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| Sadly, rig-rock country kingpin Jeremy Tepper has passed away from a heart attack at the age of 60. He'll be greatly missed. |
Jeremy Tepper, 1963-2024
The recent passing of Jeremy Tepper is a huge loss to the entire Americana music community and beyond. A tireless champion and genuine fan of roots music, Jeremy was probably best known for his work on SiriusXM's Outlaw Country outpost and his annual Outlaw Country Cruise which brought musicians and fans together but I knew him from his time tearing up small clubs country-rock style as the frontman for the World Famous Blue Jays. Back in 1990, the idea of an alt-country band getting a single played on country radio seemed like even more of a long shot than does today. Jeremy's love of songs about 18-wheelers and the folks who drove 'em gave him the idea to start Diesel Only Records in Brooklyn with pals Jay Sherman-Godfrey and Albert Caiatito to ensure that truckstop jukeboxes across the country could be stocked with the music his friends were making.
It's questionable how many long-haulers were curious enough about artists like Courtney & Western, The Sloppy Joes, The Twanglers, Mumbo Gumbo, Formaldehyde Blues Train, Clovis Noches, or The Surreal McCoys to select their tunes but needless to say, Hovorka or the one-off Jim Merlis' recording project Honus Wagner weren't notching many plays. Scattered amongst the Diesel Only label's 30+ single releases and three Rig Rock CD compilations were a few memorable gems from the likes of Marty Stuart, Buck Owens, Jim Lauderdale, Dale Watson, Billy Joe Shaver, Amy Allison, The Bottle Rockets, Ween, future Outlaw Country host Mojo Nixon and singer Laura Cantrell whom Jeremy married in 1997. He continued to operate the label with Cantrell who issued three of her albums via Diesel Only.
After a stint in marketing and A&R for CDuctive and eMusic.com, Jeremy aka "DJ RigRocker" was invited by SirusXM's Little Steven Van Zandt to host his Outlaw Country radio show's 6 am to 12 noon shift. In 2004, Jeremy became the channel's format manager where he helped expand and transform the concept of "outlaw country" to include just about everything the narrowly-focused Nashville machine had excluded.
Suddenly, numerous artists who weren't suitable for conventional country radio play had a new home with an enthusiastic champion in Tepper. Not just all the alt-country and so-called "Americana" acts he came up with but all of those country greats over the age of 40 who, despite lengthy chart-topping careers and a loyal, nationwide fan base, could no longer get any substantial airplay. He started up a Willie Nelson-oriented channel "Willie's Roadhouse" as well as the 24-hour channel "Road Dog Trucking" designed for big-riggers at work and eventually parlayed his new platform into the popular Outlaw Country Cruise which gave listeners a chance to get up close and personal with some of their favourite artists.
Today came the sad news in a Facebook posting from Laura Cantrell that Jeremy had passed away on Friday (June 14) at home in Jackson Heights, New York at the age of 60.
"I am heartbroken to share the news of the passing of my husband, Jeremy Tepper, who died suddenly today of a heart attack here in Jackson Heights. Jeremy was an amazing, unique person, a loving father, son, brother, and friend who was close with so many of you, especially his many friends in the music world," Cantrell said. "We will share more soon about plans to celebrate his life, but we are devastated by this unimaginable loss and ask for privacy and time to grieve." – Laura Cantrell
"Lost my good friend Jeremy Tepper last night. An incredibly tragic loss so young. He ran my Outlaw Country station on SiriusXM brilliantly. It is actually quite a complicated format and he made it look easy. Our deepest love and condolences to Laura and his family and friends." – Little Steven Van Zandt
"Last night the world where country meets rawk lost its biggest champion- Jeremy Tepper. Among the many hats he wore, Jeremy was the program director of the Sirius Outlaw Country station. He also was the driving force behind the Outlaw Country Cruise, in my opinion the best gig on the planet for us crazy country rockers. Jeremy was one of the main creators of the Outlaw Country brand and ideal. It is now a worldwide phenomenon, a valid commercial genre of modern music. None of it would have happened without his tireless work and deep knowledge about the music he was promoting. Almost every time listen to Outlaw Country I hear an obscure record I’ve never heard before. That was one of the hallmarks of Jeremy‘s programming.
As his influence and importance grew over the years, his ego did not. He remained a streetwise rock n roller, dedicated to the music he championed, and the fans who loved Outlaw Country. He never took on that slippery veneer that many "important people" get. He remained totally down to earth.
We became friends over the years, usually spending our communications talking about music, not the music business. He loved his daughter, and his wife Laura Cantrell. I had lunch with him a few months ago. The last thing he said to me was simply: "I love you Jason." He was that kind of guy. I will be a fan and friend of Jeremy Tepper for the rest of my days. My deepest condolences go out to Laura, his daughter, and all the fans of Outlaw Country. Long may you run." – Jason Ringenberg
"This guy. What a HUGE loss. Jeremy Rig Rocker Tepper single handedly changed the course of so many careers and rescued the roots of country music. It’s impossible to gauge the mark this big hearted loving guy has made on the world. I know he’s made a big mark on my heart. You will be very missed Diesel man. I’ll catch you on the flip flop Rig Rocker. Much love to you. Troubadour out." – Dale Watson
"Devastated to awaken to completely unexpected (by me at least) news of the passing of visionary SiriusXM Outlaw Country program director Jeremy Tepper. Jeremy was a true blue music fan, an early galvanizer of the Americana genre, a gifted spotter of talent, cruise impresario, lover of truck-drivin’ country music and jukeboxes, and all-around mensch. Many of Americana’s emerging stars owe Jeremy their break." – Cary Baker
"Huge loss for the music community today with the passing of our dear friend Jeremy Tepper. He was a champion of so many in the Americana/outlaw scene. Jeremy was the first one to bring me on the bus to smoke a doobie with Willie Nelson at Farm Aid in 2016. Can’t believe he’s gone" – Margo Price
"Jeremy Tepper was a good friend. Actually, it could. be argued that he was one of the best friends DBT ever had. He championed us snd our music and crazy vision quests for 2 decades at least. A great hang and just a wonderful guy. He will leave a void that can’t be filled and we’re all very sad.
Condolences to Laura and their family and so many loved ones. RIP" – Patterson Hood
"I and so many artists have lost a champion. Tepper truly cared about music and musicians. He wasn’t a bean counter. He deeply loved and cared about making sure great music made it to as many ears as possible. This loss to the music world and to those who loved him is immense." – India Ramey
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