Country singers from TEXAS

[first published July 6, 2016]



                                                 

We begin with Bob Wills (born in Limestone County, TX), whose father was a champion fiddle player. Bob was a leader in fusing elements of country with big band jazz.

He suffered a coma while in the recording studio with Merle Haggard, and died a couple years later in 1975. Check out this tune.



Here is George Jones (born in Saratoga) singing the greatest country western song of all time.

                                         

Jones as a young troubadour

Listen to George Strait (born in Poteet) on the rodeo cowboys driving through the night to the next circuit stop. And his unforgettable "Write This Down."

                  

Here is one of the hits of THE HIGHWAYMEN. Composed of four superstars, they stayed together for a decade:

• Willie Nelson (born in Abbott), here performing "Seven Spanish Angels" with Ray Charles
• Kris Kristofferson (born in Brownsville)
• Waylon Jennings (born in Littlefield) did the theme for the "Dukes of Hazzard"
• The fourth member, Johnny Cash, was from neighboring Arkansas.

The first number-one song by Mark Chesnutt (born in Beaumont) was 'Brother Jukebox.' 

In the world of country western, words matter. A fine example by Don Williams (born in Floydada).