Jim Lauderdale is an established name in Nashville, where he's written hits for several A-list musicians. But despite 19 studio albums and two Grammy Awards, he's not as well-known outside Americana and bluegrass circles. Lauderdale "never got the lucky breaks that shoot one performer to the top while hundreds of equal or greater merit slog around playing bars, releasing streetwise records that provide songs for others to cover," said friend, collaborator and Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter. "But doing it the hard way is where soul comes from, not the manufactured kind but the real thing. ... If you don't like country with a humble jolt of human soul, leave him alone."
The Americana community certainly hasn't. Lauderdale took home "Artist of the Year" and "Song of the Year" at the Americana Music Association's Honors and Awards Show in 2002, and has hosted the ceremony ever since.
The songwriter and oversize personality joined World Cafe host David Dye to discuss his long career and play songs from his new album, Patchwork River.
Check out the playlist below.
| The Grateful Dead | Uncle John's Band | Workingman's Dead |
| Ryan Adams & The Cardinals | Typecast | III/IV |
| Neal Casal | Detroit or Buffalo | Fade Away Diamond Time |
| Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers | Running Man's Bible | Mojo |
| Jim Lauderdale | Alligator Alley | Recorded Live for the World Cafe |
| Jim Lauderdale | Cruel Wind and Rain | Recorded Live for the World Cafe |
| Jim Lauderdale | Good Together | Recorded Live for the World Cafe |
| Jim Lauderdale | Lousiville Roll | Recorded Live for the World Cafe |
| Mavis Staples | Wrote a Song for Everyone | You're Not Alone |
| Dr. Dog | Take Me Into Town | Take Me Into Town |
| John Hartford | Turn Your Radio On | Aereoplain |
| Waylon Jennings | Are You Sure Hank Did It | Vinyl David Will Bring I |
| The Decemberists | Down by the Water | The King is Dead |
| Tom Petty | Into the Great Wide Open | Into the Great Wide Open |
| Johnny Cash | I Won't Back Down: | American III: Solitary Man |
| Delta Spirit | Bushwick Blues | History from Below |
| Hank Williams | Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain | The Complete Mother's Best |
| Hank Williams | I Heard My Mother Praying for Me | The Complete Mother's Best |
| John Mellencamp | No Better Than This | No Better Than This |
| Steve Earle | Transcendental Blues | Transcendental Blues |
| Black Dub | Silverado | Black Dub |
| Traffic | Light Up or Leave Me Alone | Smiling Phases Disc 2 |
| Junip | Always | Fields |