During Shooter’s search for unreleased gold, he also came across the original recordings of lines of “The Balladeer” for the first two episodes of The Dukes of Hazzard, complete with instrumental tracks.
The project has ballooned into a 10 part, 11-hour series. Consider it like the Ken Burns Country Music documentary that ran on PBS back in 2019, but dedicated to the Outlaw country movement.
If classic country is your thing, and so are cruses, the Country Music Cruise is a way to double up your passions, see some beautiful places, and witness many of your favorite artists in more intimate settings.
Part of the magic about the music of Keith Whitley is that he was able to accomplish so much in such a short period of time. He passed away tragically in 1989 at the age of 34 right as his career was taking off.
Well now. Country music’s wrestling heel and town drunk has hauled off and recorded himself an entire record of classic country music covers, and in a classic country sound, and in alleged tribute to all the past greats.
Like so many true country fans, keeping the memory of all the old Outlaw country greats alive is serious business for Doug Armento. It’s about paying their legacy forward in original songs the take inspiration from their music.
You can be assured that Dale Watson’s new album called “Unwanted” will be twangy, hard-charging, and true to itself when it’s released on April 24th via Forty Below Records. The twelve tracks all self-produced and written by Dale.
Waylon never followed, or imitated. He led. Even if he was going to fail, he would rather do it his way. That’s why it isn’t just the music, but Waylon’s attitude that was so influential, and inspirational.
The final hit from a country legend is always a fascinating topic. The sad reality is that whenever a superstar reaches the end of their shelf life according to the cold and soulless assessment of country music.
When folks go to listen to Wanted: The Outlaws on streaming services, Tompall Glaser’s contributions won’t be there. As folks started noticing recently, Tompall’s tracks have been grayed out.
Alan Jackson became a country music Hall of Famer singing them. But it was his long-time behind-the-scenes songwriting partner Jim McBride who was responsible for co-writing so many of his songs.
This year, using the term “essential” has never felt more important. As AI threatens to upend the music industry in the new year, it’s critical we underscore just how essential music is to all of us.
Along with Guy Clark and his wife Susanna, Rodney Crowell, Steve Young, Richard Dobson, dobro player Jim McGuire, Billy Callery, and a very young but hungry Steve Earle all sat around the table.
Beloved drummer, band member, session player, brother, and father Bryan “Keelgood” Keeling has passed away. He played with many musicians, but is best known as a member of the .357’s.
The music is still up on streaming services as of this post, though it will likely be taken down soon. But in many respects, the damage is already done. This is just a harbinger of things to come.
Fans are loving the new posthumous release of Waylon Jennings songs called “Songbird.” The appeal for the album is reflected in the sales and streaming numbers for the release so far.
Don’t allow the purveyors of pop to piss in your ear and call it “country.” There’s an entire universe of actual country artists out there offering a more healthy alternative. This playlist is your window into it.
Waylon Jennings was the real deal if there ever was one, and that’s why unheard tracks come so anticipated. The 10 tracks from ‘Songbird’ are from the ’70s and early ’80s era.
If you really want to test someone’s country music mettle, see if they can give you any details on the song “Mama’s Don’t Let Your Cowboys Grow Up To Be Babies” featuring Tony Joe White and Waylon Jennings.
Sonny Curtis was a skilled guitar player, a clever songwriter, and someone who left his fingerprints all across American culture in indelible ways, including as a member of The Crickets.
As fall breaks and the end of the year fast approaches, it’s time to look at what’s on tap for the rest of 2025 in country before Christmas music ushers the music industry into the Holidays.
Ever since Merle Haggard’s passing on his 79th birthday on April 6th, 2016, there’s been talk of some 300 to 400 unreleased songs sitting in an archive somewhere in the bowels of the Merle Haggard estate.
He played as a primary musician in the band for The Highwaymen. He was the final steel guitar player and producer for Waylon Jennings. He played on albums from Sturgill Simpson and Chris Stapleton. He earned the nickname the “Man of Steel.”
Over the last few months and years, something has been coming to the rescue of this relic of mass advertisement: independent country music. Charley Crockett, the Turnpike Troubadours and others have used billboards.