Milwaukee’s Willy Porter has the hat, the guitar, the mileage and way with poetic observation of the human condition to qualify him as a troubadour. His approach to his acoustic axe and literary way with words, however, place Porter apart from any gathering of boho folkies. His approach to his axe, the movements of his melodies and the narratives he conveys with his lyrics put him in the right place at the right time.
For the development of the adult album alternative (Triple A) radio format, that is. Its emphasis on songs mature in sentiment and perspective—and a confluence of folk, pop, rock and country that nestles into listeners’ ears—intersected with Porter’s mid-1990s professional ascent.
