Gram Parsons
Cosmic American Music — invented, then gone at 26.
Gram called it Cosmic American Music — country and soul and gospel and rock sharing the same pew. He passed through the Byrds, founded the Flying Burrito Brothers, made two solo records with Emmylou Harris, and died in a Joshua Tree motel at 26. Every Americana artist owes him something, whether they know his name or not.
- George Jones
- Merle Haggard
- The Louvin Brothers
- The Byrds
- The Flying Burrito Brothers
- Emmylou Harris
- Keith Richards
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.