and had fallen in love with Western music. I’ve always had a problem with what I call “the geographical imperative.” In other words, you had to be from Alabama to sing country music.

Country music is not—and never was—one style of music. It has always been a mixture of many styles, springing from many roots and sprouting many new branches to create a complicated chorus of ...

"Country is a state of mind," sang Tom T. Hall, and right now, it's as hot as jalapeños on Long Island. There are two local country radio stations (103.1, — The Wolf (WWWF/103.1 FM) and My ...