Country Music

The Early Years of Country Music

The American South was the birthplace of country music. Early songs were colored by the difficulties of life the post-Civil War South, widespread poverty, strong religious traditions, and later, the effects of the Great Depression.

The first country musicians took their songs from the stories of the Appalachian Mountains. They were equally influenced by the what would later come to be called Bluegrass music, the Gaelic music popularized by Scottish and Irish immigrants, many of whom fought in the Civil War and shared their musical traditions with their fellow soldiers, and the Blues music that was being born nearly simultaneously in the African American community from African ballads and old slave spirituals. In the 1920s, technological advances in the field of recording, the popularity of the radio, and the new ability to transmit nationwide broadcasts contributed to the growth of country music. The first nationwide “hit” of was Vernon Dalhart’s The Wreck of Old ’97 in 1924 – though Dalhart’s song is actually a cover of Henry Whitter’s 1923 version, which had regional popularity. Country music also became known as hillbilly music.

The “Founders” of Country Music

Dalhart may have had the first hit, but the founders of country music are considered to be Jimmie Rodgers and The Carter Family.

Hailing from Meridian, Mississippi, Rodgers took his experiences of life in Mississippi and working on the railroads and wrote songs that resonated with his audience. He was heavily influenced by the Blues musicians gaining popularity in Mississippi and is hailed as a superstar in both genres. His first recordings were with the legendary Ralph Peer in Bristol, TN, in August, 1927 – unbelievably, two days after his fellow country founders, The Carter Family. Rodger’s is known for his distinctive yodel and his fast guitar picking.

The Carter Family, A.P., Sarah, and Maybelle, came from the mountains of southern Virginia, where they were immersed in bluegrass and gospel music. A.P. traveled extensively throughout the hills of Virginia and North Carolina, looking for material, and has a reputation as someone who “borrowed” a number of songs - which he subsequently copyrighted under his own name. Sarah and Maybelle were the musicians of the group, singing harmonies and playing harpsichord and guitar. The Carter Family women opened the door for other women to become involved in music - something taboo at the time. Though they released their first recording in 1927, the legacy of The Carter Family lives on, with descendents of A.P., Sarah, and Maybelle still making music today.

The 1950s and 1960s – The Golden Age of Country

Country music ruled the airwaves in the 1950s and 60s, the decades in which many of the genre's biggest stars were recording. The music also began to split into several subgenres – the hillbilly sound, the ballads, the Bakersfield sound, and most notably, rockabilly, which gave birth to rock’n’roll.

1970s - Outlaw Country

In the 1970s, there was a backlash among some country musicians against what they considered to be the increasingly polished and formulaic music being produced in Nashville. They wanted to return country music to its roots in the honky-tonks, and they combined an idolization of country music pioneers like Jimmie Rodgers and Hank Williams, Sr with an appreciation of the changes in rock music in the 60s. Hank Williams, Jr. was one of the leaders of this movement, along with Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard, Steve Young, and Willie Nelson. The Outlaw artists also frequently worked with artists from the burgeoning “country rock” and renewed folk genres, such as The Flying Burrito Brothers and Emmylou Harris.

The 1980s – Present Day

The battle started by the Outlaw country stars between the country traditionalists and the Nashville “hit machine” rages on to this day. In the 1980s, artists such as Randy Travis and Ricky Skaggs briefly brought new fans to country, but more and more, country music has come to have a niche audience. Faith Hill and Shania Twain have had recent crossover success on the pop charts, but purists argue their music bares no resemblance to the roots of country. In order to keep sales up, most major record labels are turning away from releasing country other than the crossover variety, and do not mass market traditional country music.

In reaction to the trend towards crossover country, an “alt-country” movement has developed, encompassing country artists recording for independent labels, country and folk influenced singer song writers, and country rock. Important names are Steve Earle, Robbie Fulks, BR-549, and Bloodshot Records.

Related Information

The following books and websites are good resources to expand your country music knowledge.

Reading

• Peter Guralnick -“Lost Highway – Journeys and Arrivals in American Music”
• Bill Malone – “Don’t Get Above Your Raisin’ – "The Southern Working Class”
• Randall Riese – “Nashville Babylon”

Websites

• BR549 - Modern day honky-tonkers
• Garth Brooks - One of the genre's all time top selling artists
• The Byrds - Early pioneers of the country rock sound
• The Carter Family - Founders * Johnny Cash - The Man In Black
• Patsy Cline - One of the first to bridge the country/pop divide
• Tommy Collins - Bakersfield sound pioneer who often toured with Buck Owens
• The Eagles - Landmark 1970s country rock group
• Steve Earle - Modern day keeper of the outlaw country flame
• The Flying Burrito Brothers - Byrds spin-off group featuring Gram Parsons - highly influential
• Robbie Fulks - Alt-country
• Nanci Griffith - Country influenced singer/songwriter
• Emmylou Harris - Country singer/songwriter, often worked with Gram Parsons
• Shania Twain - Number one selling female country pop artist
• Faith Hill - Mega selling country pop queen
• Waylon Jennings - Founding Father of outlaw country
• Kris Kristofferson - Outlaw country
• The Louvin Brothers - Important pioneers of country music, especially songs in the Appalachian tradition, like murder ballads
• Bill Monroe - Popularized Bluegrass music
• Gram Parsons- Founding musician in the country rock genre
• Dolly Parton - Chartmaker in both the country and pop charts during a 40+ year and counting career
• Jimmie Rodgers - Father of country music
• Shania Twain - Wildly successful country pop songstress
• Hank Williams, Sr. - Legendary country music star, and one of the most important musicians ever.
• Hank Williams, Jr.- Outlaw country star, trying to keep his father's tradition alive
• Hank III - The third Hank, blends his grandfather's sound with punk.