Bruce Robison, Seth Walker

It's not easy for a 6-foot-7-inch singer to get overlooked, but such is the case for Bruce Robison. While the tall Texas troubadour has been releasing albums for more than a decade, he's best known as a hit songwriter for Tim McGraw, the Dixie Chicks and George Strait. Or as the Robison brother not married to a Dixie Chick (that's brother Charlie). Or for starring in a Claritin ad with his wife, singer Kelly Willis.

While brother Charlie deals in gregarious alt honky-tonk, Bruce crafts introspective music on aptly titled discs like Wrapped and Eleven Stories. His laidback charms are amply apparent on such originals as "Virginia," "All Over but the Cryin'" and "Days Go By." And how can you not like the guy who wrote the wonderful "What Would Willie Do?" Robison has been in the studio, honing his next set of gems—which he'll hopefully be previewing.