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Sam Outlaw in Session

Bob pays tribute to Merle Haggard, who died this week, and newcomer Sam Outlaw joins him in session.

Bob pays tribute to Merle Haggard, who died this week.

Newcomer Sam Outlaw joins Bob in session, playing songs from his Ry Cooder-produced debut album "Angeleno"

Outlaw's journey west began in South Dakota - he was born Sam Morgan -with stops in the midwest before his family finally settled in San Diego. Like many artists, he got the music bug early. But he had serious restrictions on what he could listen to. "I grew up in a conservative Christian home," he explains. "My first real communal experience with music was in church. I always loved harmonizing with other people. And even though I was technically not allowed to listen to the radio, my dad loved the Beatles. My mom loved the Beach Boys and the Everly Brothers. So we listened to oldies radio, and I think got my first sense of melody and harmony from that."

After what he calls an "unfortunate" high school cover band ("We did almost all Oasis," he laughs) and some early stabs at songwriting in college, Outlaw's moment of revelation arrived via the classic country voices of Emmylou Harris and George Jones. "When I first heard them, it totally blew my mind," he says. "I went out the next day and bought Pieces of The Sky and a George Jones compilation. It was the first time I felt like I had a real special connection with music. That's when I started to get more serious about playing the guitar and writing."

After switching gears from a day job in Ad sales to pursue his passion, Outlaw marked the change by borrowing his mother's maiden name for a stage moniker. "The initial impetus for using Outlaw was no more than, 'Hey, this is a name that sounds country and it's a family name, so why not?'" he says. "Now, with my mom having passed away and her being a really strong encouragement in my life towards music, I like using the name as a way of honoring her.".

57 minutes

Last on

Thu 7 Apr 2016 19:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2

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Music Played

  • Suzy Bogguss

    Today I Started Loving You Again

    • Lucky.
    • Proper Records.
    • 001.

  • Kip Moore

    Running For You

    • HitDisc: HC201540.
    • 6.

  • Dori Freeman

    Where I Stood

    • Dori Freeman.
    • Free Dirt Records.
    • 001.

  • The Secret Sisters

    Something Stupid

    • The Secret Sisters.
    • Universal Music Operations Ltd.
    • 5.

  • Loretta Lynn

    Blue Kentucky Girl (SXSW 2016)

  • Sam Outlaw

    Angeleno

    • Angeleno.
    • Six Shooter.
    • 5.

  • Willie Nelson & Merle Haggard

    Swinging Doors

    • Merle Haggard: Greatest Hits Volume 1.
    • 1.

  • Merle Haggard

    Wishing All These Old Things Were New

    • If I Could Only Fly.
    • Anti.
    • 001.

  • Willie Nelson & Merle Haggard

    Live This Long

    • Django and Jimmie.
    • Legacy.
    • 005.

  • Merle Haggard

    I Take A Lot Of Pride In What I Am

    • In The Country Of Country.
    • 5.

Broadcast

  • Thu 7 Apr 2016 19:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2