For the Museum’s “Live at the Hall” series, Americana artist Charley Crockett talks about how he developed his rich blend of different musical styles as a street performer and performs three songs that illustrate the range of his musical vision.
Crockett is among the artists recognized in the 2021 installment of the Museum’s annual exhibition, “American Currents: State of the Music,” in a section titled “Unbroken Circle,” which illustrates the connection between country music’s past, present, and future. In Crockett’s case, the connection is country star Freddy Fender.
Crockett grew up in the Gulf Coast town of San Benito, Texas, a largely Hispanic farming community in the Rio Grande Valley, twenty miles north of the Mexican border. His music blends blues, R&B, country, and folk, much like Freddy Fender, who also hailed from San Benito.
In the interview with the Museum’s Michael Gray, Crockett begins by talking about Fender—his admiration for the singer and how Crockett discovered his music. The conversation segues into stories about how Crockett learned his musical craft as a resourceful street performer in New York, New Orleans, and other cities. He also talks about the influence of Louisiana swamp-blues singer Lazy Lester.
This program was taped on September 10, 2021—one week before Crockett released his tenth album, “Music City USA.” He performs “Are We Lonesome Yet,” which appears on that album. He also sings “Diamond Joe,” a traditional song he learned from folksinger Ramblin’ Jack Elliott. Crockett also premieres “Cowboy Candy,” a song he wrote weeks before the Museum taping and had not yet recorded.
FOR MORE
Watch Bonus Tracks from “Live at the Hall” with Charley Crockett here: https://watch.countrymusichalloffame.org/videos/charley-crockett-bonus-tracks-live-at-the-hall-2021
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