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Description of Roots

 
In the 1980s, rock bands with a taste for the rustic -- with echoes of folk, blues, Rockabilly, or country in their music -- were dubbed "Roots Rock." Playing no-frills music with straight-ahead lyrics, bands like the BoDeans, the Blasters, and Jason and the Scorchers found varying levels of mainstream acceptance for their rural rock. The most recognizable Roots strains in contemporary music can be found in groups as varied as Counting Crows, Cracker, and Wilco. Arguably, the entire Alt-Country movement is a direct descendant of this true blue form.
 

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Roots Key Artists

 
Beat Farmers

Led by the late Country
Dick Montana, Beat Farmers
were among the first bands
to mix country and punk.

BoDeans

The very definition of
heartland music, the
BoDeans' rootsy pop rock is
a cross between the
Replacements and Tom Pe...

Continental Drifters

With their jangling,
country-touched alt rock
rooted in traditional
American styles,
Continental Drifters are cr...

Dave Edmunds

Originally a British pub
rocker, Edmunds is
generally considered the
father of roots rock thanks
to his work with Rockpile...

Georgia Satellites

Southern Rock band whose
swaggering "Keep Your
Hands To Yourself" hit big in
'86; by '88 they were a
novelty act. The original r...

John Fogerty

His first solo effort confused
fans. Recorded under the
name the Blue Ridge
Rangers in 1973, it was
entirely covers. "Centerfi...

Lone Justice

Mid-'80s L.A.-based
heartland rock band was a
critical fave but failed to
make much of a stir on the
charts.

Los Lobos

This eclectic, versatile Latin
Rock supergroup
catapulted to fame covering
Richie Valens' "La Bamba" in
1987. These roots rockers...

Rank and File

Early '80s roots rock band
emerged out of the L.A.
punk scene and released
three critically acclaimed
LPs before dissolving.

Spanic Boys

This Milwaukee-bred father
and son duo incorporates
rockabilly, blues and
country into guitar-centric
rock music.

T Bone Burnett

Famed producer and
performer T Bone Burnett
has as much roots rock
cred as Gene Simmons has
back hairs.

Texas Tornados

The Texas Tornados are an
Austin supergroup. Made up
of the music scene's elite,
they mix a rich rue of roots
and harmonies.

The Blasters

Roots-revival pioneers led
by brothers Dave and Phil
Alvin whose dedication to
basic rock 'n' roll has never
wavered.

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