What an interesting thread. It's made me question myself from WAAAAAYYYY back.

I think my major influences have been Hank Williams, Kitty Wells, the early Waylon, Elvis, Roy Orbison, John Denver, Ginny Hawker, Hazel Dickens...

I notice a common thread linking all of these people- a certain sound and clear lyrics. I'm with those who feel that if they can't make out the words, ya shoulda made it an instrumental!

Of course, there are a great many other people I love and resonate to, for instance, the Carter Family, Don Reno & Red Smiley (for the harmonies and the guitar work)... And of course, current singers and cuts, people like Seamus Kennedy, Don Rigsby, Doyle Lawson- absolutely everybody I listen to has an effect.