Buck Owens
Founded the Bakersfield Sound — and held the line.
Buck and his Buckaroos played country with the twang dialed up and the Nashville polish stripped off. Telecaster, pedal steel, two-part harmonies. Without Bakersfield there is no Dwight Yoakam, no Marty Stuart, no return-to-roots in the 80s.
- Bob Wills
- Hank Williams
- Chuck Berry
- Merle Haggard
- Dwight Yoakam
- Don Rich
Pull the thread
USA · 1944 — 1997
Townes Van Zandt
The patron saint of the kitchen-table songwriters.
USA · 1953 — present
Lucinda Williams
Louisiana made audible.
USA · 1978 — present
Sturgill Simpson
Walked into Nashville with a haircut and an attitude.
USA · 1991 — present
Tyler Childers
Appalachia, unfiltered and unembarrassed.
USA · 1988 — present
Sierra Ferrell
Sings like she found the songs in a creek bed.
USA · 1984 — present
Charley Crockett
Keeps the bones, throws out the gristle.
USA · 1979 — present
Jason Isbell
Wrote 'Southeastern' and meant it.
USA · 1983 — present
Margo Price
Outlaw country with a working-class spine.