Troubadour

Chuck Suchy is a folk musician, songwriter, and working farmer from Mandan, North Dakota. Among his albums are Much to Share and Dancing Dakota on Flying Fish Records, Dakota Breezes, Same Road Home, Different Line of Time, Evening in Paris, and Unraveling Heart.

One of his folk ballads, featured on his Much to Share, Dancing Dakota, and Dakota Breezes CDs, is The Story of Hazel Miner, a 15-year-old girl who died saving her brother and sister during a March 1920 blizzard in Center, North Dakota.

Hear North Dakota's State Waltz, Dancing Dakota by Chuck Suchy

During the sixty-ninth legislative assembly in 2025, the North Dakota Legislature enacted HOUSE BILL NO. 1397, "relating to the designation of the state waltz and state troubadour; and to provide for application." The bill stated, " 'Dancing Dakota', written and composed by Chuck Suchy, is the North Dakota state waltz." 

Then the ND Legislature added HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 3008 which stated, ". . . that Chuck Suchy be designated as the first state troubadour of North Dakota for a term of five years until a successor is selected pursuant to law." After such time, "The chairman of the North Dakota Council on the Arts shall designate an individual to serve as the official state troubadour or trobairitz for a term of five years. The chairman may fill any vacancy by appointment for the unexpired portion of the term vacated."

Contact Program Officer Jess Christy | jesschristy@nd.gov | (701) 328-7592