Before the lights, the crowds, and the nationwide acclaim of the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo (BPIR), there was Lu Vason — a visionary with an unstoppable dream. His story, and the movement he sparked, is now front and center in a powerful new memoir, Under the Western Skies: Lu Vason, From Dreamer to Visionary to Pioneer, released July 1, 2025.

Available in hardcover, paperback, and digital formats via Amazon, Kindle, the BPIR Swag Hub, and rodeo booths across the country — including Colorado stops on the BPIR tour — the book dives deep into the life of a man who reshaped American rodeo culture.

Raised in the segregated South and later rooted in the cultural pulse of Oakland, Lu Vason carved an unlikely path to the arenas of the American West. From managing music legends to launching one of the most important African American cultural movements in modern rodeo, Vason’s story is one of grit, grace, and game-changing vision.

Colorado rodeo fans have long embraced the BPIR, which has made frequent stops in Denver and Colorado Springs. Now, locals can get to know the man behind the movement that brought Black cowboy culture to the forefront.

The memoir is packed with vivid storytelling, rich history, and unforgettable moments — plus a heartfelt foreword by Emmy-winning actor Glynn Turman, a longtime friend of Vason’s and National Grand Marshal of the BPIR.

“Lu didn’t just start a rodeo,” writes Turman. “He started a movement.”

Part biography, part cultural celebration, Under the Western Skies captures the legacy of a man who dared to reimagine the American West — and gave Black cowboys and cowgirls a powerful place in its story.

Whether you’re a Colorado native, a rodeo fan, or simply drawn to stories of ambition and impact, this is a must-read memoir that lingers long after the last page.

The memoir “Under the Western Skies: Lu Vason, From Dreamer to Visionary to Pioneer “ was officially released on July 1, 2025.

It is available for purchase in hardcover, paperback, and e-book formats through the following outlets:

Amazon

Kindle (Amazon eBook platform)

BPIR Swag Hub (official online merchandise store)

BPIR souvenir booths at rodeo events across the U.S., including Colorado stops like Denver and Colorado Springs