David Allen Coe, born in Akron , Ohio ,
in 1939, along with Waylon Jennings and Merle Haggard, helped to pave the way
for a country subgenre of music called “outlaw country.” The subgenre featured
longhaired, denim-wearing heroes like Coe who embraced and expressed a
rule-breaking philosophy of life.
Coe, like Merle Haggard, came by his outlaw
image honestly. Both Coe and Haggard did lengthy stretches in prison prior to
the start of their music careers. Coe’s debut album, released shortly after his
release from prison, is a bluesy masterpiece. The album was titled,
“Penitentiary Blues.” With songs like “Cell 33,” Dear Warden,” and “Death Row,”
the album is musically and lyrically riveting.
Coe released many fine country albums
during the Seventies including, “The Mysterious Rhinestone Cowboy” (1974),
“Longhaired Redneck” (1976), “Texas Moon” (1977), and “Tattoo” (1978). In 1975,
Coe scored a major country hit with a cover version of Steve Goodman’s, “You
Never Even Call Me by My Name.”
David Allen Coe-Photo by Matthew Woitunski |