Bobby Bare Jr.
A Nashville-born songwriter who blends rock grit with country storytelling, creating a unique and enduringly influential sound.
Born 1966 (age 60)·American singer-songwriter·Birthday: June 28·Generation X
Biography
Bobby Bare Jr. grew up in the shadow of his famous father, country star Bobby Bare, but carved out a space entirely his own. Emerging in the 1990s, he fronted the band Bare Jr., whose 1998 debut 'Boo-Tay' delivered a raucous, guitar-driven alternative to the polished country-pop of the era. His career is defined by a restless creative spirit, oscillating between full-band rock projects and more intimate, lyrically sharp solo work. He became a fixture of the indie-rock and alt-country crossover scene, respected for his witty, sometimes melancholic songwriting and a voice that can shift from a whisper to a ragged shout. Beyond his own recordings, his influence is felt through collaborations and the respect he commands from a generation of musicians who see him as a bridge between raw rock energy and Nashville's narrative tradition.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Bobby was born in 1966, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bobby Was Born
The biggest hits of 1966
#1 Movie
The Bible: In the Beginning
Best Picture
A Man for All Seasons
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Bobby's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1966Born
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1971Started school
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1979Became a teenager
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1982Could drive
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1984Could vote
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Turned 21
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1996Turned 30
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 40
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 50
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 60
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Released the critically acclaimed album 'Boo-Tay' with his band Bare Jr. in 1998, earning a cult following.
- His song 'You Blew Me Off' was featured on the soundtrack for the popular film 'Me, Myself & Irene'.
- Maintained a consistent and prolific solo career, releasing albums like 'The Longest Meow' and 'Undefeated'.
- Collaborated with a wide range of artists, from members of My Morning Jacket to indie rock stalwarts.
Did You Know?
He made his recording debut at age five, singing 'Daddy What If' with his father Bobby Bare; the song became a hit.
He is known for his energetic and unpredictable live performances, often interacting extensively with the audience.
He founded the label Bloodshot Records' subsidiary, 'Short Story Records', for a brief period.
“My songs are for the folks who like their country a little busted.”
