James Robert Webb, Kellyville native, and local country music singer, has been named Music Row Magazine’s Country Breakout Awards “Independent Artist of the Year,” Sapulpa Times learned last week, as Webb’s current single, “Stealin’ Home,” is currently sitting at the number three spot in Texas now number 1 as of March 4th!
In an interview with the Creek County doctor-turned-singer, Webb says the recognition is welcome, even if the song that might’ve clinched it has been around a while. “It’s old news,” he said, chuckling. “It’s just now taking off, but it’s old news because it was on that first album.”
That first album was Webb’s self-titled debut, released in May of 2020, as the world was starting to come to terms with the pandemic. The worldwide shutdowns and COVID fears brought the entire entertainment industry to a screeching halt as artists tried their hand at virtual or private concerts, with many just deciding to sit tight and see how long this would last.
Nearly two years later, Webb thinks the world is ready for live country music again. “Most of the country is kind of over the pandemic,” he said. “A lot of people are ready to get on with their lives, and are aware of the risks.”
As he begins booking shows—and yes, he’s looking to make time for Creek County, too—Webb is painfully aware of who won’t be in the audience this time: his mother, Vicky Webb, who passed away in June of 2021. His mother was his biggest fan and encouraged him to go to Nashville to pursue his love of country music, even as he remained a doctor in Tulsa.
“It’s difficult, as anyone knows,” he says. “But now I get to experience her in all those ways people always talk about; I hear her voice, kind of internalized her voice and imagine what she’d say.” He still credits his mom with the success he’s seeing even today. “She’s up there pullin’ strings for me,” he said.
Even as the world tries to get back to some category of normal, Webb says he understands that the country music world is a lot different than the one he grew up on. “All the music is controlled by the tech companies now,” he says. “It’s a blessing and a curse because it’s never been easier to release music online, but there’s a lot of white noise.” That noisiness makes it that much more special that Webb has received a coveted award from Music Row Magazine, but Webb says he’s looking at doing things differently this year in order to welcome a new album, set to be released in March.
“We’re looking at burning CDs, actually. Think that might kind of fit and be more appropriate,” given the noisiness of the online music world. He plans to have them available at their live shows and on his website at jamesrobertwebb.com
