We were lucky to catch up with Angelo Iodice recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Angelo, thanks for joining us today. Has your work ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized?

My name is Angelo Iodice and I perform a western variety act under the stage name AJ Silver, the Cowboy From the Bronx. To most ” A Cowboy From the Bronx” is a compete paradox.
Especially since I perform at such a high skill level and is was well respected by my colleagues out west.
People always want to know how a kid born and raised in NYC, to a community of Italian immigrants became interested in the cowboy arts?
I grew up in the Wakefield section of the North Bronx and like most Bronx kids was out all day playing in the streets and exploring the surrounding neighborhoods with my friends our bikes.
One summer day when I was 10, my older brother Silvio took me to go horse, trail riding in Pelham Bay Park, NYC’s largest park ( three times the size of Central Park).
My life was changed and every day after school and on the weekends my brother and I were at the barn.
Our lives now revolved around horses and a year later we attended the Madison Square Garden Rodeo which featured a trick riding exhibition (riders who perform acrobatic stunts on galloping horses).
When the trick riders left the arena my head was spinning and I realized I found my calling.
I knew I was born to be a rodeo trick rider.
As fate would have it I met a couple living in the Bronx, Nick and Helen Panzella who were semi retired from professional rodeo.
They recognized my desire to learn and agreed to become my mentors.
I trained with them everyday and learned all the cowboy arts, trick riding, trick roping, bullwhip artistry and horsemanship.
I went to college to keep peace in the family but once I graduated I decided to follow my heart and hit the rodeo trail.
Most people would assume I did not find acceptance in the rodeo world coming from NYC but the truth is I was not the first Bronx cowboy.
The professionals already knew Nick and Helen and one of the most famous Bull Riders in rodeo history was a Bronx native named Bobby DelVecchio.
My high skill level and showmanship earned their respect.
At the time I was the only “rodeo” trick rider to perform the difficult and dangerous stunt of passing under the belly of a galloping horse. Once a common feat.
Funny that during my rodeo career my name Angelo Iodice was never an issue but when I transitioned into becoming a stage performer I was told my name was too ethnic sounding and they wanted me to sound more western and that’s when I became AJ Silver.

Angelo, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Answered in previous section

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

Most people outside of show business have no idea how much work is involved to get to that moment in the spotlight. For many it takes a lifetime to learn their craft and then you must maintain these skills with daily practice.
The time maintaining these skills can feel like a 9-5 job, especially in my case.
Not only did I have to maintain my physical fitness and practice my roping and riding skills for hours a day but I also had to exercise and care for my horse to keep them healthy and in top shape.
Their welfare always came before mine.
Starting out you must be your own publicist and agent and search for work and if you are lucky enough to get a job you must deliver.
In live entertainment you can’t put the work off till tomorrow even if you feel ill.
There is a paying audience on the other side of the curtain and they are their to see you perform.
There is so much stress involved in being a performer.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I’ve had an amazing career performing across the USA and around the world but sadly life throws you curveballs and I had to give up traveling to take care of my mother who has Dementia. I still perform locally but it is heartbreaking to receive amazing offers and have to turn them down.
I am grateful for the career I had and have so many amazing memories but sometimes there are more important things in life than your career and my mother was always there for me , encouraged me to follow my dreams and now the tables have turned and it’s my time to be there for her= The Circle of Life,

Contact Info:

• Website: www. trickropingact.com
• Instagram: @Trickroper
• Youtube: Angelo Iodice @AngeloIodice

Image Credits

Should be in photo info