New Country ???

The mid 80's brought about a new wave of Country Music with some bleed over of the standards. Perhaps the ultimate country song was released by the King, George Jones, "He Stopped Loving Her Today"

Alan Jackson, Randy Travis, and Garth Brooks were gaining in popularity along with a huge stable of "New" country stars.

The new country seemed to respect those who had gone before them and one could even detect a slight "twang" in some of the songs.

All the while this new country was gaining a foothold....Willie Nelson had left Nashville after his house burned down. Willie found a new home in Austin, Texas. The Nashville Music machine which had come into being in the late 50's and became very strong in the 60's and 70's....it was extremely important in those days to have that Nashville Sound....complete with orchestrated accompaniment, back up vocals, and huge production efforts. Willie being disillusioned with the Nashville Sound saw the fire as a sign to get out of Dodge and go back to Texas.

While in Austin, Willie began to release records with that pure, raw, country music with an edge and a twang. He had a respectable showing against the manufactured youngsters making noise in Nashville.

Soon others began to join Willie in Austin....the likes of Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson and the man Waylan Jennings.

Meanwhile Garth, an Oklahoman who had a strong rock influence brought huge legions of fans to country music. Garth was and still is new country, but he still has a little bit of an edge and plays slight homage to the classic sound.

During the late 80s and through the 90s, I saw quite a number of country shows. Alan Jackson opened for Randy Travis, always thought he should have been the other way around. Another great show was Brooks & Dunn opening for Reba. Reba puts on a hell of a show, and she has that classic country female sound. Also, Lorrie Morgan, George Jones, and Conway Twitty. George stole the show. Lorrie seemed kind of bitchy and Conway just walks out and sings.

In the 90's at the old Pontiac Silverdome was a country music fest. There were so many I can't
remember them all. I do remember the Dixie Chicks before the shit in their nest, and George Strait who was awesome. A lot like Conway....George just comes out and sings and does it very good.

I wish I could remember more about George Jones though, he definitely was the highlight of that show. Definitely the King of Country Music, this I now realize, it took a while but it's a fact in my opinion and that of many others.