Clint Black — Cassette

Intro

Clint Black represents the peak of the neotraditional movement, offering a sound that is deeply rooted in the soil of Texas honky-tonks but polished for the stadium stage. His music feels like a well-worn denim jacket: comfortable, sturdy, and classic. There is a specific warmth to his arrangements, often led by his own distinctive harmonica playing and a baritone voice that carries both authority and a gentle, romantic vulnerability.

What sets him apart from his Class of '89 peers is his craftsmanship as a musician and songwriter. He does not just sing country; he builds it with intricate guitar parts and clever, often pun-filled lyrics that reward a closer listen. While many of his contemporaries leaned into pop-country crossover, Black maintained a bluesy, rhythmic swing that kept his sound grounded in traditional instrumentation even when the production was at its most radio-ready.

Start with his debut, Killin' Time. It is a masterclass in the genre, featuring a string of hits that define the early 90s country aesthetic. From there, explore his later acoustic-leaning work to hear the nuances of his guitar playing and his growth as a storyteller who never lost his sense of humor or his heart.

Clint Patrick Black (born February 4, 1962) is an American country music singer, songwriter, musician, actor, and record producer. Signed to RCA Nashville in 1989, Black's debut album Killin' Time produced four straight number one singles on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts. Although his momentum gradually slowed throughout the 1990s, Black consistently charted hit songs into the 2000s. He has had more than thirty singles on the US Billboard country charts, thirteen of which have reached number one, in addition to having released twelve studio albums and several compilation albums. In 2003, Black founded his own record label, Equity Music Group. Black has also ventured into acting, having made appearances in a 1993 episode of the TV series Wings and in the 1994 film Maverick, as well as a starring role in 1998's Still Holding On: The Legend of Cadillac Jack. Black has been nominated for four Grammy Awards for best Country Male Vocal Performance (1990 – "Killin' Time", 1997 – "Like the Rain", 1998 – "Something That We Do", 1999 – "Nothin' but the Taillights"), he was also nominated for six Grammy Awards with one win in the category of Best Country Collaboration with Vocals – "Hold On Partner" in 1991 (w/ Roy Rogers), "A Bad Goodbye" in 1993 (w/ Wynonna), "Still Holding On" in 1997 (w/ Martina McBride), "Same Old Train" in 1998 which got the Grammy Award (with Joe Diffie, Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, Patty Loveless, Earl Scruggs, Ricky Skaggs, Marty Stuart, Pam Tillis, Randy Travis, Travis Tritt and Dwight Yoakam), "When I Said I Do" in 1999 (w/ wife Lisa Hartman Black), and "Hey Good Lookin'" in 2004 (Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Toby Keith, and George Strait). Black had numerous hit singles including "A Better Man," "Killin' Time," "Nobody's Home," "A Good Run of Bad Luck," and "Nothin' but the Taillights."

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Our Catalog14 Albums · 1989 · 2020