A milestone for any Country artist, Crockett will make his debut at the legendary Grand Ole Opry on June 25, performing alongside Dustin Lynch and Montgomery Gentry.
“The Opry is one of those stages I didn’t even consider as a possibility to be honest,” Crockett says in a press release. “So, to say I’m humbled by the invitation to play there is like saying thanks to somebody that just saved my life! I hope they like me.”
The odds of that are pretty good. Crockett sounds like he has classic Country music tattooed on his DNA, but there’s a broader range of influences embedded within in his honky-tonkin,’ subtle additives that give it an endearing distinction. A true Americana artist, Crockett’s music also draws from vintage Soul, earthy Blues, rollicking Rockabilly and even Cajun, Funk and Jazz.
Part of that eclecticism may come from his nearly lifelong journeys. A Texas native (and distant relative of Davy Crockett), Crockett’s travels have taken him to Paris, North Africa and California, as well as New York City and New Orleans, where he busked, absorbing the patchwork of diverse sounds created by his fellow performers on the street and in subway stations.
Last year, Crockett — who returned to his home state, settling down (when he’s not on tour) in Dallas — released two albums. On Lonesome as a Shadow, he showcased his ample talents as a songwriter, while Lil G.L.’s Blue Bonanza is an engaging example of his gift for song interpretation. Part of his Lil G.L. series of cover LPs (the title comes from a nickname given to him for his sonic similarity to little-known musician G.L. Crockett), Crockett rewires R&B, Blues and Country tunes, offering new perspectives on songs by the likes of Jimmy Reed, George Jones, Charles Brown, Lavelle White and Ray Charles.
“People call me a stylistic chameleon, and I like that,” Crockett says. “This is Soul music. It’s Blues. It’s Country. It’s just music.”
Tickets for Monday's Southgate House Revival show are $15. The music begins at 8 p.m. with Andrew Hibbard.
