Honest-to-God Honky Tonkers

Toby Rider · Post by **Toby Rider** » 18 Jul 2004 11:25 am

I'm building up a list of currently *living* honky tonkers. What qualifies as honky tonk country music? Well, you've got to have a steel guitar, a fiddle and a twangy Telecaster, you've got to play some shuffles and you have to sing some songs about drinking, relationships gone wrong,etc..

Please help me add to this list! Please don't ask me to add Toby Keith or Shania Twain to this list

Ray Price
Johnny Bush
Dale Watson
Roger Wallace
Justin Trevino
Tommy Alverson
Clay Baker
Hank Thompson
Junior Brown
Wayne Hancock
BR-549
Cornell Hurd & Band
The Derailers
Chris Wall
Don Walser
Heather Myles
Kevin Banford
Buck Owens
Asleep at the Wheel
Merle Haggard
Dwight Yoakam
David Ball
George Jones
The Western Continentals
The Honky Tonk Hangovers
Kevin Banford & The Bakersfield Boys
The Dalhart Imperials
The Lucky Stars
Merle Haggard
Aaron Watson
Kevin Fowler
Halden Wofford & The Hi-Beams
The Spahn Ranch Boys
Ed Burleson
Jason Allen
Red Simpson
Jerry Lee Lewis
The Mavericks (early stuff)
Big Sandy & The Fly-Rite Boys
Bill Kirchen

[This message was edited by Toby Rider on 18 July 2004 at 12:28 PM.]

Craig A Davidson · Post by **Craig A Davidson** » 18 Jul 2004 11:58 am

Don't forget Jake Hooker and the Outsiders

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1985 Emmons push-pull,S-10 Marlen,Evans SE200,Hilton pedal

Steve Hitsman · Post by **Steve Hitsman** » 18 Jul 2004 12:14 pm

Jim Lauderdale

Walter Stettner · Post by **Walter Stettner** » 18 Jul 2004 12:34 pm

Dave Biller!

Kind Regards, Walter
www.austriansteelguitar.at.tf

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Bob Watson · Post by **Bob Watson** » 18 Jul 2004 1:39 pm

James Hand and his Band

Mark Herrick · Post by **Mark Herrick** » 18 Jul 2004 1:43 pm

Western Caravan
http://www.westerncaravan.com/

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Larry King · Post by **Larry King** » 18 Jul 2004 1:54 pm

Darrell McCall
Curtis Potter
Dewayne Bowman
Sammi Smith (after Sat nite)
Billy Mata and Texas Tradition..by all means

Sonny Priddy · Post by **Sonny Priddy** » 18 Jul 2004 5:35 pm

What About Hank Williams? SONNY.

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Toby Rider · Post by **Toby Rider** » 18 Jul 2004 5:37 pm

Hank Williams Sr. is hanging out with Carl Smith and Ernest Tubb..

I'm trying to compile a list of *living* honky tonkers.. I'm going to provide links to bios, to try to get folks to go their gigs.[This message was edited by Toby Rider on 18 July 2004 at 06:54 PM.]

Tim Whitlock · Post by **Tim Whitlock** » 19 Jul 2004 5:31 am

Real honest-to-God honky-tonk, as well as western swing, rockabilly and hillbilly are still alive and kicking, but you have to make an effort to find it. It's not served up by Clear Channel for mass consumption. Thanks for your list and thanks for including our fine Colorado bands!

Larry King · Post by **Larry King** » 19 Jul 2004 5:31 am

Don't know how I forgot this guy....how 'bout Tony Booth? Gene Watson? Texas, especially around the metroplex, and Austin, and San Antonio, there's bazillion great singers...one lesser known that comes to mind is Jim Snider....Bobby Flores is not a beer joint boozer but has a better understanding of what barroom country music should sound like than most anyone. IF we united, we might turn this thing around...maybe not eliminate what they're calling country, but re-establish a return to the REAL thing...XM radio could be the answer. Let's not forget the contribution that Ray Benson has and is making......his Bob Wills tribute C D's are absolutely great and are a 'must have' in your collection.

Henry · Post by **Henry** » 19 Jul 2004 7:29 am

RAY PENNINGTON,

NOT to forget;

DOUG COLLINS("Sounds like Texas"),
FRENCHIE BURKE'S ("Dance Album")
BOBBY FLORES ("Just for the Record")
and all the stuff HE is into with his "studiofriends" (ao; Jim Loessburg- Randy Reinhard-Tommy Datemore-Dicky Overbey
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EUROPE??????
HERMANN LAMMERSMEYER(germany)on his CD's all the giants as AO:Big E-pete Wade- Buddy Spicker
From the Netherlands Sandy Holland and the Nightriders and europe's foremoste ""Honky Tonkers"" The COUNTRYPICKERS (Koos Biel on steel-Ton Trossel fiddle-Maurits Hitijahubessy leadguitar)

Ron Page · Post by **Ron Page** » 19 Jul 2004 8:27 am

Listing Merle Haggard twice makes all the sense it the world to me.

I'd add Alan Jackson, Tony Booth and the late Mel Street.

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HagFan

[This message was edited by Ron Page on 19 July 2004 at 09:28 AM.]

Jody Cameron · Post by **Jody Cameron** » 19 Jul 2004 8:53 am

He ain't livin' but don't forget the Grandaddy of Hony-Tonkers - Gary Stewart.

Toby Rider · Post by **Toby Rider** » 19 Jul 2004 9:11 am

Whoops.. Thanks for spotting that I accidently included Merle twice.

Also I'm really encouraged that so many people are adding to the list.. Keep at it..

I've got to keep this list limited to currently living performers, as the goal is to use it as a method to help advertise for people's gigs.

[This message was edited by Toby Rider on 19 July 2004 at 10:13 AM.][This message was edited by Toby Rider on 19 July 2004 at 10:19 AM.]

Andy Greatrix · Post by **Andy Greatrix** » 19 Jul 2004 9:32 am

How about George Jones, Red Volkaert, and Jess Lee?

Toby Rider · Post by **Toby Rider** » 19 Jul 2004 9:37 am

George Jones is already on the list.

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 19 Jul 2004 10:17 am

Seems like you could add some current stars, such as:

Travis Tritt (Here's a quarter, call someone who cares)

Vince Gil (Nobody answers when I call your name)

Maybe even Alan Jackson and Brad Paisley.

Seems like we are overlooking a bunch of people from the '70s, such as Waylon, Willie, Conway, Charlie Pride, David Allen Coe, Ronnie Millsaps, etc.

Now I'm really worried that we are leaving out a lot of women. How do you separate out the torch singers from the honky-tonk angels? This could require a lot of thought. But surely we have to include Wanda Jackson, Patsy, Tammy, Loretta, and lots more.

Toby Rider · Post by **Toby Rider** » 19 Jul 2004 10:52 am

The Outlaws (who are still alive) are all going to be on a separate list. That includes Willie, Billy Joe Shaver, David Alan Coe, etc..

The list I'm compiling is of currently *living* honky tonk-style musicians. As I mentioned above, I'm trying to put together a publicity tool to help out other artists.

Pop country stars who do honky-tonk-style songs once and awhile aren't going to be on the list, because I'm trying to define sub-genres for the website. Otherwise, it'd all be one big list. Which wouldn't help at all. I'm trying to make it easier for people to check out new bands they've never heard before.

Besides, pop country stars don't need my help, they have ClearChannel and the publicity machines of the big record labels behind them

Alan Jackson is going to get added to the list.

As far a female singers.. Any one of them that has recorded lot's of songs that meet the sylistic criteria, I'll add to the list.

For instance, if Jean Shepard were still alive, she'd be on the list.

Speaking of which, I just realized that I need to add Danni Leigh to the list

Larry King · Post by **Larry King** » 19 Jul 2004 10:59 am

When did Jean Sheperd die?

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 19 Jul 2004 11:20 am

I'd add George Strait, Mark Chestnut, Joe Diffie, LeeAnn Womack, Feral Swing Kats, Tracy Bird & the late Keith Whitley.

Toby Rider · Post by **Toby Rider** » 19 Jul 2004 12:17 pm

Whoops.. I was thinking of Rose Maddox passing, not Jean Shepard.. Sorry about that, it's Monday. I'll add Jean Shepard to the list.

George Strait, Mark Chestnut, Joe Diffie, LeeAnn Womack just got suggested on another list I posted this question to.. I'll add them along with Tracy Bird & The Feral Swing Cats.

How I wish Keith Whitley were still alive!

Ron Page · Post by **Ron Page** » 19 Jul 2004 12:39 pm

Daryle Singletary and Doug Stone.

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HagFan

Donna Dodd · Post by **Donna Dodd** » 19 Jul 2004 4:24 pm

Travis Tritt - love the song he did on the Opry Saturday night about the Circus leaving town. FANTASTIC!

Pam Tillis
Tanya Tucker (has that been said)
Shania Twain (I have her first two CDs that can prove you guys wrong!

)

Lem Smith · Post by **Lem Smith** » 20 Jul 2004 1:32 am

Whoa Nellie! I can't believe everyone has left out the GREAT Gene Watson so far!

Gene is about as hardcore, acid country/honkytonk as you can get! Imho

Also, Mickey Gilley, Cal Smith, Moe Bandy, Charlie Walker (I'm not sure if Charlie's still with us or not), Mark Chesnutt. That's about all I can think of at the moment.

Lem[This message was edited by Lem Smith on 20 July 2004 at 02:41 AM.]