Lyle Lovett has been referred to as "quirky" and even as "bent." There's no doubt that he's an unusual player in the country music field, where many singers spend a lot of time trying for a traditional country sound.
He's mainstream enough to have been one of Johnny Carson's favorite "Tonight Show" guests. He's also unusual enough to have created his own dedicated following. But while other country singers claim they were influenced by Hank Williams or Merle Haggard, Lovett lists Randy Newman, Tom Waits and John Prine.Lovett and his Large Band will be in concert Oct. 15 at Abravanel Hall at 8 p.m.
Lovett's a mixer: Some of his songs are very definitely country-western, like "She's Leaving Me Because She Really Wants To," which Daily Variety's Todd Everett called "as knowing a pardoy as David Allan Coe's `You Didn't even Call Me By My Name.' "
Recent albums have shown a heavy jazz influence.
And his trademark tongue-in-cheek word play and humor set him apart.
Lovett doesn't go in for "theme" albums. On "Joshua Judges Ruth" (there's that word play), he said he just wanted to record his best songs, whatever they were.
Concert reviewers have repeatedly noted that he moves from style to style as the mood hits him: a little jazz, some old-time gospel, a little be-bop and a touch of blues.
Whatever style he chooses to explore, Lovett claims that his songs come from personal interaction, rather than vicarious experience.
He's been a busy guy. In the past three years, he has toured, produced an album for Walter Hyatt on the MCA Master Series, cut tracks for an album of Grateful Dead tunes, done a film soundtrack and made his odd-ball acting appearance in the movie "The Player," directed by Robert Altman. And oh, yes, he also found time to get married.
He always finds time to go home to Houston, where he was born and raised and where his family set down roots 150 years ago.
Lovett studied journalism at Texas A&M and graduated in 1980 with a bachelor's degree. At the time, he was playing local clubs. And the rest, as they say, is history.