The captivating aspect of Luke Bell’s story is the reason multiple creators have risen up to help tell that story to the world. There’s a driving motivation to make sure the lessons of Luke Bell’s life and death don’t go unlearned.
On Friday, April 12th, the widow of Americana singer and songwriter Justin Townes Earle took to social media to let her thoughts be known about the song “When We Were Close,” written and performed by Jason Isbell.
With a gas can with a hole cut in the top for a tip jar, Pat Reedy has traveled around and kept it up close and personal with his fans, and with life in forgotten America. That’s reflected in “Make It Back Home.”
On Monday, February 19th, Wyatt Flores announced that he would be cancelling his upcoming show in Oxford, Ohio. Other upcoming shows in Detroit and Toronto will also be rescheduled to a later date.
Specializing in what she characterizes as “Wild Rose Country Music,” she’s taken time from punching cattle on the Canadian prairie in Southern Alberta to perform at key festivals in the area, while also cutting videos.
Some inspired filmmakers have set out to tell the story of Luke Bell. Directors Kevin Romeo and Matt Bakken of Rhino Media have taken the idea that someone should preserve Luke Bell’s legacy in full.
What the reaction to Luke Bell’s death certified was that he was a candidate to have a posthumous career in the same vein as Townes Van Zandt, Blaze Foley, and other singer/songwriters whose music feels so elemental.
Let’s delve a little bit deeper into this Paul Cauthen arrest business to clear up some misconceptions, address some unfair criticisms, and talk about how all of this plays into the independent country music community at large.
JP Harris was currently on tour at the time, and flew into Nashville last minute to perform the tribute. Early on in Luke Bell’s career, not only did JP Harris give Luke a place to stay and a job (JP Harris is also a full-time contractor), he also was a mentor to Luke, referring to him as “little brother.”
As we look back on 2022 and before we look forward to 2023, it’s important we take the time to pay tribute to the important individuals in country music who left us over the last year, and who left a mark on the country and roots music world that will never fade. 2022 saw some absolute titans of the music leave us.
Country artist Luke Bell was officially laid to rest in a private ceremony in Cody, Wyoming on September 9th. But on Saturday, November 12th, friends, family, fellow musicians and fans were given the opportunity to remember and celebrate Luke Bell publicly.
Luke Bell was officially laid to rest in a private ceremony at the Christ Episcopal Church in Cody, Wyoming on September 9th. But now a public memorial is planned for Luke that will be taking place on November 12th at the Circle P Ranch in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, just outside of Nashville.
Like too many of the great country music poets before him, Luke Bell died way too young due to the devastating ailment of the Lovesick Blues. Unfortunately though, that’s not one of the boxes that medical examiners are given to check off when they turn in their autopsy reports.
The 2022 Americana Music Awards transpired at the Ryman Auditorium Wednesday Night, September 14th, with Billy Strings, Brandi Carlile, Allison Russell, Sierra Ferrell, and The War and Treaty all walking away with big awards. There were also a few surprises.
The Saving Country Music Top 25 Playlist is built to keep you informed on all the best songs and albums coming out right here, right now in country and roots music. It’s available on most all streaming formats, or you can just use the song, artist, and album recommendations.
This week has been very bittersweet for Martha Spencer. It happened to be that Luke Bell picked the same week to grab everyone’s attention that she was releasing her new album called ‘Wonderland,’ which also happens to feature Luke Bell appearing on one of the album’s tracks—one of Luke’s last recordings.
If you’re sick and tired of turning on the CMA and ACM Awards and wondering where the hell your favorite artists are as you stare at some dude in skinny jeans shaking his ass with backup dancers, or a tractor rapper singing into an Auto-tuner, it’s about time you checked out the Dale Watson-founded Ameripolitan Awards.
Never has the story of a deceased independent country artist been so compelling to the point where it is covered so overwhelmingly across the entirety of American media, and beyond. And yes, the results of all this attention is translating into people listening to Luke Bell’s music.
He was one of the most authentic and magnetizing artists to grace the country music art form in the modern era. And those who knew Luke Bell, they know this assessment is in no way hyperbole or flattery. Even though he released only one album, in that single volume, Luke Bell captured a bygone era, aura, and mood.
Friends of country artist Luke Bell are raising concerns after he went missing over a week ago on Saturday, August 20th near 4th Ave. in Tucson, Arizona. Bell hasn’t been seen or heard from since. There is a possibility he is still in the area, or he could have left the Tucson area and Arizona entirely.
Normally a video for a cover song may not be cause to stop down and request your undivided attention. But anything that involves the always elusive Luke Bell these days is worth stopping down for, and he proves why when he teams up with the equally impressive Martha Spencer.
The Saving Country Music Top 25 Playlist is built to keep you informed on all the best songs and albums coming out right here, right now in country and roots music. It’s available on most all streaming formats. New songs have just been added.
First recorded in 2016 around the release of his self-titled album as a standalone acoustic performance for Amazon, Luke Bell’s cover of John Lennon’s “Jealous Guy” might not be the debut single from a new album many are hoping for, but anything with Luke Bell’s name on it is welcome.
As an addendum to The Search for Luke Bell, the elusive country music singer and songwriter originally from Wyoming re-emerged Sunday afternoon (7-27) after a long period of being out of the public eye. The occasion was a live stream event with close friend and common collaborator Matt Kinman.