History

June 29, 2011

Jack Clement House Fire / Rare Photos

If you haven’t heard by now, legendary musician, songwriter, producer, and country music Outlaw “Cowboy” Jack Clement’s famous home/studio suffered major fire damage Saturday afternoon. Jack Clement is a national treasure. His whimsy and lightheartedness that is illustrated in these pictures is his key to easing the stress of the recording process, and creating albums such as Waylon’s Dreaming My Dreams, or Prine’s Pink Cadillac.

Charlie Pride, George Jones, Jack Clement, John Prine, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings

June 28, 2011

Ray Wylie Hubbard On Re-Release of Album

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Hubbard was as important as anybody in the formation of the Austin music scene, but he was unfortunate enough to record his marquee release in Nashville. In a classic story involving Music Row, once MCA was done adding their over-produced elements to Ray Wylie Hubbard & The Cowboy Twinkies, Ray and The Twinkies wanted nothing to do with it.

Bugs Henderson, BW Stevenson, Frank Zappa, Jerry Jeff Walker, Jerry Wexler, Michael Martin Murphy, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Ray Wylie Hubbard & The Cowboy Twinkies, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Willie Nelson

May 25, 2011

Waylon Jennings Is Still Alive in Littlefield, TX

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A few days ago I found myself driving from Taos, New Mexico to Austin, TX; a junket I dubbed the “Waylon Jennings Historic Tour”. As I drove in on Farm to Market road 54, I noticed the name change to “Waylon Jennings Blvd”, and when I reached the heart of town, at the corner of Waylon Jennings and Hall Ave., I found what I was looking for in the form of “Waymore’s”.

Armadillo World Headquarters, Dripping Springs Reunion, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings

March 30, 2011

The Closing of Willie’s Place & Carl’s Corner

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Willie’s Place was built about three years ago. Though it wasn’t very old, it was the last of a dying breed of unique places that America can boast, where commerce happens, but not at the expense of regional taste and local appeal. What it didn’t have was a well-recognized company logo out front, like 98% of the gas stations and truck stops in America do. It had a hand-painted sign.

Carl's Corner, Willie Nelson, Willie's Place

December 17, 2010

The Undeniable Influence of Charlie Louvin

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On February 22, 1956, Elvis Presley played a concert at the City Auditorium in Waycross, GA. Opening for Elvis that night were two brothers, Charlie and Ira, a gospel duo called The Louvin Brothers. In the crowd was a 9-year-old boy, a native of Georgia, born and raised in Waycross. How that boy felt about Elvis that night is uncertain, but The Louvin Brothers left an indelible mark on him that he would carry for the rest of his life.

Charlie Louvin, Elvis, Emmylou Harris, Gram Parsons, Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, The Louvin Brothers, The Rolling Stones

December 7, 2010

“Dandy” Don Meredith’s Country Music Heart

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When “Dandy” Don Meredith died on Sunday, he was remembered as many things: Dallas Cowboys football player, commentator for Monday Night Football, actor in dozens of movies and TV shows. But one element you may not hear much about is his involvement with country music, and specifically, good Texas Outlaw country.

Dinah Shore, Don Meredith, Jerry Jeff Walker, Roger Miller, Walt Garrison, Willie Nelson

October 22, 2010

Hillbilly Royalty Returns to Lower Broadway

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Like JD Wiles of Th’ Legendary Shack Shakers said in part 2 of this series, the revitalization of lower Broadway started in the mid 90’s, but it was in the late 90’s when it really became “special.” Part of the reason for that was undoubtedly the presence of hillbilly royalty, from the bloodline of the man who helped build those buildings.

Big Sandy, BR549, Donnie Herron, Gary Bennett, Hank III, Hillbilly Casino, Joe Buck, lower broadway, Nashville, The Bluegrass Inn, The Legendary Shack Shakers, Wayne Hancock

October 14, 2010

Revitalizing Lower Broadway – The Abominable Frontman

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As lower Broadway became a hoping place in the mid 90’s drawing talent from all around the country, competition for choice time slots at the best bars became fierce, and if you didn’t keep the patrons entertained, there was no money in the tip jar. With so much talent and so few bars and dollars to go around, competition became hyper. In this environment, talent and originality were pushed to their limits and it created some of the most dynamic frontmen in any genre of music at any time.

Exit In, Hatch Show Print, Hillbilly Casino, Jason and the Scorchers, JD Wilkes, Jello Biafra, Joe Buck, lower broadway, Nashville, Robert Plant, Robert's Western World, The Bluegrass Inn, The Grand Ole Opry, The Legendary Shack Shakers, The Ryman Auditorium

October 4, 2010

Emmylou Harris Revitalized The Ryman

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The Ryman is what lower Broadway revolves around, and it is easy to think that however it goes, so goes lower Broadway. When The Ryman was virtually shuttered in 1974 and The Grand Ole Opry moved to the Opry House, that is when the seeds of the lower Broadway decline were sowed.

Aereo Plane, At The Ryman, Bill Monroe, Bruce Springsteen, Emmylou Harris, Hank Williams, Jack Clement, John Fogerty, John Hartford, lower broadway, The Grand Ole Opry, The Ryman

September 9, 2010

Black Vest – Badge of the Outlaw

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Frequent readers here already know that what makes a country music Outlaw is not image, quite the contrary. It is an independent spirit that is unwilling to bend to popular trends or Nashville’s money-centric methods. However recently I spied a trend, a fashion trend if you insist, that spans the time line of the Outlaws that I think is interesting to note.

July 18, 2010

Johnny Cash’s Famous Middle Finger

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Last week when I posted a link to Johnny Cash’s American Recordings Outtakes I posted a sign of Johnny shooting the bird. Not the first time I’ve posted that picture, but after some inquires and a few conversations over it, it’s come to my attention that maybe the story behind Johnny Cash’s middle finger is […]

Beastie Boys, flipping the bird, George Jones, Johnny Cash, Mean Eyed Cat, middle finger, Rick Rubin, San Quentin, Willie Nelson

July 4, 2010

Once And For All, What Makes an Outlaw?

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willie-nelson-waylon-jennings-kris-kristofferson

Today is the 4th of July: the birthday of The United States. It is also arguably the birthday of the Outlaw movement in country music. Nailing down an exact date when the Outlaw movement started depends on who you talk to, but a popular one is when Willie Nelson’s legendary 4th of July Picnics started […]

4th of July, Acuff-Rose, Bobby Bare, Chet Atkins, David Allan Coe, Eric Church, Gretchen Wilson, Hillbilly Central, Honky Tonk Heroes, Johnny Cash, Johnny Paycheck, Josh Thompson, Kris Kristofferson, Neil Reshen, Outlaw, Streets of Baltimore, Studio B, Sunday Morning Coming Down, Tompall Glaser, Wanted The Outlaws, Waylon Jenniongs, Willie Nelson

June 24, 2010

Forgotten Outlaw Larry Jon Wilson: 1940-2010

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I’d love to tell you that I know a lot about Larry Jon Wilson, who died Monday at 69 from a stroke, but truth is I only know him through the bits of his music that have passed under my nose over the years, and from his appearance in the documentary Heartworn Highways. There isn’t […]

death, Guy Clark, Heartworn Highways, Johnny Cash, Larry John Wilson, Townes Van Zandt, Waylon Jennings

May 29, 2010

The Time Willie Nelson Bailed Dennis Hopper Out of Jail

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Today we’re met with the sad news that actor Dennis Hopper has died of cancer. As a star in films like Easy Rider, Apocalypse Now and others, and as a long time friend of Willie Nelson, Dennis could could be seen as an honorary country music Outlaw so to speak. Especially since he was right […]

death, Dennis Hopper, died, Easy Rider, Larry Trader, New Mexico, Taos, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson

April 6, 2010

Outlaw Shit – The Trial of Billy Joe Shaver

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Today is the day that original country music Outlaw Billy Joe Shaver faces trial for shooting 50-year-old Billy Coker in the cheek outside of Papa Joe’s Saloon in Lorena, TX, on March, 31st of 2007. Shaver’s charged with aggravated assault. The incident has been memorialized in the song Where Do You Want It? from the […]

Billy Joe Shaver, Don't You Think This Outlaw Bit's Done Got Out Of Hand, Outlaw Shit, Papa Joes, shooting, trial, Waylon Jennings, Where do you want it, Willie Nelson

March 10, 2010

Rose Maddox – Grandmother of Rockabilly & More

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If you’re anything like me, if I want to hear some new music, you sure aren’t going to find me sniffing around CMT or burying your nose in the latest Rolling Stone. No, I’m likely going to be looking to the past, not the future. And man, what a thrill it is when you find […]

Alabama Outlaws, Ashland, Bill Black, Elvis Presley, Emmylou Harris, Grand Ole Opry, Grandmother of Rockabilly, Hank Williams, Izzy and the Kesstronics, Johnny Whitesides, Luisiana Hayride, Maddox Brothers and Rose, Marty Robbins, Miss Boogie, rockabilly, Rose Maddox, Wanda Jackson

October 17, 2009

Austin City Limits – 35 Years – Willie Nelson

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It was 35 years ago today, or tonight, that Austin City Limits, inspired by Jan Reid’s book The Improbable Rise of Redneck Rock and the exploding Outlaw country music scene in Austin, aired their first episode. And who better to book for the first show than the Improbable Willie Nelson. It was 1974; two years […]

Austin, Austin City Limits, Ben Harper, Dave Matthews Band, first episode, Kenny Cheseney, Pearl Jam, pilot episode, The Outlaws, Willie Nelson

October 6, 2009

Forgotten Outlaw – Paul “The Devil” English

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Of all the rough characters the Outlaw Country music scene can boast, only one has a glass eye and is a former gang leader and pimp. Only one when asked once by a 20/20 reporter if he carried a gun, and if so could he see it answered, “Which one?” because he notoriously carried two […]

Austin City Limits, cape, drummer, Paul English, Willie Nelson

August 24, 2009

Forgotten Outlaw – Willis Alan Ramsey

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Back in the mid 70’s-the first time country music was saved- The Outlaws of country like Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings found a home and harbor from Nashville’s ill ways in the Austin, TX singer-songwriter scene. People like Jerry Jeff Walker, Michael Martin Murphy, Townes Van Zandt, and Ray Wylie Hubbard had made Austin a […]

Album, America, Austin, Jerry Jeff Walker, Jimmy Buffett, Waylon Jennings, Willis Alan Ramsey

May 11, 2009

Poodie Locke – Stories from the Road

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Death has been busy lately in the world of country music. When Vern Gosdin passed away, I hated to admit that for all my country music geekness, I had never heard of the man. But I can’t say the same about Poodie Locke, who passed away last Wednesday (5-6-09). I knew exactly who he was, […]

Poodie Locke, The Grateful Dead, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson

April 14, 2009

BR549 & The Beginning of the Neo-Traditionalist Movement

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Country music is an interesting thing. More so than in any other genre of music, you can look back at it’s history and almost see a grand design; an underlying purpose to all of it’s ebbs and flows. Country music has created folk heroes and arch villains within it’s ranks of performers and business handlers. […]

BR549, Chris Scruggs, Don Herron, Garth Brooks, Hank III, Junior Brown

April 6, 2009

Hank Williams is “Top Music Icon” in Alabama

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In a poll conducted by The Birmingham News in Alabama where over 31,000 ballots were cast in six total rounds since March 5th, Hank Williams was named Alabama’s “Top Music Icon” by the people. I first learned about this contest from the General of European Operations Restless in Amsterdam. Unfortunately I heard about it too […]

Alabama, Hank Williams, Seven Signs, The Birmingham News

February 3, 2009

Honoring The Hall of Fame and The Hoss

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I’ve said it many times before. About the only country music institution you can count on nowadays to honor the old greats and preserve the traditions of REAL country music is The Country Music Hall of Fame. But unfortunately like so many of us they are having financial troubles. I first read about this on […]

Bill Monroe, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Gibson F-5, Gibson L-5, Grand Ole Pory, Hank III, Hank Williams, Hank Williams Jr., Johnny Cash, Martin D-35, Maybelle Carter, Outlaw Magazine, Reinstate Hank, Ricky Skaggs, The Country Music Hall of Fame, Twang Nation, Waylon Jennings

January 22, 2009

When Country Heroes Work With Country Zeros

Trigger Down with Pop Country, History, Random Notes 7 Comments

I’ve seen this theme hashed out many times, in my blogs and blogs of others, on message boards, etc. etc. : How am I supposed to feel when one of my country heroes hooks up with a country zero of the modern pop country era? Whether you’re talking about the love fest between Hank Jr. […]

Bob Dylan, Country Heroes, David Allan Coe, Hank III, Hank Jr., Hank Williams Jr., IRS, Johnny Cash, Kennny Chesney, Kid Rock, Rick Rubin, Toby Keith, Willie Nelson

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