R.W. Hampton “Who?”
Americana Highways is hosting this video premiere of R. W. Hampton’s song “Who?” from his forthcoming album My Country. The album was produced by Richard E O’Brien, Aarom Meador and Lisa Hampton; it was mixed and mastered by Jim Vestman Mastering.
“Who?” Is R.W. Hampton on vocals; Rich O’Brien on guitars; Jess Meador on fiddle; Roland Ebert on piano and keys; Michael Dohoney on drums and percussion; Russ Rand on bass; and Kristyn Harris and Mary Kaye on harmony vocals.
The video was filmed and produced by Matthew Dylan with still photography by Scott Slusher.
As RW says: “‘Who?’” Asks the timely question, Who’s going to live out in the country?
“I wrote this song years ago watching my neighbors either getting foreclosed on at their places or being let go because the owners couldn’t afford to pay them. Seeing cowboys and their families move into town and take jobs driving trucks or at a mine, it broke my heart. Now, the grandkids of the ones that made it 30-40 years ago, are selling, because again, it’s just almost impossible to make a living just off the land – especially when the land is worth millions and ranching is hard work and expensive.
“With each generation more and more family ranches are disappearing from the fabric of America. And with them small towns are closing up, entire communities are being lost.
“And so, what will we as America loose if our ranches, ranching families and our lifestyle is forever gone? The cost is incalculable and much too dear so we best make sure that it never happens!
“It’s not too late….”
With the video filmed within scenes of lassoing a horse, a herd of cattle and families on the plains and on horseback, R.W. Hampton has fashioned a traditional sounding country song in a sorrowful way on a painful topic: our loss of the American farm and country living. This loss is collective and we all need to grieve it.
You can find the music here: http: //music.apple.com/us/album/who-single/1859831638
