
Category:Musicians from New York City
Category:People from Hackettstown, New Jersey
Category:People from Secaucus, New Jersey
Category:Nudity in the United States
Category:American male guitarists
Category:21st-century American singers
Category:21st-century American guitarists
Category:21st-century American male singers
Category:Protesters in or near the January 6 United States Capitol attack