The 1970s brought us some of the biggest stars and most beloved legends in country music. Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings (with some help from Billy Joe Shaver) kicked off the Outlaw Country movement. At the same time, Loretta Lynn was hitting her stride. Then, there were lauded singer/songwriters like Guy Clark and John Prine who released their debut records during the decade. In short, it was a great time for country and roots music.
However, not every country artist who made it big in the 1970s would remain popular or continue to make music. Many who were on fire in the ‘70s fell by the wayside as the years rolled on and tastes changed. Sure, some of these artists still have fans among older listeners and those who choose to dive into the genre’s history. However, they’ve largely fallen out of the zeitgeist. Today, we’re going to take a look at five artists who deserve to be rediscovered by country fans everywhere.
Johnny Rodriguez—One of Country Music’s Biggest Stars of the 1970s
Johnny Rodriguez is the epitome of artists who deserve to be rediscovered. He was one of the biggest stars in country music during the 1970s. At the same time, he was one of the first artists of Mexican descent to find success in country music.
Combining Texas Country and Tejano music, Rodriguez was known to sing in both English and Spanish. He found success early in his career when his 1972 debut single “Pass Me By (If You’re Just Passing Through)” went to No. 9 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. He followed that with three consecutive No. 1 singles—“You Always Come Back (To Hurting Me),” “Ridin’ My Thumb to Mexico,” and “That’s the Way Love Goes.”
Rodriguez remains active playing shows in the United States and abroad. His deep catalog is the perfect fit for fans of classic Texas country.
Tony Booth—Keeping the Bakersfield Sound Alive
Tony Booth stepped into the country music world with his debut single, a cover of Merle Haggard’s “Irma Jackson” in 1970. Songs like “The Key’s in the Mailbox,” “Cinderella,” and “Lonesome 7-7203” helped to put him on the map. Additionally, he and his band won a series of ACM Awards in the ‘70s.
Inspired by artists like Buck Owens and Haggard, Booth carries the torch of the Bakersfield sound. While some sources would lead listeners to believe that he is a relic of a bygone era, Booth is still making music today. He regularly tours throughout Texas and Oklahoma and is also a member of the Heart of Texas Road Show. His latest album, Something ‘bout You Baby I Like dropped in 2020.
Country fans who enjoy music from 1970s acts like Buck Ownes should take some time to dig into Booth’s deep catalog.
Moe Bandy—Still Plays Country Music Like It’s the 1970s
Moe Bandy is a traditional country music artist who found popularity in the 1970s. Songs like “I’m Sorry for You, My Friend,” “Hank Williams, You Wrote My Life,” and “Bandy the Rodeo Clown” helped to put him on the map early in the decade. Later, he found back-to-back No. 1 hits with “Just Good Ol’ Boys” and “I Cheated Me Right Out of You.”
Bandy isn’t as popular as he once was. However, like Booth, he retains a passionate fanbase. He continues to tour across the United States. He also frequently performs at his Americana Theatre in Branson, Missouri which he opened in 1991. His most recent album, A Love Like That dropped in 2020.
Fans who enjoy classic country with plenty of barroom piano and pedal steel that delves into the familiar themes of cheating, drinking, loving, and losing will find a goldmine in Bandy’s discography.
Tompall Glaser—An Outlaw Country Original
Tompall Glaser started his career in the 1950s as a solo artist. Then, he partnered with his brothers Chuck and Jim to form Tompall & the Glaser Brothers. Later, he rose to prominence in the 1970s as one of the key figures of country music’s Outlaw movement.
Glaser was part of two albums that were incredibly important to the Outlaw Country movement. First, he co-produced Waylon Jennings’ hugely influential 1973 album Honky Tonk Heroes. He was also featured on Wanted! The Outlaws alongside Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Jessi Colter. It was the first country album to be certified Platinum by the RIAA.
Songs like “T for Texas,” “Put Another Long on the Fire (The Male Chauvinist National Anthem),” and “Musical Chairs” helped to put Glaser on the map as a performer in the ‘70s. He remained active until his death in 2013.
He remains popular among hardcore fans of the original Outlaw Country movement but newer fans of the genre should spend some time with his recordings.
Tom T. Hall—One of the Greatest Country Songwriters from the 1970s and Beyond
Tom T. Hall, nicknamed The Storyteller was a songwriter and author of short stories. His ability to paint a vivid picture with words made him one of country music’s greatest songwriters in the 1970s and beyond. He remained active until 2011, a decade before he died by suicide in his Tennessee home in 2021.
He penned “Harper Valley PTA” which was a massive hit for Jeannie C. Riley in 1968 and helped to make him an in-demand songwriter. Hall found his groove as a performer in the ‘70s. During the decade, he released timeless tracks like “The Year Clayton Delaney Died,” “(Old Dogs, Children, and) Watermelon Wine,” and “Country Is.”
To be fair, Hall still has plenty of fans today. However, country fans who aren’t familiar with his catalog owe it to themselves to dig in and experience the magic of The Storyteller’s works.
Featured Image by Jim Smeal/BEI/Shutterstock
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