Country music loses icon and outlaw | Music City Minute

When we hear the words Outlaw Country, the biggest characters that immediately come to mind are Johnny Cash, Waylon, Willie, Kris and Merle. However, there are a lot more artists that make up the subgenre that we may have forgotten about. Folks like Townes Van Zandt, Steve Earle, Jessi Coulter, Tanya Tucker, Hank Junior and Johnny Paycheck. What is interesting about that list is it shows that Outlaw Country wasn’t only made up of former criminals. In fact, the movement was way more than someone’s jacket. It was actually a blend of sounds and ideas contradictory and in-protest against the conservative, commercial Nashville Sound leading into the 60s and 70s. With that in mind, sadly country music says “goodbye” to one of the most iconic (and polarizing) individuals in Outlaw Country, David Allan Coe. Known for such definitive songs as “You Never Even Called Me by My Name,” “The Ride” and “Penitentiary Blues,” the singer-songwriter’s family confirmed his health had been declining, and he passed away after a brief stay in the ICU. David Allan Coe was 86 years old.

I’m Sheena, and that’s Music City Minute.