Big Blog - Country Music

 All types of music are intertwined in one way or another. It is cool to think that all these different types of music all around the world have similarities. While many of these types of music also consist of many differences. Regardless of the differences or similarities music has the power to unite and bring people together. 

In my blog, I will be focusing on the history of country music. In class, we briefly discussed how it originated from the Blues. It was referred to as “Hillbilly Music.” For at that time, it had a southern man singing the original blues lyrics with a southern accent. I am going to discuss further the history of country music including how and where it started. I will also discuss some of the early musicians that were influential within this genre of music and some overall. 

    First, the definition of country music is “a form of popular music originating in the rural southern US. It is traditionally a mixture of ballads and dance tunes played characteristically on fiddle, guitar, steel guitar, drums, and keyboard.” Throughout this blog, we will further investigate and explore all these claims. Country music originated in the early twentieth century. It was born among the working-class Americans living in the south, especially in the Appalachian Mountains.  Original country music according to an article titled The Origins Of Country Music stated it “was a blend of English ballads with Celtic and Irish fiddle songs, adding influences from various European immigrants who settled nearby. Often overlooked was the influence of African Americans. Not only did jazz and the blues influence country artists, but also many white musicians, such as Hank Williams…” 

Experts have been able to trace the origins of country music to Tennessee. In the 1920’s production studios in Knoxville, Bristol, and Johnson City produced the first recording sessions of country music. It was known as the sound that was emerging among the “mountaineer” musician that was living in the Great Smoky Mountains. Meanwhile, in Atlanta, the music scene was growing rapidly. Many people from the Appalachian area moved to the metropolis city to work in the cotton mills. They brought with them their love for “Hillbilly” music. As “Hillbilly” music began to boom across different states promoters saw the opportunity to capitalize on this growth. One of the first country artists to be discovered was Fiddlin’ John Carson. 

    By the 1930s, AM radio stations began to feature country music. The genre continued its trajectory of upward growth. At this time, it was being featured on “barn dance” shows. Country music stayed largely on rural AM radio stations until the 1980s. While this was occurring, on August 21, 1938, a country icon was born. Kenny Rogers was born in Texas. At this time country music shifted from being played at barn dances mostly to becoming mainstream. “By the 1940s, audiences lined up to watch “singing cowboys” like Gene Autry and Roy Rogers in Hollywood films. No longer derided as “hillbilly music,” country music had gone mainstream” stated the article regarding the origins of this genre. 

    By the 1970s, “outlaw” music became a prominent subgenre of music in Nashville. Artists that were experts at this include Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings. At this time in music, the gap between country and mainstream pop music began to lessen more and more. The audience could hear the overlap in what two very different genres of music was traditional. The electric guitar is responsible for this shift within country music as it replaced many traditional instruments. In the late 20th century country music performers began to become more diverse, including artists like Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, and more!

    Now that we have covered the timeline of how country music has evolved, I am going to discuss the genre itself. As country music moved amongst the country and changed so did the instruments being used. Instruments that were used in original country music include banjo, accordion, fiddle, and sting bass. These were the instruments that were used in the early days of bluegrass and folk music. In modern-day country music, you can often hear drums, guitar, bass, and piano. 

    When I was researching the vocal style of country music, I was surprised to find the same thing on many different websites. Many suggest the vocal style is “twang.” It was defined as “a cat-like, southern quality exhibited mostly by country singers. I was surprised to find that was what the vocal style was categorized as. 

    I think country music can often be stereotyped as having the same lyrics and meaning. Many believe it is only ever about a beer, a truck, or a relationship. I believe country music goes a lot deeper than this. Some of my favourite songs that I believe serve as a way to teach a life lesson include “Bless the Broken Road” by Rascal Flatt's and “This one for The Girls” by Martina McBride. These are just a few of the many examples that break the stereotype of country music being about “shallow” subjects. 

    I enjoyed writing this blog and learning more about country music. It was fascinating to learn more about the history of this genre of music. I have never really put much thought into where country music came from or how it came to be. Learning about the people who were pillars of country music was fascinating. It was cool to see the evolution of this type of music. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed learning and writing about it! 

                                                                       References

Center, Norton. “The Origins of Country Music.” Centre College's Norton Center For The Arts, 23 Feb. 2022, https://nortoncenter.com/2017/03/19/the-origins-of-country-music/. 

“Country Music.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., https://www.britannica.com/art/country-music. 

Spencer, Sarah. “How to Achieve the Perfect Country Twang: What Is Twang?” Flypaper, 2 Oct. 2022, https://flypaper.soundfly.com/tips/achieve-perfect-country-twang/.