Feature Story
Houston's Black Country Music Revival: A New Wave
A new generation of Black and Indigenous artists — rooted in Houston rodeos, trail rides, and ranching life — are reclaiming their rightful place in country music.
"Born out of an experience where I did not feel welcomed."
— Beyoncé on Cowboy Carter, after her 2016 CMA performance faced backlash
The history they don't teach
Black Cowboys Built the West
An estimated one in four cowboys during the frontier era was Black. Their contributions to ranching, trail riding, and rodeo culture laid the foundation for country music — yet their names are largely absent from mainstream history.
Charley Pride's Overlooked Legacy
Charley Pride earned more #1 country hits than almost any artist in history, yet his name rarely gets mentioned. Black artists have always shaped this genre — the industry just hasn't always credited them.
Houston's Rodeo Roots
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has Black Heritage events rooted in the city's deep tradition of Black trail rides and cowboy culture. Neighborhoods like Acres Homes and South Park carry this heritage today.
A Genre Stolen and Reclaimed
"There have been so many times where African American artists paved the way or created something unique, and it's been stolen without giving them credit," says artist Caleb James. That era of erasure is coming to an end.
Label Spotlight
LaChachere Music Group
Houston, Texas · lachachere.com ↗
Ahsaki LaFrance-Chachere is an eighth-generation rancher of Native American and Black heritage who grew up on the Navajo reservation in Arizona, where country music was a constant presence — not just a genre, but a way of life. Her husband Dennis Chachere is a third-generation cowboy from Houston, whose grandfather brought horses from Louisiana to Pleasantville and founded the Prairie View Trail Ride Group, which has marched in the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo parade for generations.
In 2014 they launched Four Arrows, a Houston-based Western wear brand. But a 2021 encounter with an underrepresented artist on Ahsaki's Navajo reservation pushed her toward music. She traveled to Nashville, participated in the Equal Access program in 2023, and met with CMT, Spotify, and major record labels — where she saw firsthand that Black and Indigenous artists were being signed but their records left on a shelf.
"There's no blueprint for what we're doing. What we have is priceless: the community. Real heartbeats. Real people who are invested in these artists."
— Ahsaki LaFrance-Chachere, Co-Founder, LMG
LMG is building a new formula — one rooted in authenticity, cultural pride, and the communities that have always lived this life. Dennis puts it plainly: "These artists exist because they are seen at Black rodeos and trail rides, but they're not being represented or heard nationally. Our goal is to change that."
The Artists Leading the Wave
Caleb James
Rising Country Artist · Houston, TX
Originally from Oakland, California, Caleb James found his true home in Houston, where he embraced his Southern roots and passion for country music. Represented by LaChachere Music Group, he navigated industry rejection with resilience and purpose — finding audiences who had never experienced what he uniquely brings to country music. He sees himself as part of the legacy blazed by artists like Charley Pride, who earned more #1 country hits than almost any artist yet rarely gets the recognition his career deserves.
Once people started finding out I was African American, I stopped getting booked for shows.
They showed me a world where there's a whole other audience who has never had what I bring to country music.
I'd much rather have a show with 200 people who respect me than 10,000 who don't.
Their Message
"You're going to feel like quitting at least twice a week, guaranteed. But stay true to yourself and your art. Reach out to us. We're here to make a change, to give a voice to those who usually don't have one."
Tavia Brooks
Country Performer · Houston, TX
Tavia Brooks discovered country music through her grandmother — a farmer — and her uncle, who taught her chords after school. She began singing at age nine and performing live at 16. Her career-defining moment came when she sold out the House of Blues in Houston, the crowd filled with fans of every background, all dancing and celebrating. She is releasing an eight-song project blending classic and contemporary country, determined to show the world that Houston and Texas have country artists too.
People don't realize Houston has country roots. From Acres Homes to South Park, it's part of our culture.
They don't believe I'm a country singer until they hear me perform. Then they're like, "Wow, you really are country."
I'm proud of us for not giving up. We're a family, helping each other out.
Their Message
"I want to show the world that Houston and Texas have country artists. People forget about us here and focus only on Nashville."
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This is your ranch too.
Ebony Ranch exists to amplify every voice in this movement — from Houston trail rides to Nashville stages. Discover artists, support the culture, and help build the frontier.
Article by Laura Onyeneho · Houston Defender Network · Support Black media at defendernetwork.com