|
 he sixties
saw the greatest transformations in Texas music since the end of World War II. Of course, much
went on as before, with George
Jones
carrying on the honky-tonk country style with a vengeance. At the same time, Gentleman Jim Reeves was pointing the
way to an accommodation of Country and Pop, directing his music to a
crossover audience. The relaxed sound of Trini
Lopez expressed a benign new interest in folk music shaped into a palatable upbeat style
with mass appeal. Bluesman Freddie
King built on the deep traditions of black music in the blues even as a past master, Mance Lipscomb was teaching a new
generation of young white people about that heritage. But Texas musicians were also there as
singers, songwriters, and performers reshaping the country's music in a variety of ways. Roy Orbison wrote and performed
fateful ballads in a voice all his own that influenced a generation of rockers. And there were tragedies as
well: Janis Joplin and
singer-songwriter Roky Erickson
helped shape the attitudes of the Hippie youth movem
ent, and unfortunately became victims of the movement's excesses.
Read about Roy Orbison
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