Country Music Influence

Country music originated in the 1920s in Tennessee. The genre was influenced by folk music from the Appalachian Mountains and revolved around themes of love, faith,

Southern music known today as country music became popular in the 1920’s. This was music that was based on folk music of cowboys in the southeast (Collins English Dictionary, 2003). In most of the early music the artist played stringed instruments like fiddles, guitars, banjos and some were even playing harmonicas. When this type of music started some people called it

​ Rock n roll came from the mix of country and rhythm and blues. The origins of rock n roll can be traced back to when the great migration brought African Americans to the U.S. with them they brought a different sound for music. After the great migration, new genres of music began to become very popular in the late 1920’s and 1930’s. These genres of music influenced the development of rock n roll such as blues, boogie-woogie, jump blues, jazz, and gospel music “Rock n Roll developed from blues and country so no one invented rock n roll” ( Tim Janis) Rock n roll was definitely influenced by African American roots. The African music tradition of storytelling using music of African origins was a big influence on the creation of blues and other genres. These genres of music soon developed into rhythm and blues. Later

Country music is everywhere in the United States. It is America and people either love it or hate it. There is usually no middle ground. It accounts for sixteen percent of the nation’s radio stations and is the most common genre played on the radio. There are many different types of country music around today, including Americana, bluegrass, honky tonk, and contemporary country. Music of all genres has an evolution through the years. Country music hasn't

“When first entering in America, British folk music was distinguished by three-chord tunes, sparse instrumentation (with some fiddlers), mostly male performers, improvisation, the singers’ sporadic shouts (Scottish “yips”), Christian themes served up in hundreds of hymns, and a secular collection of songs that told stories, generally about love and lost love, using metaphor and symbol to tell those stories” (Allen 101). By the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, British music changed and became Americanized. Vocal harmonizing slowly evolved, and fiddlers were accompanied by those who played banjo, an African American opening. “Tambourines and “bones” (tapping out rhythms using pork rib bones) were a minstrel show contribution” (Allen 102). When African Americans were forced into slavery and brought to North America in the 1600s, they brought their own musical traditions and sounds. Slaves who were on the Mississippi River Valley delta soil developed what will later be introduced as blues music. On the plantations, slaves greatly changed British American hymn singing. They took non-religious British American songs and turned it into their own forms of music that followed their culture and taste of music. Blues emerged in the early twentieth century at the same time country music became settled from its folk roots. Blues music talked about the indifferences African American slaves were going through at that time. “The blues voiced human

That said, Country Music is a most peculiar genre of musical entertainment. Artists therein often sing about the most mundane aspects of life, and living. Songs usually include words like beer, cheating, cowboys, lying, trailers, trucks, whiskey etc.

In the pine belt Country Music is King while Gospel is best loved. Music and the South just go together. Wherever you go in the Southern part of the United States, like Georgia, Kentucky, North and South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, or Mississippi you will hear music on the radio, on the front porch, in restaurants and cafes, and on the street corners. We love a good tune. Italian’s love music too. There in Italy you hear opera and accordion music. Accordion are a big part of Zydeco music. In other words, the Italians and Southerners have lots of things in

Charlie Pride did it in 1971. Darius Rucker did it in 2009. That’s it. Two black men, spanning thirty-eight years, are the only black artists to win a Country Music Association Award. With country music rooted in bluegrass and rhythm and blues, why aren’t there more black country music stars? When considering the roots of country music, and how closely related country is to blues, bluegrass and honky tonk music, an examination of what happened to all the black musicians seems warranted, no? This paper examines the dearth of black artists in country music and the careers of one of the few black artists who has had commercial success in this genre of music.

There is a big difference in older country music and today’s country music. Older country music tells stories, and today’s just talks about women and getting drunk. If these people did as much drinking as they say they do then we wouldn’t have any new country singers. The newer stuff sounds a lot like hip hop or rap. What does everyone think of when they hear the words country music; that’s what I thought a cowboy. How does everyone picture a cowboy? Is he in skinny jeans and a flat bill hat? No, everyone pictures that fairy tale story about a cowboy and a cowgirl falling for one another. The reason that 90’s country music is better is because, it does not sound like hip hop, it actually tells stories, and it does not just talk about drinking.

Country music as a whole has developed from hillbilly boogie, to honky tonk, to what we commonly hear on the radio today as Nashville sound, or country pop. The honky tonk

Traditionally, Country music has usually been associated as a white mans genre of music. Looking back over the history of this type of music one can attest to the fact that only a few artists fall outside this stereotype. For instance, you have musicians such as DeFord Bailey and Darius Rucker who have contributed so much to the genre through their works. However, as great as they are, there is one artist who has truly paved the way for African Americans in Country music and that is none other than Charlie Pride.

Despite Hank Williams rough childhood and spina bifida, he made a lasting impression on American music and is still inspirational to young musicians.

The slaves themselves would sing their music, brought over from Africa. Later in the years, this would be the main base of the folk music genre. However, it was not just African music. Pilgrims from around the world have brought their mother countries’ music with them to America. Even the Natives’ music heavily influenced folk music.

American Music is a melting pot of different cultures, emotions, experiences, and therefore genres. It is incredible to see how as music evolves and changes with the time, so does The United States. We are a mixed bag as a country, accepting all different cultures and backgrounds. This has led to many breakthroughs and innovations in music throughout history. We are all influenced by our experiences in life and this is no different in the evolution of music in American History. The Blues was created from African American Slave songs, with lyrics that narrate the hardships of the human experience at the time. These rhythms and forms carried over and eventually created what is now Rock and Roll. Over the next five weeks, we will explore and discover five key genres and artists who are known to specialize in that genre as a way to reconnect with our history and explore the possibilities for innovation in music in the future.

The Mumford & Sons is a London band that has helped bring popularity to folk, roots, bluegrass and rock genre. The foursome of this band includes singer/guitarist/drummer Marcus Mumford, vocalist and banjo/Dobro player Winston Marshall, vocalist/keyboardist Ben Lovett, and vocalist/bassist Ted Dwane, these gentlemen started in 2007.