For grins let's do a best all time greatest country band/artist thread. I have many to list but I'll start here.
My initial answer as well.Duncan Idaho said:
Bob wills is still the king
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What is this "real country music"? Can anyone define what it sounds like?
I'm sure many of you remember in the '90s, older country artists talked a lot of trash about what was being played on the radio. Waylon Jennings may never have really used that extremely vulgar simile to describe Garth Brooks' music but he did say very critical things about Garth Brooks. Now, you go listen to the trash Luke Bryan puts out and tell me that doesn't make Garth Brooks sound like Buck Owens.
Well, that's not what a lot of fans of "real country" thought in the '90s when Garth Brooks "ruined country radio." Or, in the '80s, when Urban Cowboy "ruined country radio." Or, in the '70s when Olivia Newton-John won a CMA award for Most Promising Female Vocalist of the Year and a bunch of traditional country acts, like Porter Wagoner and Conway Twitty, all got together at George Jones' and Tammy Wynette's house to form the Association of Country Entertainers to protest smooth pop "ruining country radio." But, in the '60s, the Nashville Sound had already "ruined country radio." And that started in the '50s because Elvis Presley "ruined country radio." When drums started showing up on more country records in the '40s, well, it flat out "ruined country radio." And that only happened because in the 1930s people like Bob Wills couldn't settle the hell down and play some nice, pure country music, like Jimmie Rodgers or The Carter Family.
I'm not sure there's ever been a time that country radio wasn't hated by the fans of the previous generations' country music. Ask a fan from any point in history to define the sound of country music and they're likely to say something along the lines of, "Well, it's sure not what they're playing on the radio these days!"
I think King George is a great (Top 10) country music singer. Smooth voice & benefited from some great songwriters.Quote:
George strait is a great country music performer but an underwhelming artist.
Willie nelson is one of the truly great country artist but an average performer.
Buck and Conway some of the best. Conway had the most #1 hits till George Strait took that crown. I think each decade over the years you have some really good artist and the music different over the years.EclipseAg said:
I don't know about best, but Buck Owens and Conway Twitty were pretty prolific.
Conway got caught up in the '80s pop country sound like everyone in Nashville but his early stuff was pretty twangy.
And of course, Buck and his partner Don Rich created some memorable music with the Bakersfield sound, treble turned up high so it would sound good on AM car radios.
Yep love some VernFunky Winkerbean said:
George is the obvious choice, but this is the correct choice.
I recall a rumor that a movie was going to be made about him. It's a story that needs to be told.BurnetAggie99 said:
I always love some Gary Stewart. Very tragic and sad about his death. Let's pound some beers, play some 42 and play the hell out of Gary Stewart.
100% agree a movie needs to be made. He was a legendFunky Winkerbean said:I recall a rumor that a movie was going to be made about him. It's a story that needs to be told.BurnetAggie99 said:
I always love some Gary Stewart. Very tragic and sad about his death. Let's pound some beers, play some 42 and play the hell out of Gary Stewart.
Here's one more to torment you..Big Cat `93 said:
The Hag
That said, I want to listen to just about everyone mentioned in this thread right now.
Gary Stewart was great. If you haven't heard it, check out Mike and the Moonpies' tribute album "Touch of You: The Lost Songs of Gary Stewart." They recorded 10 of Stewart's hidden gems and it is very well done.BurnetAggie99 said:
I always love some Gary Stewart. Very tragic and sad about his death.