Though Dale Watson found fame in the ’90s, his sound is a roots-reverent mix of classic country influences including honky-tonk, Bakersfield and the outlaw movement. Born in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1962, Watson was raised in North Carolina and Texas and started performing with his brother while still a teen. He released his first widely available album, Cheatin’ Heart Attack, in 1995 and quickly gained attention among both the alt-country crowd and fans of vintage country. With his deep, expressive voice and old-school look, he came across like a younger Merle Haggard (a fact lost on no one when he worked as Merle’s opening act). But Watson defined his own sound, and over the years he incorporated touches such as Western-swing elements and mariachi horns, becoming an Americana hero along the way.