[Cowperson]

The usual names have been taken so I'll step off the beaten track a bit . . . .

Lyle Lovett's "The Road To Ensenanda" won Best Country Album grammy in 1997 and is a great one.

He free ranges from pure country to blues to bluegrass and is a great, great live performer. We saw him once at Carnegie Hall in New York, backed up by his Large Band and the Harlem Gospel Choir, a group which joins him on his "Church" video. And we've seen him a few times in San Antonio as well. The big hair is gone now . . .

Some of my favourite Lovett:

"In My Own Mind" - eloquently clever



"Church" - pretty hilarious song about overlong sermons.



"South Texas Girl" - the lady he's with at the end of the video is his wife and a lot of it is home video. A lingering ballad.



From the late 80's, "She's No Lady"



I also like some good Randy Travis once in a while but my favourite is very obscure: "A Horse Called Music" that's really a simple, raw display of his voice.



And locally, I like Paul Brandt a lot . . . .

"Alberta Bound"



"Small Towns, Big Dreams"



Sara Evans has had a tumultuous life but has now settled down into a mature, quality act that's getting a lot of appreciation these days. "A Little Bit Stronger" just had a nice run near the top of the charts and most know its a very personal song for her:



A toe-tapper is "Suds In The Bucket"



Toby Keith, Sugarland . . . . .

Cowperson