In no particular order

Willie Nelson
ZZ Top
SRV
Van Cliburn
George Strait

I like your list but substitute Doug Sahm for Van Cliburn

The country greats from Texas is far more impressive than RnR but I'm a rock guy not a country guy


ZZ Top
Steve Miller
Steven Stills (born in Dallas so I will claim as Texan, big CSN&Y fan)
Edie Brickel & The New Bohemians
Willie Nelson (yes - Willie make the list of the rock guy)

Others
Janis Jopplin
Roy Orbison
Buddy Holly

Don't forget Delbert McClinton

Waylon Jennings.

Beyonce
SRV
George Jones
Janis Joplin
ZZ Top

Could easily pick 5 different ones... so many!

All of the above qualify as greatness, so I guess I list my personal favorites.

Not that I'm a big fan of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame but some of those folks are in there, namely

Buddy Holly (charter member)
Roy Orbison

Others

Willie Nelson
George Jones
ZZ Topp
Delbert McClinton
Janis Joplin
George no. 2 (Strait)
Jerry Jeff
Willis Alan Ramsey
Michael Nesmith
Freddy Fender
Bobby Fuller
Buddy Knox
Lightning Hopkins
Steve Miller
B J Thomas
B W Stephenson
Michael Martin Murphey
Roy Head
Paul & Paula (Ray Petersen & Jill Jackson)
Joe Ely
Charlie Pride
Ray Price
Ernest Tubb
Gene Autry
The Sons of the Pioneers
Bruce Channel

And and a friend that is dearly missed and under appreciated, the late Sir Doug Sahm.

There are more I'll remember later. Probably missed a few like the Stranger from Ranger.

This list is a work in progress. I think I've seen nearly all of these live.

Stranger said:

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All of the above qualify as greatness, so I guess I list my personal favorites.

Not that I'm a big fan of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame but some of those folks are in there, namely

Buddy Holly (charter member)
Roy Orbison

Others

Willie Nelson
George Jones
ZZ Topp
Delbert McClinton
Janis Joplin
George no. 2 (Strait)
Jerry Jeff
Willis Alan Ramsey
Michael Nesmith
Freddy Fender
Bobby Fuller
Buddy Knox
Lightning Hopkins
Steve Miller
B J Thomas
B W Stephenson
Michael Martin Murphey
Roy Head
Paul & Paula (Ray Petersen & Jill Jackson)
Joe Ely
Charlie Pride
Ray Price
Ernest Tubb
Gene Autry
The Sons of the Pioneers
Bruce Channel

And and a friend that is dearly missed and under appreciated, the late Sir Doug Sahm.

There are more I'll remember later. Probably missed a few like the Stranger from Ranger.

This list is a work in progress. I think I've seen nearly all of these live.

---

Good list.... but you left off Guy Clark!

And Jerry Jeff was a New Yorker!

I picked five because it is so hard to limit it to 5. No matter which five you pick. You have slighted some greatness.

Fat Daddy said:

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Stranger said:

---

All of the above qualify as greatness, so I guess I list my personal favorites.

Not that I'm a big fan of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame but some of those folks are in there, namely

Buddy Holly (charter member)
Roy Orbison

Others

Willie Nelson
George Jones
ZZ Topp
Delbert McClinton
Janis Joplin
George no. 2 (Strait)
Jerry Jeff
Willis Alan Ramsey
Michael Nesmith
Freddy Fender
Bobby Fuller
Buddy Knox
Lightning Hopkins
Steve Miller
B J Thomas
B W Stephenson
Michael Martin Murphey
Roy Head
Paul & Paula (Ray Petersen & Jill Jackson)
Joe Ely
Charlie Pride
Ray Price
Ernest Tubb
Gene Autry
The Sons of the Pioneers
Bruce Channel

And and a friend that is dearly missed and under appreciated, the late Sir Doug Sahm.

There are more I'll remember later. Probably missed a few like the Stranger from Ranger.

This list is a work in progress. I think I've seen nearly all of these live.

---

Good list.... but you left off Guy Clark!

And Jerry Jeff was a New Yorker!

---

You're right about Jerry Jeff, but he moved to Texas and got famous here.

I don't know how I missed Guy Clark. And also left off the great Townes Van Zandt.

In terms of influence, maybe there should be a spot for T Bone Walker and/or Blind Lemon Jefferson.

curtpenn said:

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In terms of influence, maybe there should be a spot for T Bone Walker and/or Blind Lemon Jefferson.

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Exactly. And Freddie King.

Doug Sahm is severely under appreciated

Feel The Floyd said:

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Doug Sahm is severely under appreciated

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I was privileged to know him. The man could play any kind of music you wanted to hear and could play it well. His versatility probably held him back from being really commercial. I've seen nearly all of the artists live and can honestly say a Doug Sahm live show was better than anything he ever put on a record.

Buddy Holly - then everybody else.

God knows what he would have done.

Influenced so many - esp the Beatles.

Just 22 when he died.

Damn.

- BUmma

King Diamond (ok, he's from Denmark, but has lived in Texas since the 80s)
Pantera
Solitude Aeturnus
Scott Joplin
ZZ Top

Gibby Haynes wouldnt make top 5 but deserves mention.

Johnny Guitar Watson
Lightnin Hopkins
Albert Collins
Stevie Ray
ZZ Top

Following the rules:
Guy Clark
Townes
Steve Earle
Buddy Holly
Stevie Ray

But so many others deserve mention. Impossible task.

Stranger said:

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All of the above qualify as greatness, so I guess I list my personal favorites.

Not that I'm a big fan of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame but some of those folks are in there, namely

Buddy Holly (charter member)
Roy Orbison

Others

Willie Nelson
George Jones
ZZ Topp
Delbert McClinton
Janis Joplin
George no. 2 (Strait)
Jerry Jeff
Willis Alan Ramsey
Michael Nesmith
Freddy Fender
Bobby Fuller
Buddy Knox
Lightning Hopkins
Steve Miller
B J Thomas
B W Stephenson
Michael Martin Murphey
Roy Head
Paul & Paula (Ray Petersen & Jill Jackson)
Joe Ely
Charlie Pride
Ray Price
Ernest Tubb
Gene Autry
The Sons of the Pioneers
Bruce Channel

And and a friend that is dearly missed and under appreciated, the late Sir Doug Sahm.

There are more I'll remember later. Probably missed a few like the Stranger from Ranger.

This list is a work in progress. I think I've seen nearly all of these live.

---

Great list! No Mike Jones?

Don Henley

Fat Pat

LIB,MR BEARS said:

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In no particular order

Willie Nelson
ZZ Top
SRV
Van Cliburn
George Strait

---

Hard to beat this list. While I'm not a big George Strait fan, you can't argue with success. For my personal list I'd have to go with Buddy Holly.

Max Quad said:

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LIB,MR BEARS said:

---

In no particular order

Willie Nelson
ZZ Top
SRV
Van Cliburn
George Strait

---

Hard to beat this list. While I'm not a big George Strait fan, you can't argue with success. For my personal list I'd have to go with Buddy Holly.

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Buddy Holly is, by far, the most important artist that Texas ever produced. He influenced nearly ever musician that followed. Without Buddy there would be no Beatles. He was truly a founder of rock and roll.

As for Strait, he is the second best country singer from Texas named George, the first being George Jones.

Stranger said:

---

Max Quad said:

---

LIB,MR BEARS said:

---

In no particular order

Willie Nelson
ZZ Top
SRV
Van Cliburn
George Strait

---

Hard to beat this list. While I'm not a big George Strait fan, you can't argue with success. For my personal list I'd have to go with Buddy Holly.

---

Buddy Holly is, by far, the most important artist that Texas ever produced. He influenced nearly ever musician that followed. Without Buddy there would be no Beatles. He was truly a founder of rock and roll.

As for Strait, he is the second best country singer from Texas named George, the first being George Jones.

---

Stranger, you're not red-headed are you?

LIB,MR BEARS said:

---

Stranger said:

---

Max Quad said:

---

LIB,MR BEARS said:

---

In no particular order

Willie Nelson
ZZ Top
SRV
Van Cliburn
George Strait

---

Hard to beat this list. While I'm not a big George Strait fan, you can't argue with success. For my personal list I'd have to go with Buddy Holly.

---

Buddy Holly is, by far, the most important artist that Texas ever produced. He influenced nearly ever musician that followed. Without Buddy there would be no Beatles. He was truly a founder of rock and roll.

As for Strait, he is the second best country singer from Texas named George, the first being George Jones.

---

Stranger, you're not red-headed are you?

---

Don't cross him don't boss him he's wild in his sorrow he's postin' and hidin' his pain
Don't fight him don't spite him let's wait till tomorrow maybe he'll write us again

- KKM

1. Willie Nelson**
2. [void]
3. [void]
4. [void]
5. [void]

** Willie doesn't SING anymore; he just rasps his throat and talks the lyrics. BUT, in his day, . . . there was no on one else on the list.

this guy deserves a mention:



- LFS

william said:

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this guy deserves a mention:



- LFS

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No doubt. And how did I leave off Robert Earl Keen?

Also two great songwriters as well as legendary individuals, Kris Kristofferson and Billy Joe Shaver.

I thought Bob Wills was still the king?

1. Willie
2. Buddy
3. Don Henley
4. SRV
5. George Strait


Here is te Chronicles list:

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/entertainment/music/article/The-50-Greatest-Texas-Musicians-Ever-13135350.php

Booray said:

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I thought Bob Wills was still the king?

1. Willie
2. Buddy
3. Don Henley
4. SRV
5. George Strait


Here is te Chronicles list:

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/entertainment/music/article/The-50-Greatest-Texas-Musicians-Ever-13135350.php

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Excellent article. Named a few others we left out. Mighty fine, all right.