Adam & Chris Carroll
Adam Carroll
The Quiet Poet of Texas Songwriting
“Want to hear a good story? Listen to any Adam Carroll song.”
For decades, Adam Carroll has been the songwriter’s songwriter — a quiet craftsman whose vivid imagination has painted some of Texas’ truest musical portraits. His peers speak of him in reverent tones:
“Adam Carroll may be the best songwriter that Texas ever produced.” – Jon Dee Graham
“If all were right with the world, Adam Carroll would be the Townes Van Zandt of our age.” – Robert Earl Keen
“His lyrics are like a good book: They take you somewhere and leave you better than they found you.” – Terri Hendrix
“The quintessential small-town songwriter… you’ll meet the barbecue-joint waitresses, rice farmers, karaoke singers, black-flag pirates and hi-fi lovers of this land in Adam’s songs.” – Slaid Cleaves
Roots & Beginnings
Carroll grew up in Tyler, Texas, a “pretty southern” town in the ’70s and ’80s. He identified with great southern storytellers like Flannery O’Connor and Lucinda Williams, while quietly living in his head, imagining stories of his own.
Music was everywhere at home — his mom a musician, his dad spinning John Prine, Johnny Cash, Jimmie Rodgers records. After discovering Neil Young’s Harvest in high school, he was compelled to play guitar. At Tyler Junior College, under the mentorship of guitar teacher Frank Kimlicko, Adam deepened his love for folk music. A John Prine concert at Dallas’ Majestic Theatre confirmed what he wanted to be: a performer whose songs meet every expectation.
Finding His Place
Though naturally reclusive, Carroll eventually found a home at Cheatham Street Warehouse in San Marcos — Texas’ legendary songwriting incubator where George Strait, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Todd Snider, James McMurtry, Terri Hendrix and others honed their craft. He settled in San Marcos and later Wimberley, with Cheatham Street becoming his creative refuge.
Songs from his new solo album include:
- “Night at the Show” — a tribute to mentor Kent Finlay.
- “My Only Good Shirt” — dedicated to legendary producer Lloyd Maines.
Carroll’s influence was honored in Highway Prayer (2016), a tribute album featuring Slaid Cleaves, James McMurtry, Terri Hendrix, Jamie Lin Wilson, Walt Wilkins, Hayes Carll and more — a rare distinction for a living songwriter, underscoring the respect he commands.
Partnership with Chris Carroll
In 2012, at a Canadian festival in St. Catharines, Ontario, Adam met fellow musician Chris Carroll. Both had recently gotten sober, and their connection was instant. Chris, already a fan, gave Adam the confidence he often lacked in himself.
“Anytime anybody would tell me I was good as a writer or performer, I couldn’t hear it,” Adam admits. “Chris was such a fan that her support gave me a new lease on looking at myself and my music.”
Together they recorded Good Farmer, tour across North America in an RV with their three dogs, and bring an effortless chemistry to the stage. Adam credits Chris with improving his musicianship, pushing him to grow as a guitarist and embrace harmony: “Playing with Chris makes me want to be a better musician.”
The Legacy
With new albums I Walked in Them Shoes and Good Farmer, Adam Carroll continues to write songs filled with ordinary characters, extraordinary detail, and timeless humanity. His influence reaches across borders, inspiring peers, audiences, and a new generation of songwriters.
Adam Carroll’s music is both an authentic homage to the great Texas storytellers and a voice entirely his own — reclusive, tender, and quietly powerful.
Upcoming Concerts at Dosey Doe
No upcoming concerts scheduled for Adam & Chris Carroll. Check back for more live music events in The Woodlands at Dosey Doe!
Past Concerts
- Saturday, January 25, 2025
- Saturday, December 30, 2023