This interview originally aired on "In the Moment" on SDPB Radio.
David Hersrud hasn't done many features on South Dakota artists. He's written extensively on songs about South Dakota.
But he can't remember a time when he's had more than one or two local artists included in his features.
He's excited to dive into our music scene. And he's kicking things off with the latest from Hank Harris.
Hank Harris: "Beautiful Planet"
Harris is a South Dakota institution. Harris played with the Red Willow Band. The group played a lot of Western swing but defied every label you could think of.
For listeners under 30, you probably haven't heard of the Red Willow Band. That band was popular from 1974 to 1982. But when they get together for a concert, they pack in fans to this day.
Here's a bit of the Red Willow Band:
Harris has gone on to release nine or 10 solo albums — so many that he can’t remember them all.
According to Hersrud, his latest is his best. It's a little bit of everything and doesn't adhere to a particular style. Hersrud calls it "Harris Style."
Kid Dakota: "Praegustator"
Kid Dakota, AKA Darren Jackson, has released his ninth album.
He's originally from Bison, South Dakota.
This album is more somber than his previous work.
Bright Red Blood
Hersrud owns up to a particular prejudice here with the artist Bright Red Blood.
This is her third album. She got back into writing and recording music after years of college, medical school, training and work.
Bright Red Blood isn't a professional musician. She's a geriatric physician. Hersrud says she's a one-woman band who writes incredible music and sings beautifully.
Listen to the full audio of this segment to hear the song "low-er" from the album "The Iron Chair."
Did we mention Bright Red Blood is Hersrud's daughter?
Those were Hersrud's local picks: Hank Harris, Kid Dakota and Bright Red Blood.
He says South Dakota may not have the quantity of musicians that other states have, but we do have the quality.