Dwight Yoakam

Dwight Yoakam (born [[]]) is an American country singer from Ohio. When he began his career, Nashville was oriented towards pop Urban Cowboy music, and Yoakam's brand of Bakersfield honky tonk was not considered marketable. He began playing live in the Los Angeles area, performing with punk bands like the Dead Kennedys, Los Lobos, the Blasters, the Butthole Surfers and X.

Yoakam debuted with the college radio staple A Town South of Bakersfield in 1984. His debut LP was 1986's Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc. and it instantly launched his career. "Honky Tonk Man" (Johnny Horton) and "Guitars, Cadillacs" were hit singles. The follow-up LP, Hillbilly Deluxe, was just as successful. His third LP, Buenas Noches from a Lonely Room, included his first #1, a duet with Buck Owens, "Streets of Bakersfield". 1990's If There Was a Way was another best-seller. After this, his career slowed down significantly, not releasing any hits until a cover of "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" (Queen) in 1999).