Like back in the mid 1980's, country music has taken a dive into commercial radio friendly pop songs. While there are a few playing "real" country such as Whitey Morgan and Wade Reeves, the majority of it isn't authentic country. While there are artists such as Hank lll and Steve Earle who have confidently raised a middle finger to the Nashville establishment, it hasn't eradicated the onslaught of pop artists masking as country singers. If you think Carrie Underwood is country, then you've obviously never heard of Patsy Cline. Today, country artists are judged more on how they look rather than how they sound. Here are a few artists that remained true to the genre and never sold out despite of what was in vogue at the time.
Number Ten: Buck Owens. With a catalogue including 21 number one hits to his credit, Buck Owens is an icon. He helped defined the Bakersfield sound as a legitimate style in country music and influenced countless artists to follow in his footsteps. Originally a fiddle player, Owens' would travel as a truck driver and sit in on recording sessions at Capital Records with the likes of Gene Vincent, Wanda Jackson and Del Reeves. His early recording was a rockabilly Hot Dog which he used the pseudo name Corky Jones to not interfere with his country career. 1958 would prove to be a pivotal year for Owens as
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However, he left a catalog of unreleased material which would be reexamined including "I'm So Lonesome I could Cry" which has been covered by everyone from Elvis to Bob Dylan. He has been inducted into every hall of fame imaginable since his death, won a Grammy and in 2010 was given the Pulitzer Prize. As an influence, you name it and he's probably had a bearing on their