Country music and California haven’t necessarily been branded to go together like peas and carrots. However, if you can get beyond that surface-level label, you might just discover a lot of great country and Americana music from the West Coast. Some of the more notable country music acts in the last century are from California, in fact. Their style just makes it sound like they’re from Tennessee.
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Georgia, Alabama, Kansas, or Alaska… who cares where a country musician is from? No region, country, state, or city can prevent someone from playing, perfecting, and mastering the genre. It doesn’t matter where one is from. The only thing that matters is the passion of the musician. And these three country music acts from California prove just that.
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
If you are unfamiliar with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, you’d think they were from somewhere in Kentucky thanks to their heavily-rooted bluegrass style. Though, they are from somewhere quite the opposite, as the group actually originated in Long Beach, California. Even though Long Beach is most notably home to musicians such as Snoop Dogg and Sublime, NGDB proved country can come from anywhere.
In their 1970s heyday, NGDB was one of the few country bands to stay true to the genre’s roots. With songs such as “Fishin’ In The Dark” and the staple country and bluegrass album Will The Circle Be Unbroken, the group proved they were about as country as it gets. And the plethora of “true” country artists on that album would attest to that fact.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
CCR resided in a plethora of different genres. However, two genres they are most often labeled with are folk and country rock. Furthermore, the four-piece iconic band plays the blues with a swampy mystique that would suggest they are from the heart of the Delta. Though, that isn’t the case. The only body of water these dudes grew up on was the Pacific.
Growing up in El Cerrito, California, CCR completely leaned into the country and folk music of the 1950s and 1960s. They created something brand-spanking new. There is no need to list their most famous songs, as they are already a staple in every country rock fan’s head. So, if you know CCR, you know they classify as country… to an extent, at least.
Merle Haggard
Frankly, all that needs to be said is this man’s name. Hailing from Oildale, California, Merle Haggard has been and always will be one of the most prolific musicians in country music. Between being one of the founding fathers of outlaw country music and an integral part of Nashville’s 1960s country music scene, the man is an undisputed legend. And again, it doesn’t matter where you are from, as long as you have a story to tell.
True country fans know what his legacy has done for the genre. The man has too many classic country songs to count, but among his most notable are “Workin’ Man Blues”, “Mama Tried”, and “The Fightin’ Side Of Me”.
Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
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