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Naked Cowboy

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Naked Cowboy
File:TheNakedCowboy.jpg
Naked Cowboy performing in Times Square
Born
Robert John Burck

(1970-12-23) December 23, 1970 (age 53)
Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Occupation(s)Actor, singer, songwriter, writer
Years active1998–present
Websitehttp://www.nakedcowboy.com

Robert John Burck (born December 23, 1970), better known as the Naked Cowboy, is an American street performer whose pitch is on New York City's Times Square.[1][2] He wears only cowboy boots, a hat, and briefs, with a guitar strategically placed to give the illusion of nudity.

On October 6, 2010, Burck formally announced that he is running for President of the United States in the 2012 U.S. election as a candidate representing the U.S. Tea Party movement.[3][4][5]

Background

Burck was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. He attended Our Lady of the Rosary elementary school in Greenhills, Ohio, and later earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Cincinnati. He began busking in December 1997 and first appeared on Venice Beach, Los Angeles. The public immediately gave him much more money after a friend suggested to him that he dress only in his underwear in order to generate higher earnings.

Though he is currently most famous as a fixture of New York City's Times Square where tour guides on passing buses point him out, Burck is also a regular in the streets of the French Quarter during the New Orleans Mardi Gras season. He also makes appearances in his hometown of Cincinnati, at the Memorial Day weekend Taste of Cincinnati festival and the Riverfest Labor Day Festival. He has also made an appearance in Austin, Texas, during the South by Southwest Music Conference, He has also made an appearance in Nashville, Tennessee in June, 2008 on Broadway for the CMA Music Festival and he also made an appearance on January 25, 2009 he performed at a Leinster Rugby game in Donnybrook, Dublin, Ireland, singing his theme song "I'm the Naked Cowboy" before 18,000 spectators. [citation needed]

In a 2005 online interview, Burck cited Nancy Reagan and Garth Brooks as two of his leading inspirations. Additionally, on December 10, 2008 he was officially registered as a marriage officiant by the City of New York.[6]

Media appearances

As the Naked Cowboy's popularity grew, Burck began to make appearances in television, music videos, and other popular media. He auditioned for American Idol during its first season, but he was not admitted to the next round. He also tried out for Australian Idol and Star Search, but with the same results. In 2000, he was also on the short-lived show Moral Court, where conservative talk show host Larry Elder ruled that, in his opinion, Burck's Naked Cowboy persona was not immoral and not a danger to public safety. Burck replied, "Actually, I think I am an inspiration to public safety." On January 24, 2009, Burck also appeared on the Tubridy Tonight show on Ireland's RTÉ television network, performing his theme song accompanied by the Camembert Quartet.

Burck has been featured in numerous advertising campaigns. As of 2006, he is part of USA Network's "Characters Welcome" campaign, and he also had a cameo appearance in a Chevrolet commercial that aired during Super Bowl XLI, as well as a Guinness advertisement that aired only in the United Kingdom and Ireland. On August 28, 2008, Burke entered into an endorsement/licensing agreement with Divinely Naked LLC to endorse and create Naked Cowboy Nutritional Products starting with Naked Whey Protein Powders, which launched their Web site on January 1, 2009. He is presently the spokesman for Blue Island Shellfish which sells Naked Cowboy Oysters.

Burck has also made appearances in several music videos, including Cake's "Short Skirt/Long Jacket" 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 Gaetano Lattanzi at JAMBOX Recording Studios in New York City. The album was featured on MTV News.[7]

He has also been featured in a number of documentaries. He is profiled in the documentary One Man Brand, produced by Mediastorm, and is also included in the second part of the three-part Richard Dawkins documentary, The Genius of Charles Darwin, first shown on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom in August 2008.[8] He also appeared briefly in the PBS documentary Origins to give his opinion on the possibility of extraterrestrial life.

New York City mayoral candidacy, 2009

On July 20, 2009, it was announced that Burck would challenge Mayor Michael Bloomberg in the 2009 election for Mayor of New York City.[9] At his announcement, Burck stated, "No one knows how to do more with less than yours truly, and that's the kind of thinking I plan on sharing with my fellow New Yorkers when you elect me."[10] On September 5, 2009, Burck withdrew from the race.[11]

Presidential candidacy, 2012

On September 29, 2010, Burck 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." Burck changed his appearance by wearing a dress suit and had his hair cut.[12][13][14]

On October 6, 2010, Burck officially declared his presidential candidacy at a press conference in Times Square.[3][4][5] He stated that he was neither a Democrat or a Republican, but rather "an American" and that he intends to lead the U.S. Tea Party movement into the Oval Office.[15]

Franchise

Burck owns the trademark to his Naked Cowboy character and operates it as a franchise. Franchisees must undergo a screening process, and are required to pay Naked Cowboy Enterprises $500 per month or $5,000 per year, which authorizes a person to operate as a "Naked Cowboy" or "Naked Cowgirl".[16] The third and forth recruits were his fellow Secaucus, New Jersey resident Robert Coffman and Burck's girlfriend, Cindy Fox.[17]

Lawsuits

Trademark infringement lawsuits against 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.[18]

Burck alleges 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."[19] The Cowboy’s lawsuit, filed in federal court in Manhattan, requests 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.[20] 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. In a filing dated November 7, 2008, both Mars Incorporated and Burck agreed and stipulated that the action be dismissed with prejudice, with each party bearing his own costs and attorney's fees. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed.[21]

Naked Cowgirl

Comedian Sandy Kane performed as the "Naked Cowgirl", wearing a bikini and cowboy hat, and was sent a cease and desist letter for her unauthorized use of Burck's trademarked name. On September 28, 2010 Burck and Kane were interviewed over the issue on the Howard Stern Show on Sirius/XM Radio. They both seemed to get along, but differed on the issue. Kane said the issue would have to be settled in court.[16]

See also

References

  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^ [2]
  3. ^ a b (October 6, 2010) "NYC's Naked Cowboy suits up for presidential run", Associated Press. Retrieved on October 6, 2010.
  4. ^ a b Bayer, Casey (October 6, 2010) "Naked Cowboy for president: Top celebrities (past and present) who aimed for the White House", Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved October 6, 2010.
  5. ^ a b (October 6, 2010) ;"Naked Cowboy briefs NYers on his presidential bid", The Washington Post. Retrieved on October 6, 2010.
  6. ^ Official NYC Certificate.
  7. ^ Naked Cowboy: Behind The Bulge
  8. ^ The Genius of Charles Darwin, Radio Times entry for Monday 11 August, 8:00pm–9:00pm Channel 4
  9. ^ http://www.babelgum.com/nakedcowboy
  10. ^ "Naked Cowboy for NYC mayor: briefs or Bloomberg?"
  11. ^ "Naked Cowboy pulls out of New York City mayoral race"
  12. ^ "Naked Cowboy on the Run ... for U.S. President", September 30, 2010. TMZ.com
  13. ^ "'Naked Cowboy' to run for US president", October 4, 2010. Associated Press.
  14. ^ "A naked cowboy president in 2012?", Washington Post
  15. ^ "'Naked Cowboy' to run for U.S. presidency" October 6, 2010. Toronto Sun
  16. ^ a b "Naked Cowboy takes legal action against Naked Cowgirl"
  17. ^ "Community" Year in Photos: The Hudson Reporter, January 2, 2011, page 32.
  18. ^ "The Naked Cowboy Sues the Naked M&M" by Slater, Dan, The Wall Street Journal, February 13, 2008
  19. ^ The Wall Street Journal Law Blog, "Cowboy's Lawsuit Drives M&M Out of Dodge", February 15, 2008
  20. ^ Middleton, Ekin, "'Naked Cowboy' can sue makers of M&Ms"
  21. ^ "Naked Cowboy, Mars Inc. End M&M Ad Dispute"
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