Lyal Strickland

In the artist’s words: Describe one of your earliest musical memories in detail. I remember going to country concerts with my mother from a young age. She was DJ starting out in Memphis, TN so we usually got to go backstage. I can still feel the thump of the back pulse of the speakers. Those shows set me on my path for life. What are your top 3 all-time favorite albums on Apple Music, and why? Why did you choose these three albums in particular? The Wallflowers, Bringing Down the Horse Turnpike Troubadours, A Long Way from Your Heart Various Artists, This One's for Him: A Tribute to Guy Clark Guy Clark's ability to convey complex emotions in a few plain words has been a major influence on my writing. Bringing Down the Horse broadened my meaning of what is country. Turnpike shows that specific stories can have a broad appeal to the heart. Find a song of yours on Apple Music that you love and tell us what makes it special. Tell us why you chose this song. “The Hotel Maid” This song is about surviving the throws of poverty, love, and loss in a rural small town. My father died the year this came out, I was lost in love, and my farm was about to be sold on the courthouse steps for unpaid taxes. It's as real as it gets.