by Melissa Carlson & Kelly Reeves
“This kid is what country music is all about.”- Garth Brooks
When “The King of Country”, George Strait, sang “Amarillo By Morning” in 1983, country music artist Randall King wasn’t yet born. It would be eight years later before Randall King would make it to Amarillo. Born and raised in the small town of Hereford, Texas, just southwest of Amarillo, Randall’s love for country music began at an early age.
Amarillo, (known as The Yellow Rose of Texas), and Hereford, (The Beef Capital of The World), are located in the Texas Panhandle. The area is well known for cattle feed yards, and as the epitome of Cowboy culture and all things Texas. Encompassed by the Bible Belt, Cowboy Churches and country gospel music are mainstays to many Panhandle residents.
Amarillo is the midway point of the historic Route 66 from Chicago to Los Angeles. Known for the Palo Duro Canyon, the Cadillac Ranch, the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame, and the 72 ounce steaks at The Big Texan, there is no shortage of history in the area. Other than high-quality beef, and top-seed Quarter horses, Amarillo has also had a successful run at producing country music stars. Home of John Rich of the country band Lonestar and the duo Big and Rich, singer / songwriters Aaron Watson, Kevin Fowler, and others, Amarillo has a history of producing successful, country artists. Since 2020, Amarillo can add another name to that list, Randall King.
Most of the young, new country music artists are producing music that traditional country music lovers don’t recognize as country music. Much of the “Texas Country” and “Red Dirt” music can easily be confused with rock, pop, or rap music and, though loved by many, others yearn for the classic traditional sounds of the 1970s through early 2000s. That is where Randall King fits in and, boy does he fit! If you enjoy the sounds of steel guitar and fiddle of the traditional country music bands accompanied by guitars, drums, and the rest, you’re going to love songs like his early “One More Won’t Hurt.” You’ll certainly love the rich tones of Randall’s melodious and polished voice. His songs are inspired by his strong southern heritage, Christian faith, and deep family roots.
His 2022 major-label debut album, Shot Glass featuring viral hit “You In A Honky Tonk” has landed on Whiskey Riff’s “Best Albums of 2022,” and Billboard’s “All Genre 50” “Best Albums of 2022”. Randall King was named “A Country Artist To Watch” by Pandora, Country Now, and The Boot, among others. Rolling Stone also included Randall on their “Top 10 New Country Artists List.” The Warner Music Nashville artist released his 18-track sophomore album Into The Neon January 26, 2024, and recently signed a global publishing deal with Sony Music Publishing Nashville. With more than 365 million streams, Randall has proven that traditional country music is still desired and in demand.
We at LIFE AND LAND were recently fortunate enough to have the opportunity to visit with Randall and learn more about his music, family, faith, and free time interests of hunting and fishing. Randall has such an easy-going and humble personality, it was like catching up with an old friend.
You are self described as an “old soul”. If we were to put you in a specific genre, what would it be?
I think I would take the Traditional Country genre. I’ve got a little bit more of a modern flare than George Strait or Alan Jackson, but still have that traditional country voice and sound. Steel guitar is laid heavy on everything with a little bit of fiddle, so traditional country is where I would set myself.
I know that you were influenced by some of the country music greats like Keith Whitley, George Strait, Alan Jackson, and John Anderson. It doesn’t get much better than that, but are there any others I haven’t mentioned?
Absolutely. I grew up on all of the country artists but those are some of the top ones; those and Merle Haggard. In high-school it was more of the modern, country artists like Dierks Bentley, Gary Allen, and Tim McGraw.
Who do you enjoy listening to today?
Man, I’m absolutely diggin’ Zach Top’s new stuff, and a young kid named Braxton Keith. Probably the record that I have worn out the most is a buddy of mine named Jake Worthington. His voice is just stupid good. His record is soaked in traditional, old school country music like I grew up on.
Is there anything outside of country music that you like to listen to?
Outside of country music, I really like listening to heavy rock. I just love music. I love listening to John Mayer… how smooth his tone is. I’m a big fan of the blues vibe. I love most all music.
With all the good music you have produced, and all the touring you’ve done with many different country music stars, which ones have impacted your life the most?
Tim McGraw was absolutely incredible. I’ve had the honor of going with some amazing people like Jon Pardi and Cody Johnson. We did all sorts of stuff with Cody Johnson and he and his guys really taught us the ropes and showed us the next level of musicianship and professionalism. I absolutely enjoyed being with those guys and learned a lot from them. Cody Johnson is a great person; a great human being. He was probably the most impactful artist to me in my early stages because he just showed me how to be a professional; how to take it to the next level.
My favorite time touring was the week we released Shot Glass back in March 2022. We toured two weekends in a row with Clay Walker and Tracy Lawrence. Right in the middle of those weekends, I did my Grand Ole Opry debut, we dropped Shot Glass, and had a CD release at the Nashville Palace for Shot Glass as well. On top of all of that, we got a new Rottweiler puppy, and I bought a new Toyota Rav4 for my girl, and then, during my Grand Ole Opry debut, a friend of mine handed me the keys to a brand-new truck. That unbelievable week was a true blessing from God.
What is the best advice that you’ve been given and who did it come from?
Around 2013, I was playing in a band that just wasn’t me. It was more rock / Americana than it was country music. It didn’t feel right, I wasn’t happy, and I couldn’t sell it. My Dad said to me, “Go back to your roots and be true to who you are.” I took Dad’s advice and switched gears. I went back to writing and playing music like I wanted to, and not the way others thought I should. I got back to my roots and had great success. If I don’t believe in it, and it ain’t me, I can’t sell it on stage. It has to be real and come from the heart.
While on tour with a packed schedule, and living on the road, how do you bring some normalcy to life and stay true to who you are?
It’s hard being gone on tour as much as I am. I really have to hone in and focus on taking advantage of what little bit of free time I have. You have to make sure you are living life. It’s real easy to get consumed by the music industry, having to work and grind as hard as you do to be a part of it. Any time I can get I make sure to visit family and friends and spend time with them.
At your Grand Ole Opry debut, we saw you perform the gospel hymn “I’ll Fly Away.” We saw the emotion in your eyes and heard it in your voice as you sang. It was obvious that faith is important to you. Do you have a favorite bible verse or part of the Bible?
Absolutely. Without faith, where are we? Everything would be just be a selfish ambition. For me, I keep my faith in my foresight. I’ve been blessed with a gift, but the gift isn’t mine. It belongs to Jesus. It belongs to God. He gives me the opportunities He wants me to have, and He puts me in the spotlight. It’s my job to make sure the credit is given where it’s due. I love the Book of Psalms. There’s so much peace in the Book of Psalms.
What is your favorite chilhood memory of hunting or fishing?
Yes, ma’am. Hereford is primarily known for pheasant, quail and rabbit hunting. As a young kid, Daddy and I hunted pheasant. They are just big, beautiful birds. Daddy worked a lot as a truck driver delivering hay and feed to the feed lots and ranches, and was gone quite a bit. Dad and I also loved to fish. When my dad was home, we bass fished and catfished a lot. Daddy loved jug lining and running trot lines.
We know you like to hunt, but your real love is bass fishing. Can you share your favorite fishing lake?
Lake Texoma will always be my favorite lake to fish because I have so many good memories there. I get so much peace just from being at Texoma. We have a family reunion at Lake Texoma every year. It has been going on for about 75 years now. There’s usually over two-hundred family members at the reunion. We spend ten days catching catfish on jug lines, some over fifty pounds. The last day of the reunion, we have a huge fish fry for everybody. We take the rest home to cook throughout the year. It’s just always a blast.
One year, my Daddy and I were at Lake Texoma running jug lines out of his bass boat. It’s a real challenge to fish jug lines out of a bass boat. I was driving the boat while he ran the jugs. We caught a forty-two pound catfish on a jug line and it was a fight. Once we got it into the boat, the fish flopped and and the line slid through Daddy’s hand and a hook went into his thumb and out the other side. The fish kept flopping and pulling until I was able to cut the line free. Daddy had to cut the barb off the hook and run it back through his thumb to get free. It’s memories like these that make Lake Texoma one of Randall’s favorite places.
After headlining all across the United States, Europe, and the U.K., Randall King is set to headline the Tyler Cattle Baron’s Ball, June 8, 2024, at the Texas Rose Horse Park near Tyler,Texas, benefitting the American Cancer Society in it’s mission to “ Give Cancer The Boot.” Randall will take you back to the Good Ol’ Days of country music and share some of his many hit songs and two-stepping, traditional, country sounds that are certain to make this a night to remember, and a successful fundraiser.
