Rodney Crowell (born August 7, 1950) is an award-winning singer/songwriter. Often narrowly associated with country music, his songs have a much wider reach, spanning rock, folk, swing, and bluegrass. Crowell was born in Houston, Texas to James Walter Crowell and Addie Cauzette Willoughby. He is considered to be part of both the alternative country and the mainstream country music camps[citation needed]. He is a contemporary of Steve Earle and, like Earle, was also influenced by the songwriting greats Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt. Rodney played guitar and sang for three years in Emmylou Harris' "Hot Band".