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The Icons of Outlaw Country

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During the 1960’s, country music experienced the commercial and artistic success known as the Nashville Sound. By the 1970’s, however, it was clear that the Nashville Sound was simply not working for many country artists. Regardless of their talent it was nearly impossible for new or unfamiliar artists to get any attention, and the artists that did get the producers’ attention were not allowed to write their own songs or hire their own band members. A group of disgruntled Nashville musicians, later known as Outlaws, felt the immediate need to change the system. These musicians began a tradition of creative control and musical experimentation that remain the “bedrock musical values” of country music today. Born and raised in Texas, John Wesley Karson had a front row seat long before the term “Outlaw” was even used to describe what he calls this “Cosmic Cowboy” revolution. John’s radio career spans over four decades and each week he shares music and insight into these icons of country music, taking his listeners on a two hour sonic journey through the past and into the present state of the world of country music from his studios in Bakersfield, California. The Icons of Outlaw Country combines the best elements of the Talk Radio & Classic Country formats with a healthy dose of podcast style storytelling and interview segments as a celebration of the bold individualism of those select few artists who dared to rock the country music boat and do it their own way, the American way.