History
Truck-driving country is a genre of music that evolved during the 1960s and 1970s when American interstate highways were being constructed. The songs in this genre were about the experiences of truck drivers and depicted the rough, rugged, and often dangerous lifestyle they led.
The earliest examples of truck-driving country were honky-tonk and western swing songs from the 1940s and 1950s, but the genre really took off in the 1960s. The rise of truck-driving music coincided with the construction of the interstate highway system, which made long-distance trucking a more viable and essential industry. During this time, the truck driver became a romanticized figure in popular culture, and truck-driving country songs became anthems for these blue-collar workers.
One of the first truck-driving country hits was Dave Dudley's "Six Days on the Road," which was released in 1963. The song, which was written by Earl Green and Carl Montgomery, tells the story of a truck driver who is eager to get back home after a long week on the road. The song became an instant hit and has since been covered by numerous other artists.
Other popular truck-driving country songs from this era include Red Sovine's "Phantom 309," Merle Haggard's "Movin' On," and Jerry Reed's "East Bound and Down." The songs were typically upbeat and represented the freedom that many truck drivers felt on the open road.
In the 1970s, truck-driving country lost some of its popularity, but it continued to be an important subgenre of country music. The songs of the era focused more on truckers' emotional lives and the loneliness that often comes with the job. C.W. McCall's "Convoy" and "Wolf Creek Pass" were two popular songs from this time period.
The truck-driving country genre saw a resurgence in the 1980s with the success of the movie "Smokey and the Bandit." The film features several truck-driving country songs, including Jerry Reed's "East Bound and Down" and the theme song, which was performed by Burt Reynolds himself.
Today, while the popularity of trucking country has waned somewhat, it still has a devoted following. The songs of the genre continue to be played on country music radio stations and are beloved by many fans of the genre. In recent years, there has even been a movement to revive the truck-driving country sound with artists like Dale Watson, who has been called the "king of truckin' country."
Notable artists
Dave Dudley: A pioneer in the truck-driving country genre, Dave Dudley's 1963 hit "Six Days on the Road" remains a beloved classic among truckers and country music fans alike.
Merle Haggard: Although he's widely known for his classic country hits, Merle Haggard's 1974 album "If We Make It Through December" features the iconic truck-driving tune "Movin' On."
Red Sovine: With hits like "Giddy-Up Go" and "Phantom 309," Red Sovine became a household name among the truck-driving community in the 1960s and '70s.
Del Reeves: Known for his distinctive twang and catchy tunes, Del Reeves scored a number of hits in the '60s and '70s, including "Girl on the Billboard" and "Looking at the World Through a Windshield."
C.W. McCall: This fictional character, created by advertising executive Bill Fries, became a cultural phenomenon in the 1970s with hits like "Convoy" and "Wolf Creek Pass."
Jerry Reed: Not just a talented guitarist and actor, Jerry Reed also had a number of hits in the truck-driving country genre, including "East Bound and Down" and "The Legend."
Dick Curless: With his deep baritone voice and signature cowboy hat, Dick Curless recorded a string of popular trucker songs in the '60s and '70s, such as "A Tombstone Every Mile."
Johnny Cash: A legendary figure in the music world, Johnny Cash often sang about the struggles and triumphs of the American working class, including truck drivers. Hits like "One Piece at a Time" and "I've Been Everywhere" prove this point.
Dale Watson: Considered by many to be a contemporary torchbearer of traditional country music, Dale Watson's 1998 album "The Truckin' Sessions" pays tribute to the truck-driving genre with tracks like "Flatbed Truckin'."
Hank Williams Jr.: Building off his father's legacy as a country music icon, Hank Williams Jr. recorded a number of country rock and truck-driving-inspired tracks in the '70s and '80s, including "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight."
Broader context
Author Diane Pecknold, in her book "The Selling Sound: The Rise of the Country Music Industry," delves into how Truck Driving Country emerged as a response to societal changes. She notes, "Truck driving country marked a significant historical moment in post-World War II America... it registered the accelerated growth of the trucking industry, suburban migration, and the popularity of the highway as an American cultural icon."
Music critic Peter Margasak, in his article "Truck Driving Songs" for Chicago Reader, emphasizes the genre's storytelling aspect. He writes, "Truck driving country is about as cinematic as country music gets... The trucker songs are classic country storytelling... anthems for the working man and woman."
"Truck Driving Country" often resonates with listeners due to its relatability. Author Jocelyn R. Neal, in her book "Country Music: A Cultural and Stylistic History," explores this connection, stating, "Many listeners relate to truck driving songs as aspirational... imagining a sense of freedom and escape from daily grind."
Author Norm Cohen, in "Long Steel Rail: The Railroad in American Folksong," discusses the intersection between truck driving and country music, stating, "Truck driving songs are the railroad songs of the motor age." He highlights how both genres capture the spirit of travel and movement.
Critics also recognize the genre's distinctive musical elements. In "Truckers, Kickers, Cowboy Angels: The Blissed-Out Birth of Country Rock Volume 1 (1966-1968)," author Karl Bruckmaier delves into the musical styles within Truck Driving Country. He notes, "Truck driving songs are not only about the job of trucking but also express the desire to rock, albeit by driving a massive truck, and evoke a rhythm of the road."
Furthermore, the cultural context of the trucking industry plays a role in shaping Truck Driving Country. Music writer Joe Nick Patoski, in his article "The Truck Stops Here," explains, "Truck driving songs are essentially the subgenre of the workingman's blues... set in motion by truckers, written by truckers, and for truckers."
Socially, the post-World War II era saw a significant increase in trucking as a means of transportation. The construction of the interstate highway system in the 1950s enabled trucks to transport goods across the country quickly and inexpensively. This led to an increase in the number of truck drivers and created a unique subculture within the larger context of American society. Truck drivers spent long hours alone on the road, away from their families, and this isolation influenced their experiences and perspective. This new mobility led to a yearning for a new kind of musical expression, something that translated the language of the open road.
Culturally, Truck-driving Country is closely associated with the Southern United States, where country music has deep roots. However, trucking culture is a North American phenomenon, and the genre was popular on both sides of the border. The themes of the songs were rooted in the experiences of truck drivers across North America, from the deserts of the Southwest to the forests of the Northwest. Trucking culture and music were also influenced by the truck stops and roadside diners that dotted the highways, serving drivers with food, resting places, and entertainment.
Technologically, the emergence of radio as a mass medium played a critical role in the spread and commercialization of country music, including Truck-driving Country. Moreover, the technological advancement of recording and production equipment has facilitated the creation and dissemination of the genre. The genre's particular sound is defined by the use of steel guitar, honky-tonk piano, and twangy vocals.
Notable record labels involved in the genre include Starday Records, whose owner, Don Pierce, coined the term Truck-driving Country. Pierce, a former truck driver himself, founded the label in the early 1950s and released early recordings by artists such as Red Sovine and Webb Pierce, who became stars in the genre. Capitol Records and Decca also signed trucking artists. Other notable figures include Dave Dudley, whose 1963 hit "Six Days on the Road" is one of the iconic songs of the genre, and Red Simpson, who wrote songs that painted vivid pictures of life on the road.
Journalists also played a role in the development of Truck-driving Country. Ralph Emery, a radio personality, and country music journalist, played a critical role in popularizing the genre. His show, "The Ralph Emery Show," aired nationally on radio and television and featured many of the trucking genre's biggest stars.