Texas country music
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Texas country music | |
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Stylistic origins |
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Texas country music (more popularly known just as Texas country or Texas music) is a subgenre of
Neither the location of birth nor the location of upbringing seems to calculate in the definition of a Texas Country artist, as long as the origin is not in the corporate Nashville scene as the genre tends to be anti-Nashville. The genre differentiates from Nashville country with its rejection of pop influences that is found in Nashville Country recently, but does not necessarily mean the artist/group is Texas-based. For example,
Instrumentation
The
Vocals
The line of delineation for vocals is unclear. Traditionally, the Texas Country scene has been a male dominated genre, however many women have had chart success in recent years. The Texas "anthem" is a common song type, referencing and sometimes embellishing on the different positive characteristics of the state. Many of these types of songs have been popular on the Texas music charts.[5]
Live performances
The live performance is at the very root of the Texas Country scene. Enthusiasm is the best descriptor for both band and crowd at a live Texas Country performance. "It is not an uncommon sight to see clubs all over Texas packed to the rafters; girls and boys in cowboy hats and
In addition to local and state wide venues hosting live performances, the Texas Regional Radio Report hosts the annual Texas Regional Radio Music Awards Show where the Texas Red Dirt artist and radio stations are recognized for the outstanding achievements throughout the year. The winners in 25 categories are nominated and voted on by fans, friends and industry professionals and are awarded the night of the show. The voting membership has grown to over 32,000 voting members in five years and continues to expand every year. The awards show is open to the public and fans alike who cheer on their favorite artist/entertainers and radio stations. Information about the show and voting procedures can be found at https://trrma.net/
Themes
Lyrical content is the backbone of Texas country music. Legendary Country Music Outlaw Willie Nelson was inspired by his friend Waylon Jennings, a country legend and inspiration to present Texas country musicians himself, when he said “Your melody goes where the words take you”.[10]
There are 4 different types of themes in Country Music. These themes include the following categories: "It's All Over" (songs with a core theme of loss or regret), "It's Not Working Out" (songs with a focus on frustration over a relationship), "Love and Devotion" (sappy love songs) and "The Right Way to Live" (songs with a dominant theme of pride and homespun wisdom).[11]
Songs about traditional dance halls, open roads, family farms and hometown bars, along with other illustrations of Texas landscape, are all found in present-day Texas country artists' catalogs. The ties of landscape and music seem to serve as remembrance and gratitude, as evident in most songs. Appreciation for surroundings is not the only limitation for this theme. The "average man" and his struggle with nature do appear as well. "The songs definitely incorporate a spirit of the times and constitute a spontaneous and fairly comprehensive record of life".[12]
History
Origination
Country music from Texas has been popular since the spread of the cowboy culture in the late 1800s. Texas helped popularize Country music through the world and the state’s rich and varied traditions continue to redefine Country music.[13]
Texas Country's roots lie in the
These artists were followed in turn by the work of singer-songwriters such as
While the genre has roots in Texas, Oklahoma artists such as Jason Boland, Stoney LaRue, Mike McClure, and Cross Canadian Ragweed have had a major influence on Texas Country. For this reason, "Red Dirt Music" is becoming a more popular term for the genre to pay homage to its Oklahoma influence. The term was coined in reference to the miles of red dirt that is common throughout the two states. George Strait has the most songs about Texas. “Amarillo by Morning” and “All My Exes Live In Texas” are his most popular Texas songs.
1990s
Robert Earl Keen's No. 2 Live Dinner, released in 1996, had it all; comedy accompanied with "a sharp wit, a laid-back cowboy style, and an eye for detail... combined in [his] songs that are as easy on the ears as they are packed with insight".[14] Keen's home calling came after a short stint in Nashville, where he quickly became uncomfortable. His 1996 live album release truly showcased the “wide range” of the talented Texas musician and popularized the single "The Road Goes On Forever", a song many music fans regard as the paradigm for Texas 'Country anthems'. Joe Ely and other Texas musicians have recorded cover versions of “The Road Goes On Forever”.
2000s and the Texas influence in Nashville
Cory Morrow, a Houston native, had been on the Texas scene since the mid-90s. With the release of his fourth album Outside the Lines, Morrow found more mainstream success on the Country Music charts.[15][citation needed]
Kevin Fowler, a former hair-metal/glam rocker was Dangerous Toys guitarist from the late 1980s until 1993, followed by his own founding of Thunderfoot, a Southern rock band based out of Austin. Originally from Amarillo, he self-released his country debut album One For The Road in 1997. This followed with his smash independent follow-up album, Beer, Bait, and Ammo. He has since found national success, on a major label.
Texas Country's influence continues to be felt in the mainstream music genre with artists such as
Many independent artists, which is the fastest growing segment of the global recorded music business,[16] have gained commercial success through the Texas music scene, such as albums debuting in the Top 5 of Billboard's Top Country Album sales.[17]
Radio stations
Internet
Terrestrial (AM/FM)
- KBSO 94.7 Corpus Christi, Texas[20]
- KFLP 106.1 Floydada/Plainview/Lubbock, Texas[21]
- KZAH 99.1 Harper, Texas
- KFWR 95.9 Fort Worth, Texas
- KFYN 104.3 Paris, Texas
- KILT 100.3 HD3 Houston, Texas[22]
- KKBQ 92.9 HD3 Pasadena, Texas[23]
- KNBT 92.1 New Braunfels, Texas[24]
- KOLI 94.9 Wichita Falls, Texas[25]
- KOKE 99.3/98.5 Austin, Texas[26]
- KORA 98.3 Bryan/College Station, Texas[27]
- KPLX 99.5 Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas[28]
- KPUR 95.7 Amarillo, Texas
- KRMX 92.9 Waco, Texas[29]
- KRVA 107.1 Campbell, Texas
- KSLI 1280 Abilene, Texas[30]
- KMWX 92.5 Abilene, Texas[31]
- KKHR 101.7 Abilene, Texas
- KTEX 106.1 Brenham, Texas[32]
- KTWL 105.3 Brenham, Texas[33]
- KWHI 101.7 Brenham, Texas[34]
Syndicated radio programs
Several regionally syndicated programs feature the format:
- CDTex Radio Show[35]
- Official Texas Countdown[36]
- Scotty Bennett's Texas Nights[37]
- The Red River Radio Show with Bryson
Tracking and charts
Radio play in Texas music is tracked and reported digitally by the Texas Country Music Chart and TractionTX using the highest level of technology. Radio airplay is still physically reported by the Texas Regional Radio Report.
Many of Texas country artists maintain a yearly membership with the Texas Country Music Association, a community of touring and recording artists, songwriters, and many other contributors to the Texas music industry.[38]
Royal Caribbean International and Luxx Vacations have partnered with various sponsors to host a Texas Country Music Cruise on the Liberty of the Seas, featuring many Texas music artists such as Cory Morrow, William Clark Green, and Bri Bagwell.[39]
Further reading
- Abernethy, Francis E. "Texas Folk and Modern Country Music". Texas Country: The Changing Rural Scene. Ed. Lich, Glene. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, 1986.
- Barr, Gregory. "Randy Rogers Band: Just a Matter of Time". Best in Texas Music Magazine.
- Carr, Joe and Allan Munde. Prairie Nights to Neon Lights. Lubbock: ISBN 9780896723658
- Dawidoff, Nicholas. In the Country of Country: People and Places in American Music. New York: ISBN 978-0375700828
- Fox, Aaron A. Real Country: Music and Language in Working-Class Culture. Durham, NC: ISBN 978-0822333487
- Harrington, Ann Marie. Roger Creager - Long Way to Mexico
- ISBN 978-1613744697
- Malone, Bill C. "Growing Up With Texas Country Music." What's Going On? (In Modern Texas Folklore). Ed. Abernethy, Francis E. Austin, TX: The Encino Press, 1976.
- Middleton, Richard. Studying Popular Music. Philadelphia: ISBN 978-0335152759
- Specht, Joe W. "Put a Nickel in the Jukebox". The Roots of Texas Music. Ed. Clayton Lawrence. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, 2003.
References
- ISBN 978-1-58979-202-9. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
- ISBN 978-1-387-78328-1. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
- ^ Billboard (in German). Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1974-09-07. p. 49. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
- ISBN 978-0-87611-297-7. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
- ^ TX National Anthem voting Archived 2008-07-03 at the Wayback Machine (sponsored by Lone-Star Beer company)
- ^ Lone Star Music. Kevin Fowler Biography. November 9, 2006 LoneStar Music.
- ^ "Cowboys Dancehall: Dallas and San Antonio". CowboysDancehall.com. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
- ^ "John T. Floore Country Store". John T. Floore Country Store. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
- ^ "The Best Places for Live Country Music in Texas". Wideopencountry.com. 1 March 2017. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
- ^ Jennings, Waylon and Lenny Kaye. Waylon: An Autobiography. New York: Warner Books, 1976.
- ^ Smith, Lindi (2016-05-03). "Chart Shows the 4 Themes in Country Music Over 50 Years". Wide Open Country. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
- ^ Clayton, Lawrence. "Elements of Realism in the Songs of the Cowboy." American Renaissance and American West. Ed. Durer, Christopher S. et al. WY: University of Wyoming, 1982.
- ^ Hartman, Gary. The History of Texas Music. N.p.: Texas A&M University Press, 2008. Print.
- ^ Wolff, Kurt. Country Music: The Rough Guide. London: Rough Guides Ltd, 2000.
- ^ kbec (2017-10-24). "Texas Music Facts and Some Tales". KBEC 1390. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
- ^ "Why Independent Musicians Are Becoming the Future of the Music Industry". Forbes.
- ^ "Indie Texas Country Artists Racking up Major-League Sales".
- ^ "Texas Country Mix (Internet Radio)".
- ^ "GotRadio Texas Best (Internet Radio)".
- ^ "KBSO 94.7 Corpus Christi, Texas".
- ^ "KFLP 106.1 Floydada/Plainview/Lubbock, Texas".
- ^ "KILT 100.3 HD3 Houston, Texas".
- ^ "KKBQ 92.9 HD3 Pasadena, Texas".
- ^ "KNBT 92.1 New Braunfels, Texas".
- ^ "KOLI 94.9 Wichita Falls, Texas".
- ^ "KOKE 99.3/98.5 Austin, Texas".
- ^ "KORA 98.3 Bryan/College Station, Texas".
- ^ "KPLX 99.5 Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas".
- ^ "KRMX 92.9 Waco, Texas".
- ^ "KSLI 1280 Abilene, Texas".
- ^ "KMWX 92.5 Abilene, Texas".
- ^ "KTEX 106.1 Brenham, Texas".
- ^ "KTWL 105.3 Brenham, Texas".
- ^ "KWHI 101.7 Brenham, Texas".
- ^ "CDTex Radio Show".
- ^ "Official Texas Countdown".
- ^ "Scotty Bennett's Texas Nights".
- ^ "TCMA Home". Texas Country Music Association. Retrieved 2022-03-20.
- ^ "Texas Country Music Cruise".