The young whippersnappers of modern Country owe a lot to Dwight Yoakam. Once shunned by the Nashville elite, the pioneering singer-songwriter is credited with paving the way for Country music's acceptance in the mainstream. His 'hillbilly honkey tonk' stylings earned him a following of fans that called themselves 'Cow-Punks' in retaliation to the polite Country Pop of the late 70's.