Dwight Yoakam at Choctaw Grand Theater

Back in the late 1980s, Dwight David Yoakam helped return country music to its roots with his stripped-down approach to traditional honky tonk and Bakersfield country. He debuted through his album "Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc.," a re-issued version by Reprise Records of his extended play of the same name under Oak Records label, both released in the year 1986. The album reached spot number one on the Billboard Top Country Albums in 1986. Thirteen years since its release, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified it double platinum.

The 67-year-old American country music singer-songwriter, actor and film director learned how to play guitar at the age of six. He listened to his mother's collection of records, including the traditional country of Hank Williams and Johnny Cash, as well as the Bakersfield honky tonk of Buck Owen. During his high school days, he and some classmates formed the Greaser Band as they joined their school's talent show. Their band then later got famous, and they started to perform at several private gatherings throughout Columbus. After high school, he attended Ohio State University but later dropped out to pursue his country music career and moved to Nashville, Tennessee where he faced difficulty in the Nashville music scene, as his style was more indebted to honky-tonk and bluegrass music at a time when such sounds were not popular compared to country pop and Nashville sound.

He has released a total of 15 studio albums, 5 cover albums, and 5 compilation albums throughout his career. Dwight Yoakam has won two Grammy Awards for Best Male Country Vocal Performance ("Ain't That Lonely Yet") in 1994 and Best Country Collaboration with Vocals ("Same Old Train" with various artists) in 1999. He also won one Academy Country Music award as Top New Male Vocalist in 1986. Since his debut, Dwight remained one of the most respected and adventurous recording country artists well into the '90s.

Though he hasn't released any albums since 2016 after his "Swimmin' Pools, Movie Stars," he continues to tour and perform. Dwight Yoakam is currently touring across the country and has 9 upcoming concerts. His fifth stop will be on Friday, 5th April 2024, at Choctaw Grand Theater. Grab your tickets now and be excited to see him perform live in front of you. See you there!