Biography of Rodney Crowell

The greatest country artist of the last decade? The strength of his late-'80s output makes it hard to disagree with that assessment. In the '70s Crowell (one-time husband of Rosanne Cash) established himself as a songwriter who knew what made old country records great and what they needed to remain relevant in the 8'0s. His 1978 debut, Ain't Livin' Long Like This, got lost in the shuffle, but garnered rave reviews in the rock press. After a string of desultory albums, Crowell bounced back in 1988 with his vision recharged. You could call him a neotraditionalist, but never try to pigeonhole a talent like this. ~ John Floyd