Ernest Tubb & His Texas Troubadours 1943 T-Shirt

Ernest Tubb began performing in the '30s, getting his first record deal in 1936. After a couple of unsuccessful releases, he put together his band, the Texas Troubadours in '43, and quickly became a popular act around Nashville, giving his subsequent records increasing popularity. By the '60s, Tubb was a gold record country superstar, and would go on to be known as one of the most influential artists in country music history. As one of the first country artists to feature an electric guitar in his music, he led the way for both the honky-tonk sound of the '50s and '60s, and the outlaw country revolution of the '70s. His deep, gravely, and slightly off-key singing voice remains one of the most distinctive and recognizable in any genre.