Must-Own Music From Shreveport Artists
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Shreveport has a long and storied history in the music world. From phenomenal artists like Faron Young to musicians like James Burton to producers like Jerry Kennedy, Shreveport has turned out some of the most influential people in the music industry. And those people have created or helped create some of the greatest and influential music of all time!
Below are some essentials from Shreveporters that you MUST add to your collection if you don't already have them.
Lead Belly is one of the most influential musicians of all time. And he also happens to be from Shreveport. George Harrison from the Beatles once said "No Lead Belly, no Beatles." If that doesn't tell you everything you need to know, I don't know what will.
James Burton is one of the best-known Shreveport musicians, and rightfully so. James literally has played with everyone from Ricky Nelson to Merle Haggard to Frank Sinatra to Nat King Cole. (If you ever see Mr. James, ask him about working with Nat...it's a fantastic story.). But, he's probably most famous for being the leader of Elvis' Taking Care of Business band. This live album really showcases James' work and relationship with the King.
While the Seratones are a new band...they are most certainly Shreveport-proud and damn good. There's a reason they're one of the most beloved and in-demand "indie bands" on the planet right now.
Kenny has made a LOT of great music over the years...but this one is my personal favorite. Not only was it Grammy-nominated, but it features another Shreveport legend, Buddy Flett. This is a must-own for any blues fan or Shreveport native.
While Johnny Horton isn't exactly a Shreveport native (he was born in California), he did spend a large portion of his life in Shreveport/Bossier and was a staple at the Louisiana Hayride. Plus, his manager/bass player/songwriting partner Tillman Franks was a Shreveport guy (he moved here when he was 2) and is responsible for bringing Hank Williams to town. Lots of Shreveport history on every single track.
Faron Young had one of the longest and most successful careers in country music. Between 1955 and 1969, he had an INCREDIBLE 63 hit songs on the country music charts. This is a collection of some of his best songs.
It is impossible to talk about Shreveport's music history without mentioning the Louisiana Hayride. While most of its most notable performers were not Shreveport natives, there were a lot of successful locals to hop on the Municipal stage including Maggie Warwick, James Burton and Joe Osborn.