Andy Griggs

It's no surprise that Andy Griggs' studio-slick songs still betray some of country music's more rugged roots, as he grew up listening to such Honky-Tonk heroes as Merle Haggard and Hank Williams. He might not be a strict purist (his songs are decidedly radio friendly), but unlike many of today's New Country superstars, he seems to write and record with little care for crossing over into the Adult Contemporary market. Most of his songs lean toward the tougher, rocking side of today's country music. Stylistically, he's been compared to Alan Jackson, but Griggs' gritty voice veers more toward gospel inflections, whereas Jackson's is rooted in a hillbilly nasal drawl. Modern day cowboys and buckle bunnies who like their steaks bloody and their trucks big will find a hardy and familiar kind of home in Griggs' music.