James Hand
Midnight Run
A relative newcomer by Stomp standards, James "Slim" Hand didn't release his first nationally distributed album until 2006. The Truth Will Set You Free, produced by Asleep at the Wheel founder Ray Benson and steel guitarist extraordinaire Lloyd Maines and issued on Rounder, showcased Hand on a dozen sparkling originals that were the culmination of countless nights of singing his heart out in smoky Texas barrooms, where he proudly wore his primary influences (Hank Williams, Lefty Frizzell, and Ernest Tubb) on his sleeve. A prolific writer, the Waco, Texas-born Hand encored with 2009's Shadow on the Ground, again on Rounder. Hand began performing country music in 1964 at age 12, and he's been at it ever since, building a devoted fan base that includes Willie Nelson.Bio by Bill Dahl