Country music does not need to be preserved–preservation is a word reserved for the disappearing and dying, and country music will forever be among the most enduring roots of our culture. With that said, sometimes new seeds forget where they came from, but that can’t be further from the truth with Texas’ own Charley Crockett. With his Lil’ G.L. Presents series, Crocket plays the songs and honors the humans that led us here, but also reminds us that country music, like all things American, is an alloy whose strength comes from a diverse mixture of stories and traditions. Like Ray Charles before him, Crockett’s music reveals everyone feels love and pain, regardless of the community or musical style we identify with.
This time around on the fourth edition of his series, Lil’ G.L. Presents: Jukebox Charley, Crockett not only looked wide but dug deep–taking songs from the blues, R&B, soul, cajun, western swing, as well as obscure tracks from legends like Willie Nelson and George Jones to infuse his unique blend of traditional and contemporary country music.
In country music, the tug of war between progress and tradition is more pronounced than in many places, but Crockett’s music knows the present will always be at the intersection of lessons past and future hopes. If you love country music and don’t know who Charley Crockett is yet, well get on it and watch this performance. And if country isn’t your thing, Crockett is holding the gate open for when you’re ready to come on in.
Lil’ G.L. Presents: Jukebox Charley releases Friday, April 22nd via Son of Davy/Thirty Tigers.
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Song Title: “Lonely In Person”
Producer: Deidre Gott; Audio; Jake Perlman; Rene Chavez; Cameras: Michael Minasi, Gabriel C. Pérez, Patricia Lim; Edit: Michael Minasi
