Jesse Raub Jr.

Jesse Raub, Jr. stood apart from the pack of Texan troubadours in the early years of the 21st century by staying true to the bright, melodic strain of neo-traditionalism. He made nods at George Jones but grew up with disciples of Hank Jr., so his spin on hardcore country found a place for loud guitars and rhythms, not to mention melody. All this could be heard on his records, including the regional hits "Mistakes" and "Sittin Here," which both reached number one on Texas country radio in 2018. Raised in the Houston suburb of Magnolia, Jesse Raub, Jr. was drawn to country music as a child. He developed a taste for harder country as he grew older and when he started playing music, he gravitated toward the clean, punchy side of Texas country. Raub started to build an audience in the early 2000s, winning a talent contest in 2003, then finally releasing his debut Honky Tonkin Blues in 2010. The record expanded his fan base and earned some radio play in Texas, a combination that deepened his connections on the Red Dirt scene. Raub struck up a friendship with Cody Johnson, appearing on the singer's 2011 album A Different Day and co-writing Johnson's local hit "Dance Her Home" in 2014. By that point, he had another album to his credit: 2013's Blame It on the Music. Sittin' Here appeared in 2016, and he continued to work on the road while remaining a presence on radio in the Lone Star State with such songs as "She'll Put the Hurt on You," "Mistakes," and "Sittin' Here." Jesse Raub, Jr. released a pair of digital singles, "Touch the Water" and "Good Times," followed by "I'd Look Good on You" in 2020. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine