If you ever have a chance to see Joshua Ray Walker, drop everything and go. The guy can flat-out sing, with a remarkable range and a timeless delivery that rivals those of the great country crooners, from George Jones to George Strait. Now 33, Walker has been performing since he was 13. Last year, that robust touring lifestyle took a hit when the Dallas-based singer/songwriter was diagnosed with colon cancer. But he hasn’t been taking it lying down. He’s just released Tropicana, a sun-kissed collection of beachy honky-tonk daydreams he wrote while stuck at home undergoing chemotherapy.
Walker gives us a rundown of the new album below.
—Hobart Rowland
1) “Tropicana”
“This record is all about escape, and this sparked the idea behind the album. A far-away place on a nondescript beach.”
2) “Keys To The Tacoma”
“This is my attempt at writing and recording the type of song I like but would usually say is outside my wheelhouse. This project gave me the opportunity to try it out.”
3) “Laguna”
“This is a great song I’ve liked for a long time written by my friend and producer John Pedigo. It fits perfectly.”
4) “Dance With Who You Came With”
“This one makes me want to two-step, I know it’s going to be a ton of fun to play at shows.”
5) “I Don’t Wanna Be Alone”
“You can’t make a beach country record without a song that makes you want to conga line.”
6) “Heavy Stones”
“The only way to win is to not give up … This job is rough. It’s pretty straightforward: early mornings and late nights if you want to make it.”
7) “Dirty Laundry”
“Everyone is equal at the laundromat. It’s a humbling experience, a time of reflection on the road and the best for people-watching.”
8) “Whiskey To My Heart”
“This song is a throwback to the ’90s country I grew up on. I wanted to have fun making this record—and this is a fun one.”
9) “Novella”
“Short and sweet … Get to the point.”
10) “I Hope I Have Fun Dying”
“This is based on true events. Everyone thinks you want to party on the road, and someone’s trying to be nice and you accidentally get into the fancy snacks without warning. Sometimes it feels like it’s gonna last forever.”
See Joshua Ray Walker live.