The Influence Of Country Music

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 is now called country music and is popular in many different places. It is for people from all walks of life. But, when we look at country music today and from years ago is it the same? , When did it become popular? and , How has the music changed over the years?

As a long time fan of country music, I completely agree that this type of music is becoming more dynamic. I think that is a common theme across all genres, but it is evident that country is making drastic changes as of recent. Country has been changing to appease the masses. With the boom of pop music, we saw artists such as Florida Georgia Line and Luke Bryan. With a mass appeal of rap, we saw songs like "Dirt Road Anthem" by Jason Aldean that was even later remixed to add Ludacris to the track. It worries me that country is too focused on appealing to modern trends and the masses, rather than sticking to it's roots and the core of country music. It will be interesting to see how country music evolves over time and where it will end up next.

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.

Hank kept his interest in music throughout his whole childhood and began performing in Montgomery, Alabamas main radio station WSFA radio. He remained there from 1937 to 1942. While he was performing on the radio station a street singer and a good friend of Hank Williams Rufus “Tee Tot” Payne an African American influenced his sound and helping him with his guitar playing skills. Once Hank picked up the style that Rufus was doing he made it famous and this is the first time that the honky tonk type of style of music was created. While Hank was performing on the radio station he attracted some kids that lived nearby that knew how to play some other instruments. They called themselves the Drifting’ Cowboys, while Hank was singing and playing guitar in this band his singing voice was as strong as an artists today because since he did have any amplification he had to sing above all of the instruments and this is where he mastered his singing and yodeling without losing control of

Even though Miko didn’t get to do four years at the Musicians Institute, she got quite an education in rock-n roll. One night they would be opening for Nick Lowe at the Hollywood Palladium and then the next for the Ramones. It was this constant back and forth into new musical languages and territories that gave them the opportunity to build a diverse fan base. They shared bills with Social Distortion, Roseanne Cash, The Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Chris Isaak. The spaces were equally diverse. Spaces were Cathay Du Grand one night and The Palomino the next.

Republican presidents have often visited the spiritual home of country music, the Grand Ole Opry. Many of them think country music is a way of showing American pride. Country Music worships cowboy pride as well. Many country music artists have taken their genre of music way outside Nashville. A well known artist who became a country prodigy, also known as the “Man In Black”, Johnny cash, triumphed his way into fame by using his songs and lyrics to relate to others.

It was introduced to the people in the early 1920's. Country music is known for also originating from Blues music. Nashville, Tennessee has a history of originating many Country artist's ranging from Dolly Parton, Chet Atkins, and June and Johnny Cash. Today, Country music is still very popular and it has made a tremendous spread over the years! It is expanding each year, also!

Many country music songs are about family and the small things in life that are most important such as love and friendship. Unlike Rap music, country music is more calming and is something that the whole family can listen to without having to worry about explicit words or vulgar stories being portrayed through the lyrics. Another thing that country music artist do a great job at is creating their songs so that they are very easy to relate to and that its not all about the money or cars. I believe that country music also focuses more on the harmony aspect for the elements of music, which gives it a more peaceful feel to the songs and something that you can listen to in the car on your way home from work. However, I also believe that Country music does a wonderful job on telling stories through their songs just like rap music does and the only difference between the two is what the stories are

The style of country that these artists performed is commonly termed “honkytonk,” which refers to the bars where this style was performed. Honkytonk can be characterized by its upbeat rhythm with “a midtempo, purposeful, gently-swinging shuffle and slower ballads,” and by the sounds of the steel guitar and 2Epp fiddle (Fontenot). Songs generally dealt with issues of alcoholism and unfaithfulness, undoubtedly connected to the bars of the genre’s origin. While country music was popular across the country it was in the South were this genre would blend with colored music. Although the desegregation of black and white cultures was fought harder in the South the rich history of Southern race music found its way to the ears of white teenagers below the Mason-Dixon line.

Country music was one of the first genres of modern American popular music, and old-time music was its earliest style. It developed in the southeastern states of the USA as a mix of folk music from the British Isles, church music and African American blues. It was played on instruments like acoustic guitar, mandolin, autoharp, fiddle and the banjo. Old-time music was first recorded in the 1920s, with recordings of the Carter Family becoming the most popular. A. P. Carter collected folk songs and also wrote new songs, and he sang them in harmony with his guitar-playing sister-in-law Maybelle and his wife Sarah, who also played autoharp. Songs like Can The Circle Be Unbroken (By and By) and Wildwood Flower became hit records, and the Carter Family

At the end of the 1960s, when Rock and Roll were at its prime, two musical genres that were originally considered its influences re-imagined themselves through Rock and Roll’s prism - Country and Jazz musicians started to mix their music with Rock’s relentless energy. The newfound genres, called Country Rock and Jazz Rock respectively were accepted by the audience and critics alike, having a major impact that is still traceable in today’s music.

The early recordings featured a fiddle and a guitar for lead instruments, with the rhythm coming from a banjo and harmonica, and either a single vocalist or tight harmony. Country music’s spread was attributed to the’ Grand Ole Opry’ that started in 1925. In the 1940’s a honky-tonk style of county emerged, adding the steel guitar and mandolin. Country music began its commercialization in the late 1940’s and growing stronger into the 1960’s. In the 1970’s came the change of the traditional guitars to electric guitars, making it more acceptable to the urban audiences. Country music today continues to retain its character and unmistakable style. Nashville remains the commercial hub where people ‘attempt to go make it big’ in the country music

Country music has always been inspired by African Americans folk music. Since African Americans weren’t allowed to perform their folk songs white performers would paint their face and sing the honky tonk. With common theme, and history the only thing that separates the two genres is the presentation.

On a Tuesday morning the sound of old country music filled the room.The beat of the music vibrated the night stand.Matt was awakened by the sound of the music.Matt looked over at his brother Mike sitting on the bed.Laughing at him miserably waking up..Matt had that are-you-serious-dude look on his face.The brothers walked into the bathroom and groomed themselves.After they finished grooming themselves they made their way to Southern Breakfast,a restaurant up the street.