Texas Country
tagStarted 1972Peak 2000–2014Last big hit still active
Texas country balances songwriter craft, dancehall rhythm, dobro or fiddle accents, and an independent scene ethos shaped by Texas venues and radio. It is generally less Nashville-programmed than mainstream country, with more room for long roads, wit, and regional pride.
History
Its roots lie in progressive country, outlaw country, dancehall traditions, and Texas singer-songwriter culture. In the 1990s and 2000s, artists such as Robert Earl Keen, Pat Green, Cory Morrow, Randy Rogers Band, Wade Bowen, and Cody Johnson made Texas country a parallel industry with its own regional charts and circuits.
Defining artists
Essential listening
Sources
- Texas Almanac
- TSHA
- GRAMMY.com
- Cheatham Street histories