5 Rock Legends That Went Southern Rock

One of the best things about music is that there are no rules. You can mix elements of different genre in your songs, shift your musical direction, or experiment with new sounds. It’s not uncommon for rockers to start off with a different brand of rock and then eventually change it since sometimes, it takes a while for them to find their identity and sound.

For the following musicians, they achieved success by going Southern Rock.

5. Kid Rock

Kid Rock began his career in music as a DJ and rapper but he steered towards a different musical direction with his fifth studio album “Cocky”, particularly the track “Picture” which showcased his vocal chops. It marked the start of his transformation into a Southern rock act.

4. Creedence Clearwater Revival

Creedence Clearwater Revival began in high school with John Fogerty, Doug Clifford, and Stu Cook forming The Blue Velvets. The instrumental trio then got Tom Fogerty onboard. Aside from instrumentals, they also played “jukebox standards”. They rose to prominence in 1968 when radio stations began playing their cover of rockabilly tune “Susie Q”. They also took on the rock ‘n roll classic “I Put a Spell on You”. But in 1969, they achieved legendary status with a trio of albums which showcased John Fogerty’s songwriting genius. It spawned classic hits like “Proud Mary” which remains as one of their best known and most enduring songs.

3. Black Oak Arkansas

Two of their major influences were The Beatles and The Byrds. While still known as The Knowbody Else, their interest in psychedelia and Eastern spiritualism reflected on their sound. Then they dropped their eponymous debut album as Southern rock group Black Oak Arkansas which wasn’t a huge hit but their tour in support of the LP helped them gain the reputation as stellar live acts.

2. The Black Crowes

They started out as “Mr. Crowe’s Garden” before they became a revivalist band for 1970s-era blues rock. After landing a record deal in 1987, music producer and American Recordings executive George Drakoulias introduced them to songs by Humble Pie and Faces. Their debut album “Shake Your Money Maker” received multi-platinum certification.

1. The Allman Brothers Band

Duane Allman was already an in-demand session musician before Allman Brothers Band dropped their debut album. He played on Wilson Pickett’s “Hey Jude” and other recordings by Eric Clapton, Aretha Franklin, Otis Rush, and Delaney & Bonnie. When they opened for Velvet Underground, they didn’t have enough material yet so they covered old blues tunes. However, it was also during this time when Gregg Allman composed what would become a Southern rock classic – “Whipping Post”.