Yoakam kept the honky tonk faith

I've been listening to DWIGHT YOAKAM the past couple of days.
The classic twang of "GUITARS, CADILLACS, ETC., ETC." fits the warm autumn weather.
It also reminds me what an important public service Yoakam provided back in the 1980s.
Mainstream country music was beginning its merger with pop -- and losing touch with its roots in the process.
Yoakam brought the music back into the era of roadside joints, with big helpings of steel guitar and fiddles.
Yoakam's intentions are clear on "Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc.," based on the covers. He includes "Honky Tonk Man" by Johnny Horton, "Ring of Fire" by Johnny Cash and the Harlan Howard classic, "Heartaches by the Number," popularized by Ray Price.
Yoakam's compositions keep the faith -- just listen to "South of Cincinnati" or "It Won't Hurt."
Yoakam proved that country doesn't necessarily need to marry pop music. It can thrive on its own.