Big and Rich: That’s Why We Listen

It's The Song

Here’s some songs you might have heard:

Jason Aldean’s “Hicktown,” "Amarillo Sky,” and “Johnny Cash.”

Faith Hill’s “Mississippi Girl,” and “Like We Never Loved At All.”

Tim McGraw’s “Last Dollar (Fly Away).”

Gretchen Wilson’s “Redneck Woman.”

They were all co-written by John Rich, one half of the duo Big and Rich. Big Kenny Alphin is the big tall guy in a top hat. Rich is the smaller guy in a suit and a cowboy hat with an anachronistic moustache.

You may have heard their 2007 song “Lost In This Moment,” which is played ubiquitously at weddings.

Or you may have smirked at their other song, “Save A Horse (Ride A Cowboy).”

If you listen to country radio, chances are your ears have caught a song written by a posse of talented writes (such as Sarah Buxton), “That’s Why I Pray.”

The reason The Inky Jukebox likes Big and Rich is not because of their politics, which are, like many of the artists The Inky Jukebox champions, not exactly the same as The Inky Jukebox’s. We like them because every now and then, two people come along and sing together and make a glorious noise. Their two voices are lovely apart, but gorgeous together. Big Kenny provide the dark velvet undertones, while John Rich claims the earnest upper register.

If you were the captain of a band which had to write and perform songs, Big and Rich would likely be your first picks. (Fine, Mac McAnally might be in there too.)

Music is about sound. Pleasant, awesome, brilliant sound is what songs are made of. Big and Rich deliver both Bigness and Richness to music. It’s as simple as that.