Album Notes

They say you can take the boy out of the South, but you can't take the South out of the boy. Such is the case with Stagger Lee, New York City's own Country music star.

Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, young Stagger grew up listening to the likes of Conway Twitty, David Allan Coe, Willie Nelson, and Hank Williams. Stagger did not look like ANY of these artists, though. Determined to be a trailblazer, he took his traditional country influences to the stage, amidst an onslaught of a new "pop-country" genre sweeping the nation.

In June of 2003, the "Cajun Asian," as he had begun to be known as, packed his bags and headed for The Big Apple with his producer, NNMaddox. Maddox and Lee began crafting a "new" sound, by simply returning to Country music's roots.

Hillbilly Heroin is truly a testament to Stagger Lee's life in New York City. Combining elements of Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, and Hank Williams, the album is open and naked, brutally honest and passionate. Hillbilly Heroin shows that Lee is, at times, a fish-out-of-water. It also reveals that he is exactly where he needs to be.

The album paints a revealing portrait of a man bringing simplicity to a complicated city. It's about love, anger, the struggle to survive, heartbreak, bitterness and most importantly, never giving up.

Highlights include the bittersweet ballad "Just My Luck," which was featured (in a remixed form) on NNMaddox's Ringworm compilation, and "Spaghetti Western," a catchy number that will have you singing along instantly.

Stagger Lee refers to himself as a "Poor man's Kerouac" from the wrong side of the track. There is a little bit of Stagger Lee in all of us.

"I was a two-bit crook and a one-trick pony, now everyone from all around respects me and knows me. I'm the talk of the town, they drag my name through the mud. Don't worry baby, I'm the gangster of love."

Go Stagger Lee, Go!