Working For Dwight Yoakam 

What's your favorite Dwight Yoakam song?

I met Dwight’s bus driver at a car wash just outside of Nashville. He said Dwight was one of the nicest people you could meet and he never acted like a superstar or talked down to anyone. I think that is so respectable.

I have a friend who back in the early 90`s after heading the fretting department at a large guitar factory , then went to West L. A Music and restored whole collections for people like Ry Cooder and such ! So he had credentials and was hired to tech for Dwight . I was a baker back then so my hours were 2am till 11 am to bake thousands of danish and such in this huge oven with 12 rotating shelves that inside looked like a Ferris Wheel , so after my friend went on the road with Yoakam , I had worked that shift and was taking a nap in the local park in the shade of a giant old eucalyptus tree ,and who should walk up but my friend ,the highly credited tech . He was just getting off the Greyhound bus ! Dwight had sent him home from Texas ! He did not have the best words for Dwight at that point , I guess they didn`t get along . It was a heck of a way to wake up from my nap !!!!

Great interview! And master class musician. PLAY LOUD

What a band!!!

I heard a story one time about a tour the punch line of which was “they fired me faster than Dwight Yoakam”.

I done told you 3 times, the laws on my side I play cards JD shelnut Chief of Police

Red Rock West...short scene but good

He is simply the last of the greats, yo cannot confuse his voice or his looks with any other. That man is so damn cool always wll be.

Video of Dave sharing great Johnny Cash stories. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-9Ggk17nm7Ew.html

I knew Dwight pretty well back in the day. Interestingly, he's never had a drop of booze and he's sharp as a tack. Really bright dude and generous as hell. Respect to the guy.

Dwight’s portrayal of Doyle Hargraves in Slingblade was one of the finest performances I’ve ever seen.

When you've played with Gosdin and Yoakam, you can call your career an overwhelming success. Awesome video as always.

Dwight Yokam surrounds himself with phenomenal musicians.

Dwight is one of my absolute musical heroes. You don't have to listen to a single interview of his, just his songs, to know how genuine of a person he is.

I like the characters that Dwight portrayed in Billy Bob’s movies, he was quite the underrated actor as well as a great musician.

Dwight Yoakam is the new version of Buck Owens.

The name Dwight Yoakam is a song in itself, Love all his songs. I love him, can't get enough of his voice.

Dave Roe is a Treasure . Bribe him , Trick him, Get him drunk We need more stories ☮💜☕

I got an audition to play drums in a country band a couple years ago. They gave me a list of songs to learn, and two of them were Dwight Yoakam songs. So you best believe I got very familiar with those two songs. And every time I would play one, I was thinking, "Man these songs are awesome! Dwight Yoakam is awesome!" And part of it IS the arrangements, yes! I have to agree with Dave, Dwight Yoakam probably IS The Last Great Country Artist.

Dwight and his band puts on a hell of a show me an my wife had the pleasure of seeing him play a few years back. I would definitely like to see him again.

"Hillbillies riding around in a jet plane" is the perfect country song title or lyric! Awesome interview!

I was never a country fan until I heard Dwight Yoakam.

Glad to hear he is good to his people. I am more rock heavy metal guy but live in south Dakota so you get to hear lots of country. I can't stand the new bro country stuff, but I do love me some Dwight Yoakum music.

Well Howdy! I enjoyed the "behind the scenes info" you shared with us. I'm an old hillbilly myself from Texas. Anyway, make a long story short. I've played most my life. I'm almost 70. Never went professional. Didn't want the lifestyle. Nonetheless, I LOVE Music. Anyway, I got a couple songs that fit right in with y'alls style. Somebody needs to hear em. I think they're too good to just slip through the cracks. HELP!! If you can, or want to. Thanks, Mike.

I love Dave's stories. Thanks for featuring them, Otis.

I own every Gene Watson and Vern Gosden recording ever made. And Dwight is a favorite. Fun talk.

I love how he brings up my Dad's favorite troubadour. Vern. Thanks

Awesome. And I'd love to hear more about working with and/or stories about Vern Gosdin. Such a great voice.

Years ago I had an opportunity to have a very good bass player work with me but he was used to playing rock, blues or jazz. I sent him the sheet music and recordings of the songs I wanted him to use. There were 3 Dwight songs on the list. Two of the songs were “If there was a way” and “Nothing”. When I saw him at first rehearsal, he laughed and said “country songs are supposed to have only 3 or 4 chords.” He became a fan after that gig.

When a guy mentions Vern Gosdin, my ears immediately perk up!

I'm so glad I got to see DY at small venues before he was ever signed to a record deal. He was just as talented then. Thanks for sharing this amazing interview

He took a while to gain success, and those struggles made him humble and empathetic. Love Bakersfield Beat in Sirius XM!

Great interview - thanks! Dwight's a legend and one of my all time favorites but I'll always think of his music as "Before and After Pete Anderson." Not only was Pete a monster guitarist but he also produced the albums and made sure the band was up to par. I always thought Pete was to Dwight as Don was to Buck but apparently Dwight doesn't see it that way!

Wait a minute.. This guy was the note bending back up vocalist on Vern Gosdins records??

Hey Otis, next time you talk to Dave could you ask him to talk about working for Vern Gosdin? I think that would be interesting. Definitely old school. Thanks.

1992 a buddy of mine hh little rock ar to nashville tn and said d.y. picked him up somewhere in tn and gave him a ride to nashville.

George Jones's longtime manager, Reg MacDonald, loved Dwight Yoakum. This man spent his entire life around some of the biggest names in country music and Dwight Yoakum was the one "newer" artist that he loved and the guy was wowed by. His widow relayed that tidbit to me.

Hey Otis, love your stories my friend...I think you should try to interview Dwight yoakam, there's not to many Dwight interviews out there and in my opinion he's one of the greats! Love his live version of good time charlies got the blues with none other than David roe on bass and Eddie Perez on guitar.

Dave is your best guest ever! And that’s saying something! Hope the tour is going well, brother Otis! Maybe you’re already home? I’ve been away for a week or so, and need to get caught up! This installment made my day! Dave is the embodiment of “cool”.

The first Dwight album I ever heard was If There Was a Way. I fell in love with it and had to have everything he put out before it. The production quality of If there was a way is so beautiful. I love Dwight.

Verne is the "Voice". He was the greatest!!

Would love to hear more stories from this guy, especially about singing with Vern Gosdin! Can't pick a favorite Dwight Yoakam song, because his music is the soundtrack of my high school days and younger years. So many great memories of driving around with my friends listening to Dwight's music. Always loved his devotion to Buck Owens, another great memory of mine from childhood between Hee Haw and my dad playing and singing his songs. 🥰❤🥰👍😎👍 Saw him in concert a few years back and it was a Bucket List Moment for me.

All I can think of is Doyle screaming at his garage band mates in Slingblade 🤣

I’ve been listening to Bakersfield Beat pretty steadily on XM and love it, even being a dyed in the wool metal head…lol

Last great country artist. agreed. county music today is horrible.

Thanks so much for this Otis! Thought about this often (probably too much if I'm honest), if you had to take one country artist whose recording career started after 1980 and put them on the Mt. Rushmore of country music it would have to be Dwight for me.

I wanna hear about working with Gosdin!

Loved Vern Gosden too

Big fan of Dwight's hole approach to his craft, he is authentic, lives in the moment. I bet his parents are fine people.

There is a pretty good video of Dave Roe playing with Dwight. “Dwight sings sunny side of the mountain” on T.V.. I have listened to Dwight for about 30 years…. Around the time Dave played for Dwight is my FAVORITE… First Dwight did this thing called the “Almost alone tour” it was just Dwight, and Keith Gattis. Talk about feeling like Dwight just came by to sing on YOUR back porch! Keith made it almost alone keeping Dwight from being all alone as you can hear him say on one of the videos. Then came The “Almost alone, and then some tour” as Dwight added Dave with the bass, and the rest of the band. The tour after that was the “Blame the Vain tour” and if i remember correctly it still had the stand up bass boom chica boom sound Dave talks about in the interview. I would be curious to ask Dave’s opinion as to why is Dwight’s bass player the most exchanged position.

"Why don't you go practice, Randy!!!"

I was in a band in 1989 through 1991, and we covered about eight Dwight songs. So great.

You worked with everyone! AWESOME❗🎬💥

one thing I always notice about Yoakam's vocals is that he has a Sinatra-like way of draping his voice over the melody. Listen to 'Fast As You'- any other singer it'd be a throwaway track, but he crushes it.

Love Dwight, but let's not forget Levon............................

Huge Dwight fan here , Now I'm a Dave Roe fan too . Great interview , could listen all day !

Punchy, Loud, and Clean. That's perfection right there.

RIP Keith Gattis and thank you for your slick, twangy picking. 🙏🍻

I can't even consider Dwight as country. It's completely different than anything. Beautiful words and music and singing. He's just a musician that is different from the rest.

This was great to hear. Dwight is my second favorite of all time, second only to Elvis and it wouldn't take much convincing to get me to put Dwight in the #1 spot. It's good to know that Dwight took care of his band and didn't treat them as inferior.

Dude, Dwight took care of you through your touring and your money.... but Dwight took care of ME with his mfkn ability to be fkn Dwight. He IS one of the most talented geniuses... and he was gracious enougj to have balls enough to share that. God bless Dwight. We all love him.

Oh man, so good to hear that he is a good guy, not a “dirt sandwich”.

I got to open for Dwight during that Blame The Vain tour. Dave was remarkable. I remember our bass player just being in awe of Dave's playing and singing. For me, Dave was the best harmony singer Dwight ever had. That album was a masterpiece.

Otis Gibbs I hope you asked him about playing with Vern. I always thought he was highly talented but I’ve heard from 3 people that said Vern was very difficult for promoters as well as musicians.

As of 10/24/22 The song from Dwight's used records, He and Deana Carter wrote WAITING. My Favorite song...

Kick-ass video... Great stories. I had heard from a friend at ProSound who worked sound for a lot of big concerts, that Dwight could be or was an asshole. That he walked up to his monitor/sound man and said "Danny how long have you worked for me now"? Danny said "7 years now Dwight". And Dwight says "that's long enough" and fired him on the spot. But you never know the whole backstory to those situations. So it's good to hear that although he could get in your ass, he was also generous!

this is such a fantastic interview

I saw Dwight when Perez was his guitar player, I can't imagine it being any louder. The video of him at Buck Owens funeral is great, chokes me up everytime I watch it.

Great interview thanks for sharing.

I wanna hear every bit of anything that guy wants to tell! Great one Otis ❤

On record you can't beat Dwight. Best cover artist in the business. My favorite artist.

What a great life Dave had, he’s a lucky man. ✌🏻

Love Dwight. Love the insight of his music, what it’s like to play with him, and I already knew he is a hell of a guy. When you go to one of his shows now, he gives you an awesome history lesson behind the music and the artists that inspired him.

great stories ya'll , how bout some stories about Vern Gosdin

This is cool. It provoked me to think that I would really like to hear a version of "A Thousand Miles From Nowhere" where the lead guitar (or slide guitar I dunno what instrument makes that sound) is replaced by either electric bass or upright bass.

Dwight is On My Musical Artists TOP Shelf Respect for the Past as He Shapes His Future !

Dave and Mitch created an amazing rhythm section and topped with Dave's back up vocals was just icing!

The years DY toured with Gattis, Dave Roe and Mitch Marine were amazing. Definitely my favorite lineup through the years....saw them many, many times!

I agree with him about Dwight being the last great country artist

Buck Owens was a huge influence on a lot of musicians, he doesn't get the credit he deserves.

doyle hargraves was yokams character in cling blade... and yokam is tremendously underrated as an actor

Sharon stone said dating Dwight yoakum was like eating a dirt sandwich

After a show, there was a huddle and Dwight was talking with the band before they had a chance to wipe the sweat off about something that wasn't quite right, and he didn't seem too troubled by it. It seems to me that the drummer was new and he encouraged the guy by saying, "don't worry about it you will get it." Dwight seemed charged up from the show and I liked seeing that.

Thanks for giving a damn enough to share great videos like this!

Vern Gosdin and Dwight two of my favorites

My wife grew up with Buck and all of the boys in Bakersfield (Buckersfield), her mom was living with wayne stone ,stoney or moose, a drummer for these guys. Walin, Willie, Don Rich, Chuck Siegraves, Jay Mcdonald, Jeanie c. Rylie, ....id lokenfor someone to hesr her and her brothers story. Johnny Leggett and Fredd Byrde. Hell of a story.

Otis, in the early 80's my cousin was with The Nighthawks and playing a twin bill with NRBQ in New York City. After the show we heard the Blasters were playing @ club close to our hotel - - - so we took a cab over and the opening act was Dwight Yoakum. We had never hear a note of his and were quite impressed. Obviously He blew up within a few years later! You never know. thanks

Dwight wasn’t acting in ‘Sling Blade’. That’s just Dwight being Dwight.

Dave’s one of the coolest guys I’ve ever met. I met him a few years back when he was doing a showcase gig with our mutual friend Wayne Bridge on steel (RIP). Billy Thomas, Kenny Greenberg were also on that gig and that band SMOKED!!! But the highlight of the day was hanging out with Dave and Wayne telling jokes, being silly, and laughing our butts off!

A musical giant. Dwight probably made too many sexy moves for the Nashville's Grand Old Oprey. Love his band line up especially his guitarist/producer on Fast as You, Long White Caddillac, A Thousand Miles from Nowhere - it's musical magic - artfully done and ageless. Dwight is the best Country Rock artist by far. Just brilliant.⭐⭐⭐

Otis did you ever perform with the legendary Flaco Jimenez ?? LOVE your channel.

All of Dwight's songs are amazing, but If I have to pick one, I'd go with Please, Please Baby. Simply because of the awesome video, with Dwight shimmying across the stage several times and the way he and Pete Anderson interacted.

Just saw Dwight..the man definitely is perfection.

Is Dave Roe the guy playin bass in Dwight's Intentional Heartache video?

Dwight Yoakum sure seems like he would be a nice guy. Thank you for this confirmation.

My neighbor's will tell you I like "A Thousand Miles From No Where".

Saw Dwight last night in Atlanta, great show, super loud, I hope my ears return to normal, dang.

Zales booked Billy Bob’s and hired Dwight Yoakum and we opened for them. Show was phenomenal and he played for two hours, my experience is Dwight didn’t play Doyle, he played himself as Doyle.

This is all GREAT to hear fellas, thank you for sharing. I've loved Dwight's music since the first I heard in '88 I believe...again, thanks for sharing!