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.
This World Cafe segment originally aired Dec. 7, 2010.
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