Back in the late 1980s and early 1990s, a few special singers like Alan Jackson, George Strait, and Randy Travis made country music sound fresh but still old-fashioned. At that time, a lot of music sounded more like pop, but these artists brought back the classic country style. Their songs helped make country music in the ‘90s super popular, and even today, new singers look up to them. Fans all around the world still love them and call them legends.
Seeing these famous singers perform live is a big deal for fans. On June 7, 2014, over 100,000 people filled AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, to watch George Strait during his Cowboy Rides Away Tour. That night broke records for the biggest crowd ever at a concert like that! George didn’t sing alone—he invited Alan Jackson to join him for two songs: “Amarillo by Morning” and “Murder on Music Row.” It was a treat for everyone there to see these two stars together.
Lots of fans think George Strait and Alan Jackson are both amazing in country music. But during the concert, Alan said something sweet to George. “George, this is the coolest country music concert ever,” he said, handing George a drink to cheer for his long career. “Back in the early ‘80s, when I was a young guy in Georgia, I loved your song ‘Unwound.’ You’re one of the reasons I moved to Nashville. Thank you, and God bless you.” Then they sang “Murder on Music Row” together.
That song, “Murder on Music Row,” is about how country music was changing. It was written in 1999 by Larry Cordle and Larry Shell, when country started sounding more like pop again and less like the old-style music from the ‘90s. The song says someone “killed” country music by taking away its heart. The words go, “Someone killed country music, cut out its heart and soul. They got away with murder down on Music Row.”
A bluegrass band first sang it, but then George Strait and Alan Jackson recorded it together. George put it on his album Latest, Greatest, Straitest Hits in 2000. They didn’t make it a single, but people loved it so much on the radio that it still became a hit, reaching No. 38 on the country music charts.
At the big concert, before they sang it, George asked Alan to tell the crowd about the song. Alan said, “It’s still true today,” meaning country music still doesn’t always sound like it used to. Kids and grown-ups alike can see how much these two stars care about keeping country music special!
