EDITORIAL PROFILE
The
Verdict
The 25-year-old country music prodigy finds
poetry on lonesome Texas highways.
Bright Future
The first you thing you notice
is the voice—a reedy but self-assured tenor that wouldn't sound
out of place on the rock charts. Luke Olson's weathered twang
works especially well when paired with backing singer Rebecca
Valadez.
Early Start
Olson released his first album, "Maybe Someday,"
in 1995, while he was still a student at Alamo Heights High School.
The album won Olson quite a few fans, and he went on to draw huge
crowds at venerable dance halls like Gruene Hall and Floore Country
Store, as well as hip San Antonio nightspots such as the Laboratory
Brewing Company and Tycoon Flats. In 1997, Olson released his
follow-up, "Southern Skies." His latest CD is "Panhandle Sunset."
On the Road
Olson splits his time between his hometown of San Antonio, and
Lubbock, home of his alma mater, Texas Tech. Both cities lay claim
to country legends, but Olson seems to draw most of the inspiration
for his earnest, introspective songs from the 400 miles of highway
in between. —Michael Schaub
One of San Antonio's Best Luke Olson
is nominated for best local singer for his rich voice and promising
career.
Sounds Like
Olson has garnered comparisons to Bandera singer-songwriter Robert
Earl Keen, whom he name-checks in his 1997 song "Radios Need to
Change."
Hometown Favorite
The crowds at Olson's shows are noticeably older than they were
five years ago, but he's still a favorite with high school and
college audiences. His shows in his home suburb of Alamo Heights
can get infectiously rowdy.
