Shelby, Graycie and the Enduring Influence of Cody Canada

One of the coolest things about this scene is how the circle just keeps widening. The veterans who built it don’t just hang on to their rung on the ladder, they reach back and pull the next wave up with them. Nobody embodies that more than Cody Canada.

For over 25 years he’s been the compass needle. He’s become the kind of mentor every songwriter dreams of: equal parts bulldog and big brother.

Friday night in Waco, that torch passing will be front and center when Shelby Stone takes the stage at The Backyard for the Boys From Oklahoma Texas Weekend preparty. Shelby has been grinding, writing and delivering the kind of unvarnished truth that resonates with anyone who is a fan of our kind of music.

Shelby is open about everything, including her influences and she won’t hesitate to tell You that Cody Canada (and Dalton Domino) is responsible for her pushing boundaries.

He’s been a steady hand and an open door, encouraging her to chase the song above all else. That’s the Canada way, no shortcuts, no BS, just craft and honesty. You can hear it in the way Shelby phrases a line, in the way her songs balance vulnerability and aggression.

And then there’s Graycie York, another voice that Cody has championed from the jump. Graycie is Galleywinter family having performed at the last 5 River Jams. Saturday night, she’ll be stepping into what can only be called a dream gig, singing with Ragweed at a sold out football stadium.

Think about that for a second.

Ragweed could have chosen anyone to sing with them and they will have Graycie front and center, adding her voice to a legacy that’s bigger than all of us. She got to do it in Stillwater and she's pinched herself and ended up back in the same role in Waco.

Cody has been vocal that artists such as Shelby and Graycie belong at the big table. They are not “female songwriters” in his eyes; just songwriters, period. And that’s the magic of Cody Canada. He’s always had a radar for authenticity and he’s never been afraid to put his weight behind it, no matter if you’re an upstart band of cousins from Yukon, a poet with a busted guitar or a young woman clawing her way into an industry that hasn’t always been welcoming as it should be.

Cody Canada is a champion. He always has been. Ragweed carried a generation, but Cody has made sure the next one has a stage to stand on. Shelby Stone on Friday. Graycie York on Saturday. Dozens of others along the way. That’s the story.

This weekend in Waco isn’t just a reunion or a nostalgia trip. It’s a reminder that the road Ragweed paved is still alive, still growing and still welcoming new travelers.