Although he hails from Kentucky, Chris Knight was declared an "Honorary Texas Citizen" by Gov. Rick Perry in October of 2003.

Being a full-time musician is a long way from working at the mines of Kentucky, where Knight once made his living as a surface mine reclamations inspector.

Knight’s current single, "Banging Away," from his album "The Jealous Kind," is No. 22 on the Texas Music Chart. In 2002, his song "Oil Patch Town" was the 23rd-most-played song on the chart.

He performs an acoustic solo show Saturday evening at Raven’s Haven.

Q: What is new musically for you?

A: Basically, I have been doing a whole lot of shows and been on the road. I am starting to get ready to make a new album. We’d like to have one out by the fall.

There’s a little talk about an acoustic record if we can get some stuff together. We want to get a record out pretty quick.

Q: Who are the musical and personal influences that have affected your life?

A: Musically, I remember ... seeing Johnny Cash on the TV and wanting to play the guitar ... even when I was 5 and 6 years old. I had one of those plastic guitars. I remember hearing Hank Williams when I was 9 and just wanting to be him. Steve Earle and John Price were big influences, too.

When I was a little kid, I was Daniel Boone. Daniel Boone was a great pioneer and was one of the main characters in the settling of Kentucky.

Q: When did you first pick up a guitar and writing songs?

A: I started playing guitar when I was 15 and started writing songs about 10 years later. I played all the time. I just learned to pick some because I wasn’t interested in playing lead guitar. I learned to finger pick and strum songs that I heard.

Q: When Gov. Perry made you an honorary Texan in October of 2003, how did that feel?

A: It felt great, and I was really honored. You know Texas is my second-favorite state other than Kentucky.
Q: How well have you been received here in Texas?

A: Well, I don’t think they will admit that I’m from Kentucky. They are in denial. They think I’m from Texas, and that’s it.

There are some places I can draw a crowd, and other places I have to struggle to get 50 people. Overall, it just keeps getting better each time I come.