5 Country Rock Music Bands You Need to Know About
Here are 5 country rock bands you need to know about! These groups have been making great music and are worth checking out!
The Byrds
The Byrds were an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. The band is considered one of the most influential groups of the 1960s. Their music encompassed folk, country, and psychedelic rock. The band released several charting singles, including “Mr.” Tambourine Man”, “Turn! Turn! Turn!”, and “Eight Miles High”, and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991.
The Flying Burrito Brothers
The Flying Burrito Brothers are often credited as being the founders of the country rock genre. The band was formed in 1968 by Gram Parsons and Chris Hillman, both of whom had previously been members of The Byrds. Parsons and Hillman were joined by bassist Michael Clarke and pedal steel guitarist Bernie Leadon, and the foursome began to play a mix of country, folk and rock music that quickly gained them a following in the Los Angeles music scene.
The Flying Burrito Brothers released their self-titled debut album in 1969, which included the Parsons-penned song “Wild Horses.” The album was not commercially successful, but it did earn the band a cult following. The group’s next album, 1970’s “Burrito Deluxe,” was a critical and commercial success, thanks in part to the addition of new member Grammys Award–winning songwriter/guitarist Sneaky Pete Kleinow. The album included the hit singles “Christine’s Tune” and “Colorado.”
The Flying Burrito Brothers continued to tour and record throughout the 1970s, although they never again achieved the same level of commercial success as they did with “Burrito Deluxe.” The band has been through several lineup changes over the years, but original members Chris Hillman and Sneaky Pete Kleinow have remained constant fixtures. In recent years, the group has been touring with Jami Lynn Hutchinson on lead vocals.
Gram Parsons
Gram Parsons is often cited as the inventor of country rock. His work with The Byrds and Flying Burrito Brothers defined the genre in the late 1960s. Parsons was born into a wealthy family and had a troubled childhood. He was kicked out of several prestigious schools and developed a drug addiction that would plague him for the rest of his life. Despite his personal demons, Parsons was a brilliant musician and songwriter. He died of an overdose at the age of 26, but his influence on country music is still felt today.
The Eagles
Formed in Los Angeles in 1971, the Eagles are a country rock band that helped to define the genre. The Eagles have sold more than 150 million records and their 1976 album, Hotel California, is one of the bestselling albums of all time. The Eagles were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.
Poco
Poco is an American country rock band that was founded in 1968. The band’s name comes from the Spanish word “poco”, which means “little”. Poco has released 20 studio albums, and their music has been featured in movies and TV shows such as The Simpsons,Futurama, and Bones. The band is currently made up of four members: Rusty Young (vocals, guitar), Jack Sundrud (bass), Michael Webb (keyboards), and George Grantham (drums).
