Workin' Man Blues explores the dust bowl roots of country music in California. Based partially on Gerald Haslam's book Workin' Man Blues: Country Music in California, the program features interviews with California music icons Merle Haggard, Buck Owens, and Dwight Yoakam. Grammy Award-winning musicians Michael Martin Murphey and Vince Gill also reflect on the importance of the "Bakersfield Sound" on the country music scene.