Last week, Get Tight Lounge in Richmond was packed for a sold-out show featuring none other than Dale Watson, the torchbearer of classic honky-tonk. The atmosphere was electric, and the crowd was buzzing as photographer Ben Lahoussine captured an unforgettable evening.
For those not in the know, Dale Watson was born on October 7, 1962, in Birmingham, Alabama, and raised in Texas, Watson has made it his mission to keep the heart and soul of country music alive and coined his own genre, “Ameripolitan,” to distinguish his sound from the pop-laden tracks coming out of Nashville these days. With a career spanning over two decades, Watson is often mentioned alongside legends like Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and George Strait.
He moved to Pasadena, Texas, in 1977, and from an early age, music was a family affair. Guided by his father and brother Jim, young Dale was writing his own songs by the age of 12 and making recordings just two years later. By the time he was an emancipated minor, Watson was splitting his time between school and playing in local honky-tonks with his brother in The Classic Country Band.
His big break came when he moved to Los Angeles in 1988 on Rosie Flores’ advice. Joining the house band at the legendary Palomino Club, Watson started making waves in the alt-country scene. His early singles and a spot on the compilation A Town South of Bakersfield in 1992 showcased his raw talent. But it was his move to Austin, Texas, that truly set the stage for his rise. There, he formed The Lone Stars and released his debut album, Cheatin’ Heart Attack, in 1995.
The albums that followed, Blessed or Damned and I Hate These Songs, further solidified Watson’s reputation as a true country music purist. But it was The Truckin’ Sessions in 1998 that showcased his unique ability to tap into the heart of blue-collar America with songs about life on the road.
After a brief hiatus to be closer to his daughters in Baltimore, Watson returned to Austin in 2006, picking up right where he left off. His regular gigs at places like Ginny’s Little Longhorn Saloon and The Continental Club became legendary. Watson’s commitment to preserving the roots of country music led to the creation of the Ameripolitan Music Awards.
BEN LAHOUSSINE PHOTOS
