Strait: A Creative, Innovative Genius

Hardly embarrassing! I attended the George Strait concert that Hilburn was at Aug. 12 at the Greek Theatre. There is probably no bigger Merle Haggard fan around than myself, but I did not wish that “The Hag” were singing “Big Balls in Cowtown” or “Brain Cloudy Blues.” George and his incredible band gave the Bob Wills classics all the justice they deserved.

I think Hilburn is always looking for the next Elvis or Beatles or, in this case, a Hank Williams Sr. The fact is that this type of creative and innovative genius only comes along once in a generation. Strait has never claimed to be the next anyone. He did, however, lead the charge to bring country music back to its native roots in the early ‘80s when pop/country had watered our music down. For this he should be commended, since at that time country music was going in a very different direction. The fact that he is the reigning entertainer of the year, that he sold out the Greek Theatre and that he has all those gold records should tell Hilburn that this is what the fans want.

Let me add that in my 20 years in the country music industry I have never seen the creative energy that is currently coming out of Nashville. Country rock from the Kentucky Headhunters, Randy Travis, great songwriting-performers like K.T. Oslin, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Matraca Berg and, of course, the young gifted performers like Doug Stone, Alan Jackson and Garth Brooks.

Trying to stretch the envelope doesn’t necessarily make for a better or greater artist. If Hilburn’s idea of creative genius is the Cowboy Junkies, I’ll pass.

See letters to Counterpunch, F4.