The Icons of Outlaw Country #110

The Icons of Outlaw Country is a two-hour radio show hosted by John Wesley Karson, a seasoned broadcaster who retired in Bakersfield, California, in 2020 after 45 years in the industry. A Texas native, Karson grew up immersed in the 1960s and 70s Austin and Houston country music scenes, starting his career as a teenager at KPFT, a listener-supported station in Houston that championed outlaw country artists.

Now airing on Outlaw Country Radio 103.7FM in Lake Isabella, California, the show is a tribute to the rebellious spirit of outlaw country—a movement defined by artists like Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Johnny Cash, who rejected Nashville’s commercial constraints for creative freedom. Karson shares their music and stories, celebrating their individualism and influence, with playlists featuring legends like Gram Parsons, Kris Kristofferson, and Emmylou Harris. He views the show as a “labor of love,” honoring the artists who shaped his youth and fought for artistic control, often quoting Ayn Rand to underscore their right to create unhindered by corporate influence.

Original Air Date April 26, 2024

Playlist 110
HOUR ONE
Waylon Jennings – Are You Ready for the Country – 1976
Dale Watson – I Lie When I Drink (LIVE) – 2013
Asleep at the Wheel – House of Blue Lights - 1987
Brennen Leigh - In Texas With A Band (Featuring Ray Benson) – 2022
George Jones - Bartender's Blues - 1977
Joe Ely – Driven to Drive – 2024
Guy Clark – Let Him Roll (LIVE) – 2006
Jerry Jeff Walker - Navajo Rug – 1991
Dr. Hook – Queen of the Silver Dollar - 1973
Dr. Hook – Sylvia’s Mother – 1972
Chris LeDoux – This Cowboys Hat – 1982
David Allan Coe - Panheads Forever – 1982
Ray Wiley Hubbard – Snake Farm – 2006

HOUR TWO
BW Stevenson - Peaceful Easy Fellin’ - 1972
BW Stevenson – Shambla -1973
Billy Joe Shaver – Georgia On a Fast Train – 2003
Jimmie Rodgers - Train Whistle Blues - 1929
Steve Goodman - City of New Orleans – 1971
This Train - Waylon Jennings - 1994
Put Me on a Train Back to Texas - Willie & Waylon - 1991
Charlie Daniels - Orange Blossom Special LIVE – 1974
Johnny Cash - Folsom Prison Blues – 1955
Jerry Jeff walker – Desperados Waitin’ For a Train – 1974
Johnny Paycheck - Stay Away From the Cocaine Train – 1979
David Allan Coe - Cocaine Carolina – 1984
Commander Cody - Seeds & Stems (Again) – 1971
New Riders of the Purple Sage – Panama Red – 1973