Tyler Dickerson

Photo Credit:  roughstock.com

Sometimes the best things in life come as surprises. Things like the toy in the Cracker Jack box, the rainbow that appears after an unexpected torrent of rain and actually finding a parking spot on campus. While attending a Brooks and Dunn concert this past summer, I experienced a surprise even sweeter than finding an open spot in The Union lot. 

My surprise came when 16-year-old country singer Tyler Dickerson opened the show.

His dark persona echoes that of Johnny Cash, his style bears a slight resemblance to Kid Rock and his songs are something Hank Williams Jr. would be proud of.

Tyler Dickerson is a fresh face that is reviving the outlaw sound of country music’s past.

He has been performing for most of his life, but his career was set in motion after he moved to the Nashville area in 2007 and was discovered by John Rich, of the duo Big and Rich.

According to his autobiography, Tyler went from performing at Kmart to becoming a regular in Nashville bars. This past spring he began opening shows for Brooks and Dunn’s Last Rodeo tour and released a four song EP.

Dickerson, who’s perfectly pale complexion and pin straight locks may leave teenage girls a wee bit jealous, could easily be on his way to superstardom.

All vanity and jealousy aside, he tears it up on stage. His set list reads like a good book, filled with interesting stories that he may or may not have the years and experience to comprehend. While he writes songs about grown up things like relationships (“She’d Be You”) and rowdy bar scenes (“Just Like Hank”), he is able to sing them with a conviction beyond his age.

With any luck, his slightly controversial first single, “Tell Your Sister I’m Single”, will be just the beginning of the waves he will be making in country music.