Hunter & Garcia Inducted Into Songwriters Hall of Fame

Great news that Robert Hunter and Jerry Garcia have been recognized by the Songwriters Hall of Fame. But it feels a little weird that they will be inducted along with Toby Keith, who gets top billing in the New York Times headline. "Beer for My Horses" and "Should've Been a Cowboy"? Or to put it another way, why weren't Hunter and Garcia inducted two decades ago?

This news, especially when combined with the NYRB snub mentioned in the previous post, suggests that the Dead and their achievement are still grossly underestimated.

And finally, I can't help but recall what Kris Kristofferson, borrowing a line from Waylon Jennings, said about Toby Keith and his ilk: "They're doin' to country music what panty hose did to finger f***in'."