I am rock and roll guy. Metal too! But I will enjoy a good Motown song or some smooth jazz. I find that as I grow older, I’m more inclined to reach back into my youth and find the pop music of the times to be some of my favorites to listen to. Other than mainstream country music, I haven’t listened to country artists very much in my life. All that changed when my wife became a country music fan, caught up in the wave of country music that swept the nation in the 2000s. I was forced to share the car radio and play those country stations along with the hair bands. I found myself drawn to the accessible lyrics found in country music. As country music became more popular, the music started to drift towards a more rock tone. Which was fine with me. I’ll take modern country all day but the old-style twangy stuff.. not so much.
Son of Davy
Enter Charley Crockett into my consciousness! Charley Crockett boosts that he is a descendent of Davy Crockett. He hails from San Benito, Texas whose other favorite son is country legend Freddy Fender. I first heard him playing a very twangy country song that would have, normally, made me change the station immediately. But something was haunting about his delivery. The song was “Jamestown Ferry”. It’s a song made popular by Tanya Tucker back in the 1970’s. From what I can tell, Charley sings it pretty straight. Like the original. I think it’s the deliberate delivery and his unique phrasing that appealed to me. The simple lyrics and beautiful rhymes on this song were so accessible. This is one of the many country classics that he’s covered. Crockett will do whole albums of cover songs by a single artist. I have never heard so many great songs as these old country classics.
Charley Crockett has to be one of the most prolific artists out there. He alternates album releases between albums full of covers and ones full of originals. He has released 11 albums in the last 7 years! He occupies a solid spot in the more authentic, roots country “Americana” genre. But his worldly travels taught him a few different styles Charley dabbled in rap and R&B early in his career Bringing in those blues and R &B influences, Charley developed his own unique style that is hard to categorize
Throwback
Wrap all this talent in a classic western package where Charley looks like he just stepped off a train bound for Tulsa and throw in a tight, talented band and you’re witnessing something special. Listening to Charley tell a story is a pleasant, easy experience. But to see Charley perform live is the real treat.
When the COVID pandemic ended, Charley hit the road with a relentless schedule, zig-zagging across the country. Playing smallish venues. When summer comes so do the festivals and every summer, Charley gets invited to more and more
To see Charley Crockett and his band live is a rollicking jaunt through country music history and one hell of a good time! Charley cut his teeth busking all over the country and in Europe also. Playing in front of all those different types of audiences allowed Charley to develop a sure-fire crowd-pleasing performance style that he still employs today.
