Eric Church has never been one to not show love to the artists who’ve inspired him throughout his career. From his biggest hit to date quite literally being named after Bruce Springsteen to shouting out the likes of George Strait, Waylon Jennings and Bob Seger in a 2015 interview with Rolling Stone, Church has always worn his influences on his sleeve. There’s one artist, however, who was particularly influential to the Chief throughout his career. That artist is none other than Ray Wylie Hubbard. As a member of the Texas Songwriters Hall of Fame, Hubbard has a storied career that spans over six decades now. From his early hits such as “Up Against the Wall, Redneck Mother” (which was later popularized by Jerry Jeff Walker) to “Snake Farm,” the 78-year-old singer/songwriter has a severely underrated discography that’s truly never gotten the attention it undoubtedly deserves. His talent has never gone unnoticed by Church, however. Beyond name-dropping Hubbard in “Mr. Misunderstood,” the North Carolina native penned a lengthy entry to the Texas Songwriter Hall of Famer in Brian T. Atkinson’s 2019 biography, The Messenger: The Songwriting Legacy of Ray Wylie Hubbard. “I started writing with Nashville songwriters in 2000. Those guys are craftsmen, the best in the world, but there’s a freedom and wildness in what Ray Wylie’s doing. Ray’s so damn creative. He taps into my soul with his songwriting and the way he plays, sings, and crafts a story. You think the characters he develops come from his imagination, but then you look at places he’s been and things he’s done. These are character he met through his time playing. I what the freedom in his music makes me feel like. Ray Wylie’s a damn national treasure, a poet and absolutely one of the best we’ve ever had. He sets a scene better than anyone. We fell into [‘Desperate Man’] and finished it in a few hours. Ray has always been good about the visual element of lyrics. You close your eyes and listen to him sing these words, and you can absolutely visualize, feel, and see [the story]. His words aren’t just filling a space. Ray’s meticulous and places every word well. He painted colors on the canvas for “Desperate Man” and made the images come to life. Ray’s a funny, interesting guy. You can’t take your eyes off him. We had  fun spending all day with him when we were shooting the video. We hung out and talked about the music, all the years he’s played, and where he’s played, a pretty special day for me. He’s been a troubadour for forty years, and success hasn’t mattered. He’s just played. I have such a respect for his love of music. We need more of his uniqueness. He can do something in a way that no one else can. He’s the dead thumb king. I think he deserves to be in [Nashville’s] Songwriters Hall of Fame. More younger artists listening to Ray Wylie Hubbard would be better for the health of country music.” As Church mentioned in the excerpt, he was finally able to collaborate with his hero on the title track of his 2018 album, Desperate Man, co-writing it with Hubbard. The song was nothing short of a success for the pair, earning a Top 10 entry on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart and a platinum certification from the RIAA in June 2021. Additionally, it has been streamed over 60 million times on Spotify alone. For Hubbard, the success of the track became one of the highlights of his career. Well, at least from a monetary perspective. Quoting a tweet that asked the question, “What is the single most beautiful moment in music you’ve ever heard?” Joking, the “Screw You, We’re From Texas” singer replied that it was his wife’s reaction seeing the royalty check from “Desperate Man”: “My wife Judy screaming when she opened the envelope with the royalty check from the ‘Desperate Man’ co-write with Eric Church.” my wife judy screaming when she opened the envelope with the royalty check from the 'desperate man' co-write with eric church. https://t.co/FLU0KaeCdS — Ray Wylie Hubbard (@raywylie) August 22, 2025 As one of two writers on a song that got heavy radio play upon its release and would eventually go Platinum, I’d imagine that check was a pretty good one. Deservedly so, too. Listen to “Desperate Man” here: And while you’re here, listen to Hubbard’s “Dallas After Midnight” as well. Free The Machine Tour Dates Sept. 12 || Pittsburgh, Penn. || PPG Paints Arena || Elle King Sept. 13 || Columbus, Ohio || Nationwide Arena || Elle King Sept. 18 || Philadelphia, Penn. || Wells Fargo Center || Elle King Sept. 19 || Boston, Mass. || TD Garden || Elle King Sept. 20 || Brooklyn, N.Y. || Barclays Center || Elle King Sept. 25 || Green Bay, Wisc. || Resch Center || Marcus King Band Sept. 26 || Milwaukee, Wisc. || Fiserv Forum || Marcus King Band Sept. 27 || Des Moines, Iowa || Wells Fargo Arena || Marcus King Band Oct. 2 || Detroit, Mich. || Little Caesars Arena || Marcus King Band Oct. 3 || Lexington, Ky. || Rupp Arena || Marcus King Band Oct. 9 || Indianapolis, Ind. || Gainbridge Fieldhouse || Marcus King Band Oct. 10 || Grand Rapids, Mich. || Van Andel Arena || Marcus King Band Oct. 11 || Cleveland, Ohio || Rocket Arena || Marcus King Band Oct. 23 || Salt Lake City, Utah || Delta Center || Charles Wesley Godwin Oct. 24 || Boise, Idaho || ExtraMile Arena || Charles Wesley Godwin Oct. 25 || Spokane, Wash. || Spokane Arena || Charles Wesley Godwin Nov. 6 || Vancouver, B.C. || Rogers Arena || Charles Wesley Godwin Nov. 7 || Portland, Ore. || Moda Center || Charles Wesley Godwin Nov. 8 || Seattle, Wash. || Climate Pledge Arena || Charles Wesley Godwin Nov. 13 || Sacramento, Calif. || Golden 1 Center || Charles Wesley Godwin Nov. 14 || Fresno, Calif. || SaveMart Center || Charles Wesley Godwin Nov. 15 || Inglewood, Calif. || Intuit Dome || Charles Wesley GodwinThe post Ray Wylie Hubbard Jokes That Opening The Royalty Check From Eric Church’s ‘Desperate Man’ Was “The Most Beautiful Moment” Heard In Music first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Paying tribute to the legendary Ozzy Osbourne. It’s been almost a month since Ozzy Osbourne, the Prince of Darkness, died at the age of 76, and it’s still hard to believe that he’s gone. The famed rock and roll singer and Black Sabbath frontman put on his final performance shortly before passing. It was apparent that his health was deteriorating from his Parkinson’s disease. Given that his voice was spot on during this final performance, the heartbreaking news of his death was even more shocking. Osbourne’s family shared a statement with fans and the public, stating that the “Crazy Train” singer took his final breath surrounded by family. “It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family’s privacy at this time. Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and Louis.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ozzy Osbourne (@ozzyosbourne) Since his passing, many artists have spoken out about how Ozzy influenced them across numerous genres. A handful of country artists have also incorporated Black Sabbath or Ozzy Osbourne’s solo career songs into their setlists. Ian Munsick was one artist who stunned with his epic country rendition of “No More Tears,” which kept the integrity of the song while adding some of Munsick’s signature Montana twang. This cover was truly iconic, and Munsick, who knocks covers across many genres out of the park, left the audience with their jaw on the floor. Did something a lil wild last night at our show in Nebraska #ripozzy #nomoretears @OzzyOsbourne pic.twitter.com/v2F9j2Vm9m — Ian Munsick (@IanMunsick) July 28, 2025 Another group has recently shared that they’ve added an Ozzy classic to their setlist, and it, too, rips. 49 Winchester took to social media to share a stellar cover of Black Sabbath’s “Changes.” Over the years, the ballad has been released in multiple formats. It first appeared on Vol. 4, which was released in 1972. Two decades later, in 1993, Ozzy Osbourne released a live version as a single from the album Live & Loud. And finally, he released a version in 2003, featuring his daughter, Kelly Osbourne. Each of the versions is incredible and highlights a much softer side to Black Sabbath’s sound. When the famed rock and roll group recorded the song, to achieve an orchestral feel, they used a Mellotron instead of a string ensemble in the studio. When this song was released, some fans were worried that the group was going soft, but Ozzy famously reminded fans that the Prince of Darkness was not going anywhere and the heartbreaking ballad was not a shift in the group’s sound.  “We’re certainly not going to get any less heavy, we will probably do ‘Changes’ on stage with a Mellotron, but we’ll never take strings on stage with us or anything like that.” Earlier this month at Beech Mountain Ski Resort’s summer concert series, which featured Charley Crockett and 49 Winchester, the Virginia natives tipped their hats to this beautiful ballad on stage. “Changes” is a song that is adaptable to many genres, and 49 Winchester put their Appalachian Southern rock twang on the song flawlessly. While making the famed song their own, they still kept the integrity of Black Sabbath’s original recording. Isaac Gibson absolutely stuns with this vocal performance and does not hold anything back. “She was my woman I love her so But it’s too late now I’ve let her go I’m going through changes I’m going through changes We shared the years We shared each day In love together We found a way.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by 49 Winchester (@49winchester) I need the boys to get into the studio to give us a streamable version ASAP. I have watched this performance an embarrassing number of times, but frontman Isaac Gibson’s vocals are unreal during this cover. Well done, boys. Well done. Ozzy would be proud. Check out the entire performance below. The post WATCH: 49 Winchester Brings Their Appalachian Soul To Stellar Cover Of Black Sabbath’s “Changes” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

The Little Rascals - Ron Taylor

Texas legislators have approved new congressional maps designed to give Republicans an edge in next year's elections for the US House of Representatives.

Schools often have to walk a fine line when it comes to parental complaints. Diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and preferences for what kids see and hear will always mean that schools can't please everyone all the time, so teachers and educators have to discern what's best for the whole, broad spectrum of kids in their care.Sometimes, what's best is hard to discern. Sometimes it's absolutely not.Such was the case when a parent at a St. Louis elementary school complained in a Facebook group about a book that was read to her 7-year-old. The parent wrote:"Anyone else check out the read a loud book on Canvas for 2nd grade today? Ron's Big Mission was the book that was read out loud to my 7 year old. I caught this after she watched it bc I was working with my 3rd grader. I have called my daughters school. Parents, we have to preview what we are letting the kids see on there."Fittingly, the Facebook group was titled "Concerned Parents of the Rockwood School District." Parents have always been concerned with what their kids are reading; but lately it's getting out of hand. Photo by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash The book in question, Ron's Big Mission, highlights a true story from the childhood of Challenger astronaut Ron McNair, who had experienced discrimination as a child in South Carolina because he was Black. In 1959, when he was nine years old, McNair wanted to check out books at the library, but the librarian told him the library didn't loan books to "coloreds." McNair refused to leave the library until he was allowed to check out books. Rather than give him a library card, the librarian called the police, who ultimately convinced her to just let him check out books.Seriously, what issue could this parent possibly take with such an inspiring story of a kid standing up to injustice and fighting for the right to educate himself? This was a child who single-handedly changed a library's racial segregation policy and grew up to be an astronaut—a genuine, real-life hero. What is there to take issue with? The parent didn't specify, so we're left to conjecture, but bad reviews for the book on Goodreads and Amazon might give us a clue: Some readers have taken offense at the way the book portrays white people."I understand racial diversity is important but this is just awful. I don't think it's appropriate for kids because they don't live in a world where black kids can't rent books or do the same things white kids can do. It's a pretty level playing field now," one reviewer wrote on Goodreads."Children are supposed to learn how to love all cultures not hate all cultures," added another 1-star reviewer.Cue up the tiny violins. The old "reverse racism" trope! Giphy Rockwood Education Equity and Diversity Director Brittany Hogan told KMOX News Radio that after hearing of the complaint, other parents responded immediately in the book's defense."They were saying this is amazing that they were buying copies of the book," Hogan said. "One of our parents came out and said she was going to purchase a copy for every second-grader at the elementary school that her children attends."Hogan called McNair a hero and said, "He deserves to be celebrated. His story deserves to be told to our children. It's important that we continue to move in a space that embeds diverse curriculum."And the school responded in the best possible way—by announcing the book was going to be read aloud to the whole student body via Zoom. That's how you shut down a bigot. Boom.Here's Pond Elementary Principal Carlos Diaz-Granados reading "Ron's Big Mission" to students via Zoom and sharing why he thinks it's an important book for kids: - YouTube www.youtube.com In the years since this incident, book bans have sadly become even more of an issue in many parts of America. During the 2023-2024 school year, over 10,000 books were banned in public schools; a rapidly accelerating number. It's too easy for special interest groups and politicians to hide behind the idea of "protecting kids" from inappropriate content, when in reality, any books written by or about people of color or the LQBTQ+ community are being overwhelmingly targeted just for existing.Schools have a responsibility in this battle. While it's not their place to adopt a formal religious, racial, or political position, they are supposed to be environments where all are welcome. And it's their job to fight for their students' right to learn and access information. Kudos to the Pond Elementary Team for doing the right thing here.This article originally appeared two years ago. It has been updated.

There's good ego and there's bad ego. The post The artist Pete Townshend said let fame go to his head: “Their musicianship was lazy, super-cool” first appeared on Far Out Magazine.

Wiping the floor with his riffs. The post The one guitarist Jeff Beck felt “awful” jamming with: “I felt like a peanut” first appeared on Far Out Magazine.