The String

The lineage of Nashville's Fairfield Four thrives and resonates in Odessa Settles, this week’s guest on The String. The daughter of singer Walter J. Settles (1928-1999), Odessa is an in-demand singer who values the full spectrum of sacred to secular music, especially the roots/Americana world where she’s amassed a long resume. She’s been a guest vocalist on projects by Darrell Scott, Kathy Mattea, Tim O’Brien and last year’s Rifles & Rosary Beads by Mary Gauthier. She works solo and in combination with her surviving brothers (she was the only girl of eight kids growing up) in the vocal group The Settles Connection. And she’s pulled all this off while maintaining an intense career as a nurse for premature babies at Vanderbilt Medical Center. Also in the hour, a visit with Trent Wagler and Jay Lapp, veterans of VA band The Steel Wheels, who've just released their seventh LP album. 

The decade-plus since the conclusion of his era-shifting band BR549 have been a case study in creative evolution for Chuck Mead. He's still a stalwart of classic country music and an original songwriter, but he's found new ways to express his expertise. Most significantly has been supervising the music for the Tony Award-winning musical The Million Dollar Quartet and the CMT series Sun Records. Those deep dives into Memphis music culture led to his most recent album Close To Home, which was made at Sam Phillips Recording. Also in the hour, the fresh new direction of songwriter/guitarist Courtney Hartman. Her life after string band Della Mae has been introspective and exploratory, culminating in a 500-mile pilgrimage in Spain and a solo debut album, Ready Reckoner.

The decade-plus since the conclusion of his era-shifting band BR549 have been a case study in creative evolution for Chuck Mead. He's still a stalwart of classic country music and an original songwriter, but he's found new ways to express his expertise. Most significantly has been supervising the music for the Tony Award-winning musical The Million Dollar Quartet and the CMT series Sun Records. Those deep dives into Memphis music culture led to his most recent album Close To Home, which was made at Sam Phillips Recording. Also in the hour, the fresh new direction of songwriter/guitarist Courtney Hartman. Her life after string band Della Mae has been introspective and exploratory, culminating in a 500-mile pilgrimage in Spain and a solo debut album, Ready Reckoner. 

Episode #96. Launching a career in the blues in the mid 1990s seems in retrospect a bit audacious and foolhardy, but when LA songwriter and studio musician Kevin Moore became Keb' Mo', his blend of reverence for tradition and his contemporary flair proved hugely successful. For 25 years he's been a beacon of consistency, delivering strong songs that feel fresh and timeless. He's followed up his Grammy winning 2017 duo with Taj Mahal with the album Oklahoma. And since that title track was co-written with Nashville's eclectic and under-rated singer/songwriter Dara Tucker, we pulled her in to this episode as well. The hour represents two very different journeys that intersected in Music City.

Episode #96. Launching a career in the blues in the mid 1990s seems in retrospect a bit audacious and foolhardy, but when LA songwriter and studio musician Kevin Moore became Keb' Mo', his blend of reverence for tradition and his contemporary flair proved hugely successful. For 25 years he's been a beacon of consistency, delivering strong songs that feel fresh and timeless. He's followed up his Grammy winning 2017 duo with Taj Mahal with the album Oklahoma. And since that title track was co-written with Nashville's eclectic and under-rated singer/songwriter Dara Tucker, we pulled her in to this episode as well. The hour represents two very different journeys that intersected in Music City.

Episode #95. Caroline Spence moved to Nashville eight years ago fresh out of college with a "vague dream" of writing songs, probably she thought for other artists. But as her network and her confidence grew, it became clear she needed to be out front. She released two solo indie albums and a duo project with Robby Hecht. She won a Kerville New Folk award and captured a lot of people's attention with her coursing country melodies and incisive observations. Now she's been signed to Rounder Records, who've released her latest Mint Condition. Also in the hour, a catch-up with Texas reared, Nashville based country bluesman Lee Roy Parnell.

Episode #95. Caroline Spence moved to Nashville eight years ago fresh out of college with a "vague dream" of writing songs, probably she thought for other artists. But as her network and her confidence grew, it became clear she needed to be out front. She released two solo indie albums and a duo project with Robby Hecht. She won a Kerville New Folk award and captured a lot of people's attention with her coursing country melodies and incisive observations. Now she's been signed to Rounder Records, who've released her latest Mint Condition. Also in the hour, a catch-up with Texas reared, Nashville based country bluesman Lee Roy Parnell. 

Episode 94: They've each had distinguished careers as songwriters and musicians in American roots music, but together they're especially sublime. Buddy and Julie Miller met in Austin in the 70s and pursued careers in New York and Los Angeles before moving to Nashville almost 30 years ago. Both of their prior duo albums were deemed best of the by the Americana Music Association. Now, following a remarkably busy period for Buddy, the two found their way back to working together, and the result is the new Breakdown On 20th Ave. South from New West Records. It will be one of the landmarks of 2019, and Craig sat down at the Millers' home to talk about two magical, interwoven lives in music.

Episode 94: They've each had distinguished careers as songwriters and musicians in American roots music, but together they're especially sublime. Buddy and Julie Miller met in Austin in the 70s and pursued careers in New York and Los Angeles before moving to Nashville almost 30 years ago. Both of their prior duo albums were deemed best of the by the Americana Music Association. Now, following a remarkably busy period for Buddy, the two found their way back to working together, and the result is the new Breakdown On 20th Ave. South from New West Records. It will be one of the landmarks of 2019, and Craig sat down at the Millers' home to talk about two magical, interwoven lives in music. 

Episode 93: In the 1970s Nick Lowe carved out a place on the thoughtful side of punk and pop in England, landing "Cruel To Be Kind" on the charts with his band Rockpile but doing so much more besides. He produced Elvis Costello's first five albums and wrote the anthem "What's So Funny About Peace Love and Understanding?" In the late 90s, he reinvented himself, with a new focus on his mellifluous voice, starting a run of songwriting that's up there with anybody's. And it was all rooted in a passion for American roots, from Tin Pan Alley to country to rock and roll. Lowe has recently released another EP in a stretch of work with the band Los Straightjackets. Also this hour, the emotionally charged and luxurious roots pop of Dylan LeBlanc.