# Charley Crockett

Matthew Charles Crockett (born March 24, 1984) is an American blues, country, and Americana singer, guitarist, and songwriter. He has released fifteen studio albums since 2015, with Lil G.L.'s Blue Bonanza peaking at number 11 on the US Billboard Blues Albums chart in 2018 and The Man from Waco as well as $10 Cowboy breaking into the US Billboard 200 in 2022 and 2024 respectively.
In September 2023, Crockett was nominated for Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year at the 2023 Americana Music Honors & Awards. He received his first Grammy Award nomination in 2025 for $10 Cowboy.

## Early life

Charley was born in San Benito, Texas to Branton Eddens Crockett and Jan Onda Applehans. Crockett's paternal grandfather is chemical engineer and rancher, Charles Hayes "Charlie" Crockett Sr. and his paternal grandmother is the daughter of Texas senator George Clark Purl Sr. and Patricia May Purl. His mother is of Volga German descent. His third great grandfather was Jacob Goodwin Crockett of New Hampshire.
Raised by a single mother with an older brother and sister, Crockett grew up in a trailer park in Los Fresnos, Texas. He has claimed to be a descendant of Davy Crockett, mixed-race, and Jewish. His mother relocated the family to Dallas, and Crockett spent the summer months with his uncle, who lived in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Upon leaving high school at the age of 17, Crockett decided to travel with his guitar acquired by his mother from a pawn shop. Crockett noted "I taught myself how to play and started to write songs immediately, without any chord knowledge or anything. I didn't know what key I was in for 12 years, but my ear was really good, and I could play in any key and any chord. I just didn't know what it was." His early musical influences came from hearing hip hop, and he became fascinated with the samples used. Crockett said, "I got into Curtis Mayfield through samples of his songs by other artists, and Nina Simone was through a sample. Even J. Cole, I was listening to a song of his ("Kenny Lofton"), and it was based on the sample from the Manhattans version of 'Hurt'".
Crockett played music on the streets in the French Quarter of New Orleans and in Deep Ellum, Dallas as a teenager. Later he traveled further afield by hitchhiking and riding freight, and by 2009 he was busking in New York City. As he improved his performance skills, Crockett organized a street band called the Trainrobbers, which caught the attention of a Manhattan-based representative for Sony Music. She signed the 26-year-old Crockett to a two-year management contract, although he rejected a publishing deal. Eventually tired of life on the streets and the pending expiration of the contract, Crockett relocated to Northern California, where he combined working on farms and communes with performing for three more years. Crockett then existed on the streets in Paris, France, for a year, and briefly lived in Spain and Morocco.

## Career

In 2015, Crockett returned to Texas and after settling in Dallas, self-released his debut album, A Stolen Jewel, in May. It landed him the Dallas Observer Music Award for Best Blues Act. The lo-fi collection contained a cover of the Flying Burrito Brothers' "Juanita." Crockett also befriended Leon Bridges at this time, before Crockett released a blues-dominated album, In The Night, in 2016. In The Night contained a selection of Crockett-penned numbers, along with a cover of his hometown hero Freddy Fender's "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights" as well as Jerry Lee Lewis' 1968 hit, "What's Made Milwaukee Famous". Fort Worth Star-Telegram called In The Night "an impressive calling card, full of Crockett's plaintive soulfulness and swinging tempos". Crockett spent the next year touring to promote his work, playing over 125 shows in total. He toured with the Turnpike Troubadours, Lucero, Shinyribs, Samantha Fish, and Old 97's, among others.
After relocating to Austin, Texas, Crockett's next release was a collection of covers of country songs, Lil G.L.'s Honky Tonk Jubilee (2017), which was issued on Thirty Tigers. Tracks included the Roy Acuff-penned "Night Train to Memphis", Tanya Tucker’s "The Jamestown Ferry" and Hank Williams' "Honky Tonkin'", all incorporating Crockett's clipped, hiccuped Texan drawl. Other tracks on the album were originally recorded by Ernest Tubb, Loretta Lynn, and Webb Pierce ("I Ain't Never").
In 2018, he released Lonesome as a Shadow, a collection of purely original songs. It was recorded at Sam C. Phillips Recording Studio in Memphis, Tennessee, and produced by Matt Ross-Spang. The opening track, "I Wanna Cry", was written for his sister who had died from a methamphetamine overdose. The album was dedicated to Henry "Ragtime Texas" Thomas. Following its April release date, Crockett toured again backed by his band the Blue Drifters. His dates included venues such as the House of Blues in Houston, Washington, D.C.'s 9:30 Club, The Mint in Los Angeles and The Fillmore in San Francisco. In addition, he performed at festivals such as the Wheatland Music Festival, Portland, Oregon's Pickathon and Austin City Limits Music Festival.
In late 2018, Crockett issued Lil G.L.'s Blue Bonanza. Crockett noted that "Lil G.L. is my side name, like Hank [Williams] had Luke the Drifter. I use it for all my side projects and cover projects." He explained the moniker was given to him by a local blues drummer, Jay Moeller, in reference to the obscure R&B singer G. L. Crockett. AllMusic stated "Lil G.L.'s Blue Bonanza is a companion of sorts to Charley Crockett's 2017 Lil G.L.'s Honky Tonk Jubilee". The album was primarily another compilation of cover versions, although Crockett's definition of the blues encompasses tracks including Jimmy Reed's "Bright Lights, Big City", Tom T. Hall's "That's How I Got to Memphis" and Danny O'Keefe's "Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues". In addition, Crockett covered work by Ernest Tubb, George Jones, and T-Bone Walker. Lil G.L.'s Blue Bonanza peaked at number 10 in the Billboard Blues Albums chart.
In early January 2019, Crockett underwent open-heart surgery. Pre-assessments for the surgery exposed that Crockett had a congenital heart condition where his heart had two out of three aortic valve flaps fused together, leading to Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome.
Crockett released The Valley on September 20, 2019. The album features the single "Borrowed Time", which was co-written with Evan Felker of Turnpike Troubadours.
Field Recordings, Vol. 1 was released on April 3, 2020, and is a mixtape of 30 low-fidelity covers and originals recorded in Mendocino County, California. Crockett and Kyle Madrigal recorded the collection over the previous year using a 4-track recorder, an old CB radio microphone, and an old rotary telephone. Crockett said the songs came "from my street stuff and folk tunes, stuff I wrote that might not necessarily be best for these studio albums."
Crockett released his seventh album, Welcome to Hard Times, on July 31, 2020. It was produced by Mark Neill and includes songwriting contributions from The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach and singer/songwriter Pat McLaughlin. The album followed a life-threatening health scare in which he was diagnosed with a congenital heart condition that required heart surgery. It received glowing reviews, including from American Songwriter, who raved, "Crockett finds the sweet spot between country, soul, blues and folk on deceptively modest songs, effortless in their easy-going groove," while Texas Monthly stated, "Crockett makes a beeline for the album's central theme: wily survival in a socially, politically, and economically rigged system."
On February 26, 2021, Crockett released his next album, titled 10 For Slim: Charley Crockett Sings James Hand, a tribute album to James "Slim" Hand. It was met with critical acclaim from Rolling Stone, The Boot, Austin American-Statesman, Forbes, and American Songwriter among others.
Crockett released his ninth album, Music City USA, on September 17, 2021 via Son of Davy/Thirty Tigers. The lead single, "I Need Your Love", was featured on Rolling Stone as well as Brooklyn Vegan, who called it "a sweet and sultry slice of southern soul" and The Boot, who named it "a dose of horn-filled soul." Later that month, he earned the 2021 "Emerging Artist of the Year" award at the Americana Music Honors and Awards in Nashville, TN. Crockett closed out the year with his debut on Austin City Limits, which aired in October on PBS. He followed that up a couple months later with an appearance on CBS This Morning's "Saturday Sessions" performing "I Need Your Love," "Music City USA" and "I Feel For You" off his latest album.
In March 2022, he announced Jukebox Charley, a new album of cover songs and his third album release in just over a year. The fourth installment of his Lil' G.L. covers series, the album was released on April 22 and featured country tunes from Tom T. Hall, Willie Nelson, George Jones, and more.
In September 2022, Crockett released his eleventh album, The Man from Waco, featuring 14 original songs. Crockett performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on December 9, 2022.
In February 2023, Crockett performed at NPR for a Tiny Desk Concert. It was followed by an appearance on Comedy Central's The Daily Show in April, where he was interviewed by the host Jordan Klepper, along with a live performance of "Name on a Billboard" from his 2022 album, The Man from Waco. Later that summer, he was on the cover of Texas Monthly, for a lengthy profile detailing the artist's background and rise to fame. In September, he released Live From The Ryman, an album and concert film of his sold-out headline debut at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium recorded on November 14, 2022. He was also the 2023 recipient of the Stephen Bruton Award at The Lone Star Film Festival which celebrates exceptional artists whose careers are not only anchored in music, but also include artistic expression in film.
In early 2024, Crockett announced that his album, $10 Cowboy, would be released on April 26. He celebrated this with an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, where he performed the album's title track. In July 2024, Crockett released Visions of Dallas, an album of six cover songs and six originals, billed as Chapter II to $10 Cowboy.
In January 2025, it was stated that Crockett had signed with Island Records and released his first album via the label, Lonesome Drifter, on March 14. The album includes 12 tracks, co-produced with Shooter Jennings, including a new version of his cover of "The Jamestown Ferry" and a cover of George Strait's "Amarillo by Morning."

## Discography
### Studio albums

| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Sales |
| Title | Album details | US | US Blues | US Heat | Sales |
| A Stolen Jewel | Released: May 5, 2015 Label: Son of Davy Format: CD, digital download | — | — | — | |
| In the Night | Released: June 6, 2016 Label: Son of Davy, Field Day Format: LP, CD, digital download | — | — | — | |
| Lil' G.L.'s Honky Tonk Jubilee | Released: September 8, 2017 Label: Son of Davy, Field Day Format: LP, CD, digital download | — | — | — | |
| Lonesome as a Shadow | Released: April 20, 2018 Label: Son of Davy Format: LP, CD, digital download | — | — | 14 | |
| Lil' G.L.'s Blue Bonanza | Released: December 7, 2018 Label: Son of Davy, Thirty Tigers Format: LP, CD, digital download | — | 11 | 10 | |
| The Valley | Released: September 20, 2019 Label: Son of Davy, Thirty Tigers Format: LP, CD, digital download | — | — | 19 | US: 2,700 |
| Welcome to Hard Times | Released: July 31, 2020 Label: Son of Davy, Thirty Tigers Format: LP, CD, digital download | — | — | — | |
| Lil' G.L. Presents: 10 for Slim – Charley Crockett Sings James Hand | Released: February 26, 2021 Label: Son of Davy, Thirty Tigers Format: LP, CD, digital download | — | — | — | |
| Music City USA | Released: September 17, 2021 Label: Son of Davy, Thirty Tigers Format: LP, CD, digital download | — | — | — | |
| Lil G.L. Presents: Jukebox Charley | Released: April 22, 2022 Label: Son of Davy, Thirty Tigers Format: LP, CD, digital download | — | — | — | |
| The Man from Waco | Released: September 9, 2022 Label: Son of Davy, Thirty Tigers Format: LP, CD, digital download | 199 | — | — | |
| $10 Cowboy | Released: April 26, 2024 Label: Son of Davy, Thirty Tigers Format: LP, CD, digital download | 168 | — | 1 | |
| $10 Cowboy, Chapter II: Visions of Dallas | Released: July 22, 2024 Label: Son of Davy, Thirty Tigers Format: LP, CD, digital download | — | — | — | |
| Lonesome Drifter | Released: March 14, 2025 Label: Lone Star Rider, Island Format: LP, CD, digital download | To be released | To be released | To be released | To be released |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart ||||||

### Live albums

| Title | Album details |
| Live from the Ryman | Released: September 29, 2023 Label: Son of Davy Format: CD, LP, digital download, streaming |

### Mixtapes

| Title | Album details |
| Field Recordings, Vol. 1 | Released: April 3, 2020 Label: Son of Davy Format: Digital download |

### Extended plays

| Title | Album details |
| OurVinyl Sessions | Released: February 27, 2020 Label: OurVinyl Format: Digital download |
| The Man from Waco (Redux) | Released: May 26, 2023 Label: Song of Davy, Thirty Tigers Format: Digital download |

### Singles

List of singles, showing year released and album name :
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
| Title | Year | US AAA | Album |
| "Get Up Outta Texas" | 2015 | — | Non-album single |
| "Trinity River" | 2015 | — | A Stolen Jewel |
| "In the Night" | 2016 | — | In the Night |
| "Jamestown Ferry" | 2018 | — | Lil G.L.'s Honky Tonk Jubilee |
| "I Wanna Cry" | 2018 | — | Lonesome as a Shadow |
| "Lil' Girl's Name" | 2018 | — | Lonesome as a Shadow |
| "Ain't Gotta Worry Child" | 2018 | — | Lonesome as a Shadow |
| "Good Time Charley's Got the Blues" | 2018 | — | Lil G.L.'s Blue Bonanza |
| "How Low Can You Go" | 2019 | — | Non-album single |
| "River of Sorrow" | 2019 | — | Non-album single |
| "That's How I Got to Memphis" | 2019 | — | Lil G.L.'s Blue Bonanza |
| "Borrowed Time" | 2019 | — | The Valley |
| "The Valley" | 2019 | — | The Valley |
| "5 More Miles" | 2019 | — | The Valley |
| "9 Lb Hammer" | 2019 | — | The Valley |
| "Welcome to Hard Times" | 2020 | — | Welcome to Hard Times |
| "Run Horse Run" | 2020 | — | Welcome to Hard Times |
| "Don't Cry" | 2020 | — | Welcome to Hard Times |
| "Fool Somebody Else" | 2020 | — | Welcome to Hard Times |
| "I Can Help" | 2021 | — | The Next Waltz, Vol. 3 |
| "Lesson in Depression" | 2021 | — | Lil' G.L. Presents: 10 for Slim – Charley Crockett Sings James Hand |
| "Midnight Run" | 2021 | — | Lil' G.L. Presents: 10 for Slim – Charley Crockett Sings James Hand |
| "I Need Your Love" | 2021 | — | Music City USA |
| "Round This World" | 2021 | — | Music City USA |
| "I Won't Cry" | 2021 | — | Music City USA |
| "Music City USA" | 2021 | — | Music City USA |
| "I Feel for You" | 2022 | — | Lil' G.L. Presents: Jukebox Charley |
| "I'm Just a Clown" | 2022 | — | The Man from Waco |
| "The Man from Waco" | 2022 | — | The Man from Waco |
| "Trinity River" | 2022 | 18 | The Man from Waco |
| "Killers of the Flower Moon" | 2023 | — | Non-album single |
| "$10 Cowboy" | 2024 | 26 | $10 Cowboy |
| "Solitary Road" | 2024 | 23 | $10 Cowboy |
| "Lonesome Drifter" | 2025 | 21 | Lonesome Drifter |

### Music videos

| Title | Year | Director |
| "Get Up Outta Texas" | 2015 | Paco Estrada |
| "Trinity River" | 2015 | Daniel Driensky Sarah M. Reyes |
| "In the Night" | 2016 | Will von Bolton |
| "Jamestown Ferry" | 2018 | Charley Crockett Lyza Renee |
| "I Wanna Cry" | 2018 | Charley Crockett Lyza Renee |
| "Lil' Girl's Name" | 2018 | Ray Lewis Texas Joe |
| "Ain't Gotta Worry Child" | 2018 | Charley Crockett Mario Valdez |
| "Good Time Charley's Got the Blues" | 2018 | Charley Crockett Lyza Renee |
| "River of Sorrow" | 2019 | Bobby Cochran |
| "That's How I Got to Memphis" | 2019 | Bobby Cochran |
| "Borrowed Time" | 2019 | Charley Crockett |
| "The Valley" | 2019 | Ben Christensen Dusty Sousley |
| "The Valley" (short film) | 2019 | Ben Christensen Dusty Sousley |
| "Welcome to Hard Times" | 2020 | Charley Crockett Bobby Cochran |
| "Run Horse Run" | 2020 | Charley Crockett Bobby Cochran |
| "Don't Cry" | 2020 | Charley Crockett Bobby Cochran |
| "Fool Somebody Else" | 2020 | Charley Crockett Bobby Cochran |
| "Lily My Dear" (live video) | 2020 | Kevin J. Hamm |
| "Wreck Me" (live video) | 2020 | Kevin J. Hamm |
| "The Man That Time Forgot" (live video) | 2020 | Kevin J. Hamm |
| "Lesson in Depression" | 2021 | Bobby Cochran |
| "Midnight Run" | 2021 | Bobby Cochran |
| "I Need Your Love" | 2021 | Bobby Cochran |
| "Round This World" | 2021 | Bobby Cochran |
| "I Won't Cry" | 2021 | Bobby Cochran |
| "Music City USA" | 2021 | Bobby Cochran |
| "I Feel for You" | 2022 | Spencer Peeples |
| "I'm Just a Clown" | 2022 | Bobby Cochran |

## Awards and nominations

| Award | Year | Category | Result |
| Americana Music Honors & Awards | 2021 | Emerging Artist of the Year | Won |
| Austin Music Awards | 2022 | Musician of the Year | Won |
| Austin Music Awards | 2022 | Best Country | Won |
| Americana Music Honors & Awards | 2023 | Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| Americana Music Honors & Awards | 2023 | Album of the Year | Nominated |
| Americana Music Honors & Awards | 2023 | Song of the Year | Nominated |
| Grammy Awards | 2025 | Best Americana Album | Nominated |