Charley Crockett

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Charley Crockett
Crockett in 2020.
Crockett in 2020.
Background information
Born1984 (age 37–38)
San Benito, Texas, United States
GenresBlues, country, Americana
Occupation(s)Singer, guitarist, banjoist, songwriter
InstrumentsVocals, guitar
Years active2005–present
Labels
Websitecharleycrockett.com

Charley Crockett (born 1984)[1] is an American blues, country and Americana singer, guitarist, and songwriter. He has released nine albums since 2015, with Lil G.L.'s Blue Bonanza peaking at number 11 on the US Billboard Blues Albums chart.[2] In 2020, Crockett released his eighth album titled Welcome to Hard Times.[3] In 2021, Crockett released his next album titled 10 for Slim: Charley Crockett Sings James Hand a tribute album, to James "Slim" Hand,[4] and released his tenth[5] album Music City USA, on September 17, 2021.

Early life[]

A distant relative of Davy Crockett,[6] Charley was born in San Benito, Texas, United States.[7] The son of a single mother[1] with an older brother and sister, Crockett was raised in a trailer park in Los Fresnos, Texas.[6][8] His mother relocated the family to Dallas,[8] and Crockett spent the summer months with his uncle, who lived in the French Quarter of New Orleans.[9] Upon leaving high school, at the age of 17 Crockett decided to travel with his guitar, acquired by his mother from a pawn shop. Crockett noted "I taught myself how to play and started to write songs immediately, without any chord knowledge or anything. I didn't know what key I was in for 12 years, but my ear was really good, and I could play in any key and any chord. I just didn't know what it was."[1] His early musical influences came from hearing hip hop, and became fascinated with the samples used. Crockett said "I got into Curtis Mayfield through samples of his songs by other artists, and Nina Simone was through a sample. Even J. Cole, I was listening to a song of his ("Kenny Lofton"), and it was based on the sample from the Manhattans version of "Hurt".[7]

Crockett played music on the streets in the French Quarter of New Orleans and in Deep Ellum, Dallas as a teenager. Later he traveled further afield by hitchhiking and riding freight, before by 2009 busking in New York City.[9][6] As he improved his performing, Crockett organized a street band called the Trainrobbers, which caught the attention of a Manhattan-based representative for Sony Music. She signed the 26 years old Crockett to a two-year management contract, although he rejected a publishing deal.[1][9] Eventually tired of life on the streets and the pending expiry of the contract, Crockett relocated to Northern California, where he combined working on farms and communes with performing for three more years.[1][6][7] Crockett then existed on the streets in Paris, France, for a year, and briefly lived in Spain and Morocco.[10]

During these years, Crockett struggled to stay on the right side of the law. In the US, he sold weed to get by, at one point working the harvest in clandestine marijuana field in the northwest, and was arrested for possession in 2014. He was convicted of a felony crime twice. Music provided the way out.[11] Crockett noted later, "People think my story is far-fetched, but the thing is, I've toned it down."[12]

Career[]

In 2015, Crockett returned to Texas and after settling in Dallas, self-released his debut album, A Stolen Jewel, in May.[6] It landed him the Dallas Observer Music Award for 'Best Blues Act'.[9] The lo-fi collection contained a cover of the Flying Burrito Brothers' "Juanita."[1] Crockett also befriended Leon Bridges at this time,[7] before Crockett released a blues dominated album, In The Night, in 2016.[13] In The Night contained a selection of Crockett penned numbers, along with a cover of his hometown hero Freddy Fender's "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights".[1] Fort Worth Star-Telegram called In The Night "an impressive calling card, full of Crockett's plaintive soulfulness and swinging tempos".[10] Crockett spent the next year touring to promote his work, playing over 125 shows in total.[6][10] He toured with the Turnpike Troubadours, Lucero, Shinyribs, Samantha Fish, and Old 97's, among others.[14]

After relocating to Austin, Texas,[7] Crockett's next release was a collection of covers of country songs, Lil G.L.'s Honky Tonk Jubilee (2017), which was issued on Thirty Tigers.[6] Tracks included the Roy Acuff penned "Night Train to Memphis",[1] Tanya Tucker’s "The Jamestown Ferry" plus Hank Williams' "Honky Tonkin'", all incorporating Crockett's clipped, hiccuped Texan drawl.[1] Other tracks on the album were originally recorded by Ernest Tubb, Loretta Lynn, and Webb Pierce ("I Ain't Never").[14]

In 2018, he released Lonesome as a Shadow, a collection of purely original songs. It was recorded at Sam C. Phillips Recording Studio in Memphis, Tennessee,[6] and produced by Matt Ross-Spang.[8] The opening track, "I Wanna Cry" was written for his sister who had died from a methamphetamine overdose.[8][15] The album was dedicated to Henry "Ragtime Texas" Thomas.[7] Following its April release date, Crockett toured again backed by his band the Blue Drifters.[6] His dates included venues such as the House of Blues in Houston, Washington, D.C.'s 9:30 Club, The Mint in Los Angeles and The Fillmore in San Francisco.[7] In addition, he performed at festival dates such as the Wheatland Music Festival,[16] Portland, Oregon's Pickathon and Austin City Limits Music Festival.[1]

In late 2018, Crockett issued Lil G.L.'s Blue Bonanza. Crockett noted that "Lil G.L. is my side name, like Hank [Williams] had Luke the Drifter. I use it for all my side projects and cover projects". He explained the moniker was given to him by a local blues drummer, Jay Moeller, in reference to the obscure R&B singer G. L. Crockett.[1] AllMusic stated "Lil G.L.'s Blue Bonanza is a companion of sorts to Charley Crockett's 2017 Lil G.L.'s Honky Tonk Jubilee".[6] The album was primarily another compilation of cover versions, although Crockett's definition of the blues encompasses tracks including Jimmy Reed's "Bright Lights, Big City"; Tom T. Hall's "That's How I Got to Memphis" and Danny O'Keefe's "Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues".[1] In addition, Crockett covered work made in the past by Ernest Tubb, George Jones, and T-Bone Walker.[17] Lil G.L.'s Blue Bonanza peaked at number 10 in the Billboard Blues Albums chart.[2]

In early January 2019, Crockett underwent open-heart surgery. Pre-assessments for the surgery exposed that Crockett had a congenital heart condition where his heart had two out of three aortic valve flaps fused together, leading to Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome[18]

Crockett released The Valley on September 20, 2019. The album features the single "Borrowed Time", which was co-written with Evan Felker of Turnpike Troubadours.[19]

Field Recordings Vol. 1 was released on April 3, 2020 and is a collection of 30 lo-fi covers and originals recorded in Mendocino County, California.[20]

Crockett released his eighth album Welcome to Hard Times on July 31, 2020.[21] It was produced by Mark Neill and includes songwriting contributions from The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach and singer/songwriter Pat McLaughlin.[22] The album followed a life-threatening health scare in which he was diagnosed with a congenital heart condition that required heart surgery.[23] It received glowing reviews, including American Songwriter who raved "Crockett finds the sweet spot between country, soul, blues and folk on deceptively modest songs, effortless in their easy-going groove,"[24] while Texas Monthly stated, "Crockett makes a beeline for the album's central theme: wily survival in a socially, politically, and economically rigged system."[25]

On February 26, 2021, Crockett released his next album, titled 10 For Slim: Charley Crockett Sings James Hand, a tribute album to James "Slim" Hand.[26] It was met with critical acclaim from Rolling Stone,[27] The Boot,[28] Austin American-Statesman,[29] Forbes,[30] Saving Country Music,[31] and American Songwriter[32] among others.

In July 2021, Crockett announced his tenth album Music City USA which was released on September 17, 2021 via Son of Davy/Thirty Tigers, and shared the lead single "I Need Your Love."[33] Brooklyn Vegan called it "a sweet and sultry slice of southern soul"[34] while The Boot called it "a dose of horn-filled soul."[35]

Discography[]

Studio albums[]

Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales
US Blues
[36] 		US
Heat
[37][38][39]
A Stolen Jewel[40]
  • Released: May 5, 2015
  • Label: Charley Crockett
 — —
In The Night[40]
  • Released: June 6, 2016
  • Label: Son of Davy
 — —
Lil G.L.'s Honky Tonk Jubilee[40]
  • Released: September 8, 2017
  • Label: Son of Davy
 — —
Lonesome as a Shadow[41]
  • Released: April 20, 2018
  • Label: Son of Davy
 — 14
Lil G.L.'s Blue Bonanza[41] 11 10
The Valley[41]
  • Released: September 20, 2019
  • Label: Son of Davy, Thirty Tigers
 — 19
Field Recordings, Vol. 1[40]
  • Released: April 3, 2020
  • Label: Son of Davy
 — —
Welcome to Hard Times[40]
  • Released: July 31, 2020
  • Label: Son of Davy, Thirty Tigers
 — —
10 for Slim: Charley Crockett Sings James Hand[40]
  • Released: February 26, 2021
  • Label: Son of Davy, Thirty Tigers
 — —
Music City USA[40]
  • Released: September 17, 2021
  • Label: Son of Davy, Thirty Tigers
 — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Extended plays[]

Title Album details
OurVinyl Sessions[40]
  • Released: February 27, 2020
  • Label: OurVinyl

Singles[]

Title Year Album
"Get Up Outta Texas" 2015 Non-album single
"Trinity River" A Stolen Jewel
"In the Night" 2016 In the Night
"Jamestown Ferry" 2018 Lil G.L.'s Honky Tonk Jubilee
"I Wanna Cry" Lonesome as a Shadow
"Lil' Girl's Name"
"Ain't Gotta Worry Child"
"Good Time Charley's Got the Blues" Lil G.L.'s Blue Bonanza
"How Low Can You Go" 2019 Non-album single
"River of Sorrow"
"That's How I Got to Memphis" Lil G.L.'s Blue Bonanza
"Borrowed Time" The Valley
"The Valley"
"5 More Miles"
"9 Lb Hammer"
"Welcome to Hard Times" 2020 Welcome to Hard Times
"Run Horse Run"
"Don't Cry"
"Fool Somebody Else"
"I Can Help" 2021 The Next Waltz, Vol. 3
"Lesson in Depression" 10 for Slim: Charley Crockett Sings James Hand
"Midnight Run"
"I Need Your Love" Music City USA
"Round This World"
"I Won't Cry"
"Music City USA"

Music videos[]

Title Year Director Ref.
"Get Up Outta Texas" 2015 Paco Estrada
"Trinity River" Daniel Driensky
Sarah M. Reyes
"In the Night" 2016 Will von Bolton
"Jamestown Ferry" 2018 Charley Crockett
Lyza Renee
"I Wanna Cry"
"Lil' Girl's Name" Ray Lewis
Texas Joe
"Ain't Gotta Worry Child"
"Good Time Charley's Got the Blues" Charley Crockett
Lyza Renee
"River of Sorrow" 2019 Bobby Cochran
"That's How I Got to Memphis"
"Borrowed Time" Charley Crockett
"The Valley" Ben Christensen
Dusty Sousley
"The Valley" (short film)
"Welcome to Hard Times" 2020 Charley Crockett
Bobby Cochran 		[43]
"Run Horse Run" [44]
"Don't Cry" [45]
"Fool Somebody Else"
"Lily My Dear" (live video) Kevin J. Hamm [46]
"Wreck Me" (live video) [47]
"The Man That Time Forgot" (live video) [48]
"Lesson in Depression" 2021 Bobby Cochran [49]
"Midnight Run" [50]
"I Need Your Love"
"Round This World"
"I Won't Cry"
"Music City USA"

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Doug Freeman. "Honky-Tonk Soul Man Charley Crockett Makes His Move". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Blues Music: Top Blues Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  3. ^ Mazor, Barry (August 8, 2020). "'Welcome to Hard Times' by Charley Crockett Review: A Rogue Spirit's Tales of Trouble". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  4. ^ Reuter, Annie. "Charley Crockett Is Releasing Music His Own Way In A Pandemic And It's Working". Forbes. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  5. ^ Mooney 0, Thomas (September 17, 2021). "Charley Crockett Keeps Motoring in 'Music City USA'". Texas Monthly. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Charley Crockett – Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g Darling, Cary (May 8, 2018). "Talking music, race and Texas with Charley Crockett". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  8. ^ a b c d Jeff Gage (April 26, 2018). "How Charley Crockett's Hard Living Shaped New Album 'Lonesome As a Shadow'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  9. ^ a b c d "How Dallas Dresses: Charley Crockett". Dmagazine.com. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  10. ^ a b c "Charley Crockett with The Highway Poets". Mystictheatre.tunestub.com. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  11. ^ "Story". Charley Crockett. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  12. ^ Gage, Jeff (April 26, 2018). "How Charley Crockett's Hard Living Shaped New Album 'Lonesome As a Shadow'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  13. ^ David Menconi; Marissa R. Moss; Robert Crawford; Brittney McKenna; Jeff Gage (October 11, 2017). "10 New Country Artists You Need to Know: October 2017". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  14. ^ a b "Charley Crockett". Pickathon.com. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  15. ^ "Lonesome as a Shadow – Charley Crockett – Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  16. ^ "2018 Festival Schedule". Wheatlandmusic.org. Archived from the original on February 15, 2019. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  17. ^ "Lil G.L.'s Blue Bonanza – Charley Crockett – Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  18. ^ "Up-and-coming Texas singer lucky to be alive and still singing the blues". Heart.org. Retrieved June 24, 2019.
  19. ^ "Charley Crockett Previews New Album 'The Valley' With Contemplative 'Borrowed Time'". Rollingstone.com. July 25, 2019. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
  20. ^ "New Austin Music You Can Enjoy at Home". austinchronicle.com. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  21. ^ Welcome to Hard Times - Charley Crockett | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic, retrieved June 25, 2021
  22. ^ Freeman, Jon (May 27, 2020). "Charley Crockett Previews New Album With 'Welcome to Hard Times' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  23. ^ Gage, Jeff (March 8, 2019). "Charley Crockett Asks 'How Low Can You Go' in First New Song Since Heart Surgery". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  24. ^ "Charley Crockett Continues Streak With Modest Yet Charming, 'Welcome to Hard Times'". American Songwriter. July 28, 2020. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  25. ^ "Charley Crockett Wrote Songs About Hard Times in America. Then 2020 Happened". Texas Monthly. July 31, 2020. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  26. ^ Reuter, Annie. "Charley Crockett Is Releasing Music His Own Way In A Pandemic And It's Working". Forbes.com. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  27. ^ Bernstein, Jonathan (March 24, 2021). "Charley Crockett's Throwback Country Sound Isn't in Fashion. That's Fine With Him". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  28. ^ Angela Stefano. "WATCH: Charley Crockett Drives All Night in 'Midnight Run' Video". The Boot. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  29. ^ Blackstock, Peter. "Austin360 On The Record: Blue Water Highway, David Ramirez, Charley Crockett". austin360. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  30. ^ Reuter, Annie. "Charley Crockett Is Releasing Music His Own Way In A Pandemic And It's Working". Forbes. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  31. ^ Trigger (February 26, 2021). "Album Review – Charley Crockett's "10 For Slim"". Saving Country Music. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  32. ^ "Charley Crockett Honors James "Slim" Hand: "I Had No Choice But To Record His Music"". American Songwriter. March 3, 2021. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  33. ^ Freeman, Jon (July 9, 2021). "Charley Crockett Previews New Album With Soulful 'I Need Your Love'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  34. ^ Pearis, Bill (July 9, 2021). "Charley Crockett preps new LP, on tour now (listen to "I Need Your Love")". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  35. ^ Stefano, Angela (July 9, 2021). "Listen: Charley Crockett Teases New Album With Soul-Filled 'I Need Your Love'". The Boot. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  36. ^ "Blues Albums". Billboard. February 2, 2019.
  37. ^ "Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. January 12, 2019.
  38. ^ "Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. May 5, 2018.
  39. ^ "Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. October 5, 2019.
  40. ^ a b c d e f g h "Charley Crockett on Apple Music". iTunes Store. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  41. ^ a b c "Charley Crockett – Album Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  42. ^ Bjorke, Matt (January 8, 2020). "Top 10 Country Album Sales Chart: January 8, 2020". RoughStock. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  43. ^ Freeman, Jon (May 27, 2020). "Charley Crockett Previews New Album With 'Welcome to Hard Times' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  44. ^ Boerman, Michael (June 30, 2020). "Charley Crockett Shares Neo-Spaghetti Western Video For "Run Horse Run" [Watch]". Live for Live Music. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  45. ^ "In "Don't Cry," Charley Crockett Is Always Coming Back Home". CMT. July 22, 2010. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  46. ^ Todd, Nate (September 3, 2020). "Charley Crockett Shares 'Lily My Dear' Video". JamBase. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  47. ^ Desk, TV News (October 7, 2020). "Charley Crockett Releases 'Wreck Me' Video". Broadway World. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  48. ^ Tube, Stage (October 26, 2020). "VIDEO: Charley Crockett Releases 'The Man That Time Forgot' Video". Broadway World. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  49. ^ Broerman, Michael (February 21, 2021). "Charley Crockett Gives A "Lesson In Depression" With James Hand Cover [Watch]". Live for Live Music. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  50. ^ Broerman, Michael (March 25, 2021). "Charley Crockett Goes On A "Midnight Run" In New Video From James Hand Tribute Album [Watch]". Live for Live Music. Retrieved March 30, 2021.

External links[]

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