Jesse Dayton

American singer and songwriter Jesse Dayton will tour Vietnam May 8-21, a rare chance for local music fans to meet a rising country star, the VietnamNet newswire reported Monday.

Dayton is a star waiting to happen, says the Houston Chronicle, and MOJO in London likened him to the first country star in 10 years with the power of a Steve Earl or Dwight Yoakum.

Jesse Dayton is considered by some critics one of the most talented singers in Texas, laying down hardcore roots music with a sharp, edgy quality that “ought to be in the mainstream and ought to be heard,” according to a website of the genre.

He has so far cut five albums, including Raisin' Cain (1995), Tall Texas Tale (2000), Hey Nashvegas! (2001), Country Soul Brother (2004), and South Austin Sessions (2006).
- Thanhnien News (Vietnam)

Beaumont native and local rockabilly favorite Jesse Dayton has found that fiction can be pretty lucrative. It can also be plenty fun.

After more than 15 years of making a stylish rock-country hybrid best categorized as "NashVegas," Dayton got an unexpected phone call from monster metal-head Rob Zombie.

"The voice on the other end says, 'This is Rob Zombie,' " says Dayton. "I'm like, 'The rock 'n' roll guy?' "

The reason for Zombie's call: He needed somebody to create music for Banjo & Sullivan, a fictional country music duo that goes missing, presumed to be part of the body count in Zombie's new carnage-fest film The Devil's Rejects.
"It was really all out of left field how it came about," Dayton admits.

Flash back three months: Zombie was having a conversation about The Devil's Rejects with Houston actor Lew Temple (an Alley Theatre vet who plays musician Adam Banjo in the film) when the question, "I wonder what Banjo & Sullivan would actually sound like?" was posed.

Temple answered Zombie's question by playing a copy of Dayton's 2004 album Country Soul Brother. Zombie was hooked, and he asked Dayton to help dream up a whole twisted mythology for the late Banjo & Sullivan (Roy Sullivan is played by actor Geoffrey Lewis).

In a three-day studio session Dayton describes as "sponsored by Jim Beam," he and Temple wrote 10 '70s-influenced, banjo-and-bass-charged honky-tonk stomps filled with off-color, cheeky titles like I Don't Give a Truck and I'm at Home Getting Hammered (While She's Out Getting Nailed). It also features a reworking of Lynyrd Skynyrd's classic Free Bird.

Dayton said that Zombie secured enough money from Universal to allow Dayton to create an entire album in Austin, removed from any label meddling.

"We could've been making a polka record in a topless bar for all they knew," laughs Dayton. "When we gave it to Zombie, he said, 'Just turn up the volume and let's go with it.' "

Zombie didn't have the album issued as a Rejects-related recording (an official soundtrack was released last month), but rather as an actual Banjo & Sullivan album. So listeners can now seek out Banjo & Sullivan's The Ultimate Collection 1972-1978 at record retailers.

And don't think for one minute that the recording will be the last word from Banjo & Sullivan.
In recent interviews Zombie has added to the legend with tales of newly discovered "lost tapes" and rumors that
Dayton is actually Banjo's illegitimate son.

"We're thinking of putting together a tour with some really hot south Austin musicians and making a run as the Banjo & Sullivan tribute band," Dayton says. "We got to keep Banjo & Sullivan alive."

Wink wink - Houston Chronicle

Mark Chesnutt
Savin' the Honky Tonk
(Vivaton!)
A great singer makes it clear where his heart lies on this set of undiluted barroom country.

Jesse Dayton
Country Soul Brother
(Stag)
The singer-guitarist busts genres with rough-edged flair, blending youthful swagger with old-soul character.

Ellis Hooks
Uncomplicated
(Artemis)
The best of the young soul men reenergizes old-school soul with his gritty fervor and excellent original songs.

Alan Jackson
What I Do
(Arista)
Mr. Cool turns in another masterful effort, full of heft and grace.

Tift Merritt
Tambourine
(Lost Highway)
The singer and songwriter transcends her Lucinda Williams influences with a commanding set of originals that touch on country-rock, gospel, folk and classic soul.

Julie Roberts
Julie Roberts
(Mercury)
The sultry newcomer avoids the usual Nashville homogenization with a striking, acoustic-textured debut.

Travis Tritt
My Honky Tonk History
(Columbia)
The rowdy Georgian is maturing into the Waylon Jennings of his generation.

Dale Watson
Dreamland
(Koch)
This Lone Star State champion of hard-core country brings a sophisticated new swing to his honky-tonk.

Hank Williams Jr.
I'm One of You
(Curb)
On this set from the end of 2003, the oft-ridiculed Bocephus shows just how good he can be when he puts his mind to it.

Gretchen Wilson
Here for the Party
(Epic)
The "Redneck Woman" shows on this debut that she is about more than hell-raising, though she's darn good at that. - Philadelphia Inquirer