Country Quizzin’: Texas Country
April 1, 2009
UPDATED
I was glad to see such a nice turnout this week. It reminds me that I really ought to thank the boys at The 9513 here for continually linking to this feature, which seems especially appropriate since this was Texas week. Thanks, y’all!
Since this is the first week and there wasn’t much variation in scores, I’m just going to list the folks who scored perfectly:
pselby | Mike K | Brody | sarah | amu | Sam G | Kelly
The answers have been added, plus clips so you can sample the artists you’re unfamiliar with, and your comments should be visible now. See you next week – bring your bluegrass caps!
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Country Quizzin’ is back for its fourth month, and this time, the whole month is going to be united around one overarching theme: sub-classifications or “relative” genres of country music. I’ve tended to ask a lot of questions about mainstream country over the past three months, but I think it’s important that any informed country music fan have a well-rounded understanding of the genre.
Therefore, I’m going to dedicate a quiz each week this month to one of the following: Texas country, bluegrass, rockabilly, and country rock (which I define to include a lot of what is now commonly called alt-country), all of which have ties to country music but are very much their own musical beasts. Because these subjects will be new to many readers, I encourage you all to study them beforehand to help you do better on the quizzes and for your own enrichment (but as always, please no cheating during the quizzes themselves).
This particular week we’re starting slow, so you’re just testing your knowledge of eight essential Texas country artists, both past and present.
You have until 10 EST (try not to be late!), and answers/rankings/comments will be revealed at 10:30.
Oh, and as always, there is a $20 Amazon gift certificate waiting at the end of the tunnel for this month’s lucky winner…which could be you!
Without further ado:
For each blurb, please name the artist described.
1. One of the bedrock artists of the Texas music scene, he ironically hails originally from Upstate New York. He is most widely-known as the composer of the now-legendary “Mr. Bojangles”; however, Texas fans regard cuts like “Gettin’ By” and “Sangria Wine” as classics, too.
Jerry Jeff Walker
2. Currently signed to a very successful Nashviille indie label, this fella had been going at it for about a decade down in Texas before mainstream success came his way. I won’t name any songs – that would make it too obvious – but I will mention that Todd Snider recently told Texas fans in an open letter that “y’all are spoiled rotten with talent, and it’s my opinion that [this artist] is your current flagship. So land ho [expletive]s.”
Jack Ingram
3. A country-rocker with too many credits to list here, but here’s one nice highlight: he helped found the Flatlanders. His first name has the same number of letters as his last, and the most recent album he appears on is called Live Cactus!
Joe Ely
4. This gal became a “Texas” artist somewhat involuntarily, as critical consensus holds that by all proper logic, she should have broken through in Nashville when she was signed to MCA. At least now, Texas fans have recognized her smart blend of country and other genre styles and embraced her. It helps that she’s married to another Texan celebrity. That probably gives it away.
Kelly Willis (husband is Bruce Robison)
5. Formed in Oregon and named after an infamous bank robber, this band produces hard-driving rock tunes with tasteful country flourishes. They just won the Austin Music Award for Best Country Band, plus a LoneStarMusic Award for Best Album Artwork.
Reckless Kelly
6. One of the artists who got the whole interest in Texas music started through his part in developing the Outlaw Movement there, and probably the most iconic figure in country music history who isn’t named Hank Williams.
I meant Willie Nelson, but wasn’t specific, so I also accepted Waylon Jennings.
7. Had the first nationally successful “Texan” country song, a little something you may have heard of called “Walking the Floor Over You.”
Ernest Tubb
8. Currently sitting at #1 on the Texas chart with their current single, this group was recently nominated for ACM Top New Vocal Group, although they lost out to Zac Brown Band. Their name is not actually a reflection of one person, as is typical, but of two.
Eli Young Band
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Playlist of featured artists:
Category: Country Quizzin'
Tags: Eli Young Band, Ernest Tubb, Jack Ingram, Jerry Jeff Walker, Joe Ely, Kelly Willis, Reckless Kelly, The Flatlanders, Willie Nelson
27 Comments so far
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1. Jerry Jeff Walker
2.
3.
4.
5. Reckless Kelly
6. Waylon Jennings
7. Ernest Tubb
8. Eli Young Band
1. Jerry Jeff Walker
2. Jack Ingram
3. Joe Ely
4. Kelly Willis
5. Reckless Kelly
6. Willie Nelson
7. Ernest Tubb
8. Eli Young Band
Good idea for the month. Thanks for continuing the quizzes.
1. Jerry Jeff Walker
2. Jack Ingram
3. Joe Ely
4. Probably Allison Moorer (Love her And Steve!)
5. Reckless Kelly
6. Willie Nelson
7. Ernest Tubb? (didn’t know he was from texas)
8. Eli Young Band
I couldn’t bring myself to skipping Texas week, so here goes:
1. Jerry Jeff Walker
2. Jack Ingram
3. Joe Ely. Butch Hancock and Jimmie Dale Gilmore are the other two that round out The Flatlanders, you know, if that gets me extra credit or anything.
4. Not super positive about this one, but I’m gonna roll with Kelly Willis.
5. Reckless Kelly
6. Willie Nelson
7. Ernest Tubb
8. Eli Young Band
2. Jack Ingram
3. Joe Ely
4. Kelly Willis
6. Waylon Jennings
7. Ernest Tubb
8. Eli Young Band
[...] Country Universe’s Dan Milliken is dedicating the month of April to the sub-classifications of country music for his weekly quiz. This week’s sub-classification is Texas country. [...]
1. jerry jeff walker
2. Jack Ingram
3. Joe Ely
4. Kelly Willis
5. Reckless Kelly
6. Willie NElson
7. Ernest Tubb
*. Eli Young Band
oops, i am not sure how to “hide the comment”…
1. Jerry Jeff Walker
2. Jack Ingram
3. Joe Ely
4. Kelly Willis
5. Reckless kelly
6. Willie Nelson
7. Ernest Tubb
8. Eli Young Band
Well, I tend to do better with the more mainstream, commercial artists, so I’m looking forward to learning about country music’s subgenres this month. Should be interesting.
1. Hmm… was it a member of the NGDB?
2. Jack Ingram (Pat Green would be my second guess.)
3. Argh! His first name has the same number of letters as his last name??? Nothin’ like a good “riddle me this”
4. Kelly Willis
5. Jesse James?
6. Willie Nelson
7. Lee Roy Van Dyke?
8. Eli Young Band
Thanks Dan! :)
1 Jerry Jeff Walker
2 ?
3 Joe Ely
4 Alison Moorer (?)
5 ?
6 Wilie Nelson
7 Ernest Tubb
8 Eli Young Band
1. Jerry Jeff Walker?
2. ?
3. Joe Ely
4. Kelly Willis
5. ?
6. Willie Nelson
7. Ernest Tubb
8. Eli Young Band
1. Jerry Jeff Walker
2. Pat Green??
3. no clue
4. Kelly Willis
5. Reckless Kelly
6. Waylon Jennings??
7. Ernest Tubb
8. Randy Rogers Band
1. Jerry Jeff Walker
3. Joe Ely
7. Ernest Tubb
8. Ely Young Band
2. Pat Green (?)
4. Kelly Willis (?)
6. Willie Nelson (?)
7. Ernest Tubb
8. Eli Young Band
That Todd Snider letter was wacky to say the least and I love me some Todd Snider.
Here we go:
1. Jerry Jeff Walker
2. Jack Ingram
3. Joe Ely
4. Kelly Willis / Bruce Robison
5. Reckless Kelly
6. Actually could be 2 artists, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, but I’m sure you mean the latter.
7. Ernest Tubb
8. Eli Young Band
1. Jerry Jeff Walker
2. Jack Ingram
3. Joe Ely
4. Kelly Willis
5. Reckless Kelly
6. Waylon Jennings
7. Ernest Tubb
8. Eli Young Band
1. Jerry Jeff Walker
2. Pat Green
3.
4. Kelly Wills
5. Reckless Kelly
6. Willie Nelson
7. Ernest Tubb
8. Eli Young Band
Answer for the first, third and fifth questions:
1. Jerry Jeff Walker
3. Jimmy Dale Gilmore or Joe Ely (?)
5. Restless Kelly
I know I should all of these, but here is what I got from doing it quickly:
1.
2. Jack Ingram
3.
4. Kelly Willis?
5.
6. Willie Nelson
7. Ernest Tubb
8. Eli Young Band?
1. Jerry Jeff Walker
2. …Pat Green is on a major label, so I guess it must be Jack Ingram
3. Joe Ely
4. Kelly Willis
5. Reckless Kelly
6. Willie Nelson
7. Ernest Tubb
8. Eli Young Band
1 Jerry Jeff Walker
2 Pat Green
3 Joe Ely
4 Kelly Willis (Robison)
5
6 Willie Nelson
7 Ernest Tubb
8 Eli Young
I think you did a quiz on places a few weeks ago. What about one for May on times i.e. Rosanne Cash’s “September When It Comes”, Merle Haggard’s “If We Make It Through December”, Lorrie Morgan’s “Except for Monday”, etc.? Also, maybe one on people i.e. Kenny Rogers’ “Lucille”, Phil Vassar’s “Carlene”, etc. Just a couple more ideas. :) Thanks again, Dan!
I’m glad Kelly Willis was included! She really should have been a mainstream success.
hmm I forgot Kelly was on MCA as well, I knew Allison Moorer was and figured it was her you were talking about.
Woah, I totally forgot Allison Moorer was on MCA, too. I think it’s a bit of a stretch to call her “Texas” despite the Steve Earle thing, but I’ll definitely give you the half-point on that one.