Bobby Bare is one of country music’s legends. As an artist and a songwriter and a song publisher, he’s been a linchpin in classic country music since his song “Detroit City” became a country hit in 1963.

Since that time, he’s championed songwriters, including Shel Silverstein, Billy Joe Shaver and Tom T. Hall, either publishing and/or recording their classic songs.

“They’re the ones I always hung out with because they’re so aware of everything that’s going on around them. You could take ’em up to Wall Street and put them in a room and they’d still be the brightest lights there. They might not be the best-educated, but they’re extremely bright.”

Bare’s new album, “Darker Than Light,” is his first in nearly a decade and is made up of classic folk standards and modern numbers by songwriting greats.

“I’ve been wanting to do this for 25 years and couldn’t get anyone excited about it,” says Bare in a call from his Nashville home.

“I love these old folk songs. They’re so honest, so raw and the melodies are so good. That’s the reason they’ve been around for hundreds of years.”

Bare isn’t as well known in his home country, but he recently achieved renewed stardom in Norway when his song “Things Change” was a finalist in the Eurovision contest.

“If I get tired of walking around here and nobody knowing who I am, I can go over there where I’m a rock star!”

Bare chuckles.