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Charley Crockett
CharleyCrockettCropped.jpg
Crockett in 2020
Background information
Born (1984-03-24) March 24, 1984 (age 40)
San Benito, Texas, United States
Genres
Occupation(s) Musician
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active 2005–present
Labels
  • Son of Davy
  • Thirty Tigers

Matthew Charles Crockett (born March 24, 1984) is an American blues, country, and Americana singer, guitarist, and songwriter. He has released twelve studio albums since 2015, with Lil G.L.'s Blue Bonanza peaking at number 11 on the US Billboard Blues Albums chart and The Man from Waco breaking into the US Billboard 200.

In September 2023, Crockett was nominated for Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year at the 2023 Americana Music Honors & Awards.

Early life

Charley was born in San Benito, Texas to Branton Eddens Crockett and Jan Onda Applehans. Crockett's paternal grandfather is chemical engineer and rancher, Charles Hayes "Charlie" Crockett Sr. and his paternal grandmother is the daughter of Texas senator George Clark Purl Sr. and Patricia May Purl. His mother is of Volga German descent. His third great grandfather was Jacob Goodwin Crockett of New Hampshire.

Raised by a single mother with an older brother and sister, Crockett grew up in a trailer park in Los Fresnos, Texas. He has claimed to be a descendant of Davy Crockett, mixed-race, and Jewish. His mother relocated the family to Dallas, and Crockett spent the summer months with his uncle, who lived in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Upon leaving high school at the age of 17, Crockett decided to travel with his guitar acquired by his mother from a pawn shop. Crockett noted "I taught myself how to play and started to write songs immediately, without any chord knowledge or anything. I didn't know what key I was in for 12 years, but my ear was really good, and I could play in any key and any chord. I just didn't know what it was." His early musical influences came from hearing hip hop, and he became fascinated with the samples used. Crockett said, "I got into Curtis Mayfield through samples of his songs by other artists, and Nina Simone was through a sample. Even J. Cole, I was listening to a song of his ("Kenny Lofton"), and it was based on the sample from the Manhattans version of 'Hurt'".

Crockett played music on the streets in the French Quarter of New Orleans and in Deep Ellum, Dallas as a teenager. Later he traveled further afield by hitchhiking and riding freight, and by 2009 he was busking in New York City. As he improved his performance skills, Crockett organized a street band called the Trainrobbers, which caught the attention of a Manhattan-based representative for Sony Music. She signed the 26-year-old Crockett to a two-year management contract, although he rejected a publishing deal. Eventually tired of life on the streets and the pending expiration of the contract, Crockett relocated to Northern California, where he combined working on farms and communes with performing for three more years. Crockett then existed on the streets in Paris, France, for a year, and briefly lived in Spain and Morocco.

Career

In 2015, Crockett returned to Texas and after settling in Dallas, self-released his debut album, A Stolen Jewel, in May. It landed him the Dallas Observer Music Award for Best Blues Act. The lo-fi collection contained a cover of the Flying Burrito Brothers' "Juanita." Crockett also befriended Leon Bridges at this time, before Crockett released a blues-dominated album, In The Night, in 2016. In The Night contained a selection of Crockett-penned numbers, along with a cover of his hometown hero Freddy Fender's "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights". Fort Worth Star-Telegram called In The Night "an impressive calling card, full of Crockett's plaintive soulfulness and swinging tempos". Crockett spent the next year touring to promote his work, playing over 125 shows in total. He toured with the Turnpike Troubadours, Lucero, Shinyribs, Samantha Fish, and Old 97's, among others.

After relocating to Austin, Texas, Crockett's next release was a collection of covers of country songs, Lil G.L.'s Honky Tonk Jubilee (2017), which was issued on Thirty Tigers. Tracks included the Roy Acuff-penned "Night Train to Memphis", Tanya Tucker’s "The Jamestown Ferry" and Hank Williams' "Honky Tonkin'", all incorporating Crockett's clipped, hiccuped Texan drawl. Other tracks on the album were originally recorded by Ernest Tubb, Loretta Lynn, and Webb Pierce ("I Ain't Never").

In 2018, he released Lonesome as a Shadow, a collection of purely original songs. It was recorded at Sam C. Phillips Recording Studio in Memphis, Tennessee, and produced by Matt Ross-Spang. ..... The album was dedicated to Henry "Ragtime Texas" Thomas. Following its April release date, Crockett toured again backed by his band the Blue Drifters. His dates included venues such as the House of Blues in Houston, Washington, D.C.'s 9:30 Club, The Mint in Los Angeles and The Fillmore in San Francisco. In addition, he performed at festivals such as the Wheatland Music Festival, Portland, Oregon's Pickathon and Austin City Limits Music Festival.

In late 2018, Crockett issued Lil G.L.'s Blue Bonanza. Crockett noted that "Lil G.L. is my side name, like Hank [Williams] had Luke the Drifter. I use it for all my side projects and cover projects." He explained the moniker was given to him by a local blues drummer, Jay Moeller, in reference to the obscure R&B singer G. L. Crockett. AllMusic stated "Lil G.L.'s Blue Bonanza is a companion of sorts to Charley Crockett's 2017 Lil G.L.'s Honky Tonk Jubilee". The album was primarily another compilation of cover versions, although Crockett's definition of the blues encompasses tracks including Jimmy Reed's "Bright Lights, Big City", Tom T. Hall's "That's How I Got to Memphis" and Danny O'Keefe's "Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues". In addition, Crockett covered work by Ernest Tubb, George Jones, and T-Bone Walker. Lil G.L.'s Blue Bonanza peaked at number 10 in the Billboard Blues Albums chart.

In early January 2019, Crockett underwent open-heart surgery. Pre-assessments for the surgery exposed that Crockett had a congenital heart condition where his heart had two out of three aortic valve flaps fused together, leading to Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome.

Crockett released The Valley on September 20, 2019. The album features the single "Borrowed Time", which was co-written with Evan Felker of Turnpike Troubadours.

Field Recordings, Vol. 1 was released on April 3, 2020, and is a mixtape of 30 low-fidelity covers and originals recorded in Mendocino County, California. Crockett and Kyle Madrigal recorded the collection over the previous year using a 4-track recorder, an old CB radio microphone, and an old rotary telephone. Crockett said the songs came "from my street stuff and folk tunes, stuff I wrote that might not necessarily be best for these studio albums."

Crockett released his seventh album, Welcome to Hard Times, on July 31, 2020. It was produced by Mark Neill and includes songwriting contributions from The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach and singer/songwriter Pat McLaughlin. The album followed a life-threatening health scare in which he was diagnosed with a congenital heart condition that required heart surgery. It received glowing reviews, including from American Songwriter, who raved, "Crockett finds the sweet spot between country, soul, blues and folk on deceptively modest songs, effortless in their easy-going groove," while Texas Monthly stated, "Crockett makes a beeline for the album's central theme: wily survival in a socially, politically, and economically rigged system."

On February 26, 2021, Crockett released his next album, titled 10 For Slim: Charley Crockett Sings James Hand, a tribute album to James "Slim" Hand. It was met with critical acclaim from Rolling Stone, The Boot, Austin American-Statesman, Forbes, and American Songwriter among others.

Crockett released his ninth album, Music City USA, on September 17, 2021 via Son of Davy/Thirty Tigers. The lead single, "I Need Your Love", was featured on Rolling Stone as well as Brooklyn Vegan, who called it "a sweet and sultry slice of southern soul" and The Boot, who named it "a dose of horn-filled soul." Later that month, he earned the 2021 "Emerging Artist of the Year" award at the Americana Music Honors and Awards in Nashville, TN. Crockett closed out the year with his debut on Austin City Limits, which aired in October on PBS. He followed that up a couple months later with an appearance on CBS This Morning's "Saturday Sessions" performing "I Need Your Love," "Music City USA" and "I Feel For You" off his latest album.

In March 2022, he announced Jukebox Charley, a new album of cover songs and his third album release in just over a year. The fourth installment of his Lil' G.L. covers series, the album was released on April 22 and featured classic country tunes from Tom T. Hall, Willie Nelson, George Jones, and more.

Charley Crockett performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on December 9, 2022.

In February 2023, Crockett performed at NPR for a Tiny Desk Concert. It was followed by an appearance on Comedy Central's The Daily Show in April, where he was interviewed by the host Jordan Klepper, along with a live performance of "Name on a Billboard" from his 2022 album, The Man from Waco. Later that summer, he was on the cover of Texas Monthly, for a lengthy profile detailing the artist's background and rise to fame. In September, he released Live From The Ryman, an album and concert film of his sold-out headline debut at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium recorded on November 14, 2022. He was also the 2023 recipient of the Stephen Bruton Award at The Lone Star Film Festival which celebrates exceptional artists whose careers are not only anchored in music, but also include artistic expression in film.

In early 2024, Crockett announced that his album, $10 Cowboy, would be released on April 26. He celebrated the announcement with an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, where he performed the album's title track.

Discography

Charley Crockett discography
Releases
Studio albums 12
Live albums 1
Extended plays 2
Singles 31
Music videos 27

Studio albums

Title Album details Peak chart
positions
Sales
US
US
Blues
US
Heat

A Stolen Jewel
In the Night
  • Released: June 6, 2016
  • Label: Son of Davy, Field Day
  • Format: LP, CD, digital download
Lil' G.L.'s Honky Tonk Jubilee
  • Released: September 8, 2017
  • Label: Son of Davy, Field Day
  • Format: LP, CD, digital download
Lonesome as a Shadow
  • Released: April 20, 2018
  • Label: Son of Davy
  • Format: LP, CD, digital download
14
Lil' G.L.'s Blue Bonanza
  • Released: December 7, 2018
  • Label: Son of Davy, Thirty Tigers
  • Format: LP, CD, digital download
11 10
The Valley
  • Released: September 20, 2019
  • Label: Son of Davy, Thirty Tigers
  • Format: LP, CD, digital download
19
  • US: 2,700
Field Recordings, Vol. 1
  • Released: April 3, 2020
  • Label: Son of Davy
  • Format: Digital download
Welcome to Hard Times
  • Released: July 31, 2020
  • Label: Son of Davy, Thirty Tigers
  • Format: LP, CD, digital download
Lil' G.L. Presents: 10 for Slim – Charley Crockett Sings James Hand
  • Released: February 26, 2021
  • Label: Son of Davy, Thirty Tigers
  • Format: LP, CD, digital download
Music City USA
  • Released: September 17, 2021
  • Label: Son of Davy, Thirty Tigers
  • Format: LP, CD, digital download
Lil G.L. Presents: Jukebox Charley
  • Released: April 22, 2022
  • Label: Son of Davy, Thirty Tigers
  • Format: LP, CD, digital download
The Man from Waco
  • Released: September 9, 2022
  • Label: Son of Davy, Thirty Tigers
  • Format: LP, CD, digital download
199
$10 Cowboy
  • Released: April 26, 2024
  • Label: Son of Davy, Thirty Tigers
  • Format: LP, CD, digital download
168 1
$10 Cowboy Chapter II: Visions Of Dallas
  • Released: July 22, 2024
  • Label: Son of Davy, Thirty Tigers
  • Format: LP, CD, digital download
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Live albums

Title Album details
Live from the Ryman
  • Released: September 29, 2023
  • Label: Son of Davy
  • Format: CD, LP, digital download, streaming

Extended plays

Title Album details
OurVinyl Sessions
  • Released: February 27, 2020
  • Label: OurVinyl
  • Format: Digital download
The Man from Waco (Redux)
  • Released: May 26, 2023
  • Label: Song of Davy, Thirty Tigers
  • Format: Digital download

Singles

List of singles, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
AAA
"Get Up Outta Texas" 2015 Non-album single
"Trinity River" A Stolen Jewel
"In the Night" 2016 In the Night
"Jamestown Ferry" 2018 Lil G.L.'s Honky Tonk Jubilee
"I Wanna Cry" Lonesome as a Shadow
"Lil' Girl's Name"
"Ain't Gotta Worry Child"
"Good Time Charley's Got the Blues" Lil G.L.'s Blue Bonanza
"How Low Can You Go" 2019 Non-album single
"River of Sorrow"
"That's How I Got to Memphis" Lil G.L.'s Blue Bonanza
"Borrowed Time" The Valley
"The Valley"
"5 More Miles"
"9 Lb Hammer"
"Welcome to Hard Times" 2020 Welcome to Hard Times
"Run Horse Run"
"Don't Cry"
"Fool Somebody Else"
"I Can Help" 2021 The Next Waltz, Vol. 3
"Lesson in Depression" Lil' G.L. Presents: 10 for Slim – Charley Crockett Sings James Hand
"Midnight Run"
"I Need Your Love" Music City USA
"Round This World"
"I Won't Cry"
"Music City USA"
"I Feel for You" 2022 Lil' G.L. Presents: Jukebox Charley
"I'm Just a Clown" The Man from Waco
"The Man from Waco"
"Trinity River" 18
"Killers of the Flower Moon" 2023 Non-album single

Music videos

Title Year Director Ref.
"Get Up Outta Texas" 2015 Paco Estrada
"Trinity River" Daniel Driensky
Sarah M. Reyes
"In the Night" 2016 Will von Bolton
"Jamestown Ferry" 2018 Charley Crockett
Lyza Renee
"I Wanna Cry"
"Lil' Girl's Name" Ray Lewis
Texas Joe
"Ain't Gotta Worry Child" Charley Crockett
Mario Valdez
"Good Time Charley's Got the Blues" Charley Crockett
Lyza Renee
"River of Sorrow" 2019 Bobby Cochran
"That's How I Got to Memphis"
"Borrowed Time" Charley Crockett
"The Valley" Ben Christensen
Dusty Sousley
"The Valley" (short film)
"Welcome to Hard Times" 2020 Charley Crockett
Bobby Cochran
"Run Horse Run"
"Don't Cry"
"Fool Somebody Else"
"Lily My Dear" (live video) Kevin J. Hamm
"Wreck Me" (live video)
"The Man That Time Forgot" (live video)
"Lesson in Depression" 2021 Bobby Cochran
"Midnight Run"
"I Need Your Love"
"Round This World"
"I Won't Cry"
"Music City USA"
"I Feel for You" 2022 Spencer Peeples
"I'm Just a Clown" Bobby Cochran

Awards and nominations

Award Year Category Result Ref.
Americana Music Honors & Awards 2021 Emerging Artist of the Year Won
Austin Music Awards 2022 Musician of the Year Won
Austin Music Awards 2022 Best Country Won
Americana Music Honors & Awards 2023 Artist of the Year Nominated
Americana Music Honors & Awards 2023 Album of the Year Nominated
Americana Music Honors & Awards 2023 Song of the Year Nominated
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