Charley Crockett is widely regarded as one of the most dedicated artists in the music industry. With the upcoming release of his new record Lonesome Drifter, Crockett adds to his impressive catalog, having released 16 albums in the past decade.
His journey is filled with stories of struggle and perseverance. Before signing his first record deal, Crockett spent many years as a traveling nomad, busking and taking odd jobs across the country. His latest single, “Game I Can’t Win,” reflects the “game” he played during his early record deal, a time when he was labeled difficult to work with. Crockett explains that he wasn’t difficult because of a lack of work ethic, but because he refused to bend to the sound the label wanted for him.
A recurring theme in Crockett’s music is his connection to New York City. He reveals that the title track of his new album, “Lonesome Drifter,” took years to finish, but its origins date back to when he was teaching himself to play electric guitar in the subway tunnels.
“I taught myself how to play electric guitar on subway cars,” Crockett shares. “I had never really played electric before, and I bought this black-and-white Mexican Telecaster with a maple neck from a hipster kid in Bushwick. I also bought a battery-powered amp with a shoulder strap that ran off an eight-volt battery at a Mariachi music store.”
He continues, “That’s how I learned to play guitar. And actually, the earliest versions of the song ‘Lonesome Drifter’ came to me while I was writing in between subway cars as they moved through the underground in Manhattan.”
Crockett’s drive to learn and chase his dreams is evident. Whether it was learning to play the electric guitar or ensuring his music career took off, he has shown time and again that if he has a goal, he will make it happen.
Although he’s often seen performing with an acoustic guitar, Crockett’s early days of self-teaching electric guitar in the subway undoubtedly shaped his music. It’s likely that many New Yorkers didn’t realize they were listening to a future Grammy-nominated artist at the time.
The influence of those early days is evident in his first single off the new album. Crockett reflects, “That’s where the first part of the song came from. Then, some years later, I was working with different farmers in Northern California. When we had time off, we’d play music together, and I came up with the other section. I kept that same electric guitar with me.”
He adds, “‘I’m just a lonesome drifter on the only highway’ – Because that’s life, you know. It’s just one long road, and everybody’s on it.”
Crockett’s story about Lonesome Drifter only increases the anticipation for the album. Set for release on March 14, the record includes 12 tracks recorded at the famous Sunset Sound Studios in Los Angeles.
Related Topics
- Joey Molland, Iconic 70s Guitarist from Badfinger, Passes Away at 77
- Zheng’an, a Quiet County in SW China, Becomes the World’s Largest Guitar Producer
- Don Felder, Former Eagles Guitarist, to Release New Solo Album This Year
