Tara asked if I could write a Memory Lane piece on Clay Walker. What a tremendous run he had in the 1990's - and beyond during one of the best decades ever for country. He still records today, and that's great to see. I played all of his songs proudly on great radio stations including here at WQMX.
BTW - He will be at Neon Nights - Clay's Park - August 13, 7:30 PM
Clay Walker debuted in 1993 with about as perfect of a debut project as you can have. The self titled album had three number ones, looked really great, and just flat out had some great music on it. He was a new hat act and was immediately loved by country fans that seemed to be embracing a new giant star every month or so then. I was so incredibly impressed by his debut album, it was no surprise to me he skyrocketed to stardom and stayed there for a good while. The totality of his debut project is enviable.
His Very First Hit Song #1 - Great Start
There was little doubt he was cut from the George Strait cloth of country in his approach. He was the third big star in as many years from the Beaumont, Texas area as Mark Chesnutt, and Tracy Byrd were also from that same general place at about the same time. He sold a ton of albums in the 1990's and had a bunch of number ones to his credit. He is another artist that I can't help but wonder what may have happened if he was in another era by a few years. The 1990's were so competitive with so many gigantic stars, did some of these others get lost over time to a degree? He may have slightly, but his run was very extremely impressive.
The First Album Magic Continued - Big Fan Favorite
Walker had a slick sound that I felt was right on time for the era. He chose killer songs, had a great look, and when his first album was released, it looked - and he sounded - like he had been doing this for years. For many, he was their very favorite singer of the era, and it's easy to see why. He became a legend with many very quickly. That first project was filled with extreme confidence and raw talent. His was an interesting story being from the same town as Byrd and Chesnutt, and the giant, George Jones, but he was his own guy. He never sounded like anyone else, and that was his real strength along with his palpable and infectious energy.
This Is An Incredible Song #1 - I Feel His Best Song Ever! - First Album Still
Unlike Chesnutt and Byrd, Walker's career was shoved into high gear almost from the start. After that amazing first album, he followed it up with the album, If I Could Make A Living, that also did quite well with a couple more big songs going number one. I thought this album was very important for him. For many, the first album is the culmination of a lifetime of work rolled into a long thought about dream package. Enthusiasm and adrenaline from the artist and musicians is high, same for managers, and record execs. I will never say a first album is easy, because it's certainly not. But many times the second album is the one that decides if you stick around or not, and Clay's was great and he did.
Another Great Song - Another Fan Favorite
Hypnotize The Moon, his next album was great as well, and the song is incredible too. It seemed he was really on his way. Then Walker was diagnosed with MS about 1996. He began treating it successfully, and his career continued on. He had strong chart success through the rest of the 1990's and even into the 2000's, although the well charting hits were fewer. Chain Of Love in 2000, Fall (Great song) in 2007, A Few Questions, and She Won't Be Lonely Long all did well. He even released a song last year, Need A Bar Sometimes which was a song I loved, as it was great to hear him back on the radio, as he still sounds great.
Great Song - Went #1 - He Was On A Roll
Clay Walker is more proof positive that no matter who you are, no one is promised a 20 year successful chart run. It does happen, but it is more rare than fact. Clay Walker had solid music, fans, a great look and the world by the tail. But trends change, society changes, country changes and listeners do too. It doesn't make it easy or fair, it just makes it so. Walker was in the right place at the right time and had huge success, and we were better for it. In fact, I always say the 1990's were as great as they were because of stars like Walker. We had so many HUGE stars then, as does every era, but the 1990's was way more.
Later Walker - Loved This One
The stars like Walker and dozens more were never better than they were in the 1990's. Their incredible music made it possible for us in country radio to always have great songs on the air. So much so, the country station I was doing mornings on in Lakeland, Florida in the 1990's, (WPCV) was the fifth highest rated radio station in America - of any kind - for a good while. The star list was very deep then, with acts that people really liked and supported in every way. Walker's music was tight, concise, fun, positive, and made you glad you were listening to country music. It was a great example for others to follow - and they did. That was a real trademark of Walker and the 90's. I mean listen to these songs here and feel their positive energy. In fact, some more fun and positivity today would be more than welcome. Sometimes we take ourselves way too seriously in country.
2021 Clay Walker - I Liked This Song!
We owe these stars, as they were the ones that separated us from other formats and other eras. Clay Walker helped lead that charge and that is greatness in itself. History owes it to be good to Clay Walker, his popularity and contribution should not be underestimated.
