Pickers and poets : the ruthlessly poetic singer-songwriters of Texas / edited by Craig Clifford and Craig D. Hillis.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction / by Craig Clifford and Craig D. Hillis -- The first generation: folksingers, Texas style -- Too weird for Kerrville: the darker side of Texas music / Craig Clifford -- Townes Van Zandt: the anxiety, artifice, and audacity of influence / Robert Earl Hardy -- Vignette: the ballad of Willis Alan Ramsey / Bob Livingston -- Guy Clark: old school poet of the world / Tamara Saviano -- Kris Kristofferson: the silver-tongued Rhodes scholar / Peter Cooper -- Vignette: Don Henley: literature, land, and legacy / Kathryn Jones -- Steven Fromholz, Michael Martin Murphey, and Jerry Jeff Walker: poetic in lyric, message, and musical method / Craig D. Hillis -- Vignette: Kinky Friedman: the Mel Brooks of Texas music / Craig Clifford -- Billy Joe Shaver: sin and salvation poet / Joe Holley -- One man's music: Vince Bell / Joe Nick Patoski -- Vignette: Ray Wylie Hubbard: grifter, ruffian, messenger / Jenni Finlay -- The great progressive country scare of the 1970s / Craig D. Hillis (interview with Gary P. Nunn) -- Plenty else to do: lyrical Lubbock / Andy Wilkinson -- Roots of steel: the poetic grace of women Texas singer-songwriters / Kathryn Jones -- From debauched yin to mellow yang: a circular trip through the Texas music festival scene / Jeff Prince -- Vignette: Bobby Bridger: "Heal in the wisdom" : creating a classic / Craig D. Hillis (interview with Bobby Bridger) -- Interlude: what do we do with Willie? I. Willie (an early encounter) / Craig D. Hillis -- II. Willie (on everything) / Craig Clifford and Craig D. Hillis -- The second generation: garage bands, large bands, and other permutations -- Gettin' tough: Steve Earle's America / Jason Mellard -- Lyle Lovett and Robert Earl Keen: cosmic Aggies / Jan Reid -- Vignette: Walt Wilkins: spirituality and generosity / Craig Clifford (interview with Tim Jones) -- Lucinda Williams: poet of places in the heart / Kathryn Jones -- Rodney Crowell: looking inward, looking outward / John T. Davis -- Vignette: Sam Baker: short stories in song / Robert Earl Hardy -- James McMurtry: too long in the wasteland / Diana Finlay Hendricks -- Epilogue: passing of the torch? -- Drunken poet's dream: Hayes Carll. I. Good enough for old guys / Craig Clifford -- II. Good enough for young guys / Brian T. Atkinson -- Roll on: Terri Hendrix / Brian T. Atkinson -- From riding bulls to dead horses: Ryan Bingham / Craig Clifford (interview with Shaina Post) -- Bad girl poet: Miranda Lambert / Craig Clifford -- Challenge to bro country: Kacey Musgraves / Grady Smith -- Beyond the rivers / Craig Clifford.

Print version record.

Many books and essays have addressed the broad sweep of Texas music-its multicultural aspects, its wide array and blending of musical genres, its historical transformations, and its love/hate relationship with Nashville and other established music business centers. This book, however, focuses on an essential thread in this tapestry: the Texas singer-songwriters to whom the contributors refer as "ruthlessly poetic." All songs require good lyrics, but for these songwriters, the poetic quality and substance of the lyrics are front and center. Obvious candidates for this category would include Tow.

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