Charley Crockett delivered his latest single in the form of a cover of James Hand‘s “Lesson In Depression”. The single and accompanying video, released on Friday, finds the country revivalist paying tribute to the late Texas honky-tonk hero.
John Hand passed away on June 8th, 2020 at the age of 68. A late bloomer whose music career didn’t start until he was 47, Hand quickly garnered a respected reputation among the Texas honky-tonk circuit. A country musician’s country musician, he was considered one of the more authentic voices of his generation by the time he died, with Willie Nelson calling him “The Real Deal”. According to Saving Country Music, Crockett first encountered Hand in Memphis a few years ago while Hand was performing the Tom T. Hall song “How I Got To Memphis”.
“I was up for an Ameripolitan Award a couple years back and I went down to one of Dale Watson’s showcases at Blues City on Beale Street,” Crockett said previously. “Well ol’ Slim got up on stage with the band and they went in to that old Tom T. Hall number. I think James Hand is the greatest living honky tonker, and he had me in tears with the way he was singing those lyrics. He chokes me up every time I hear him sing.”
Related: Charley Crockett Is “The Man That Time Forgot” In New Live Video [Watch]
Crockett puts his signature drawl on the track from Hand’s 2012 album Mighty Lonesome Man. Together with a music video directed by Bobby Cochran, the lonesome rider that is Charley Crockett comes to embody the song’s meaning as he doles out a “Lesson In Depression”.
“Willie Nelson called him ‘The Real Deal’ and I’m telling you right now it’s a fact that there wasn’t a more authentic character in country music during James’ lifetime,” Crockett said.
Watch Charley Crockett’s new music video for his cover of James Hand’s “Lesson In Depression”.
Charley Crockett – “Lesson In Depression” (James Hand) [Official Video]
[Video: Charley Crockett]
[H/T Saving Country Music]