By Sam Smith March 18, 2014

Overview

• Introduction

• History & Sub-genres

• The Grand Ole Opry

• Canadian Country

• Related Themes

"Country music is the combination of African and European folk songs coming together and doing a little waltz right here in the American south. They came together at some cotillion, and somebody snuck a black person into the room, and he danced with a white lady, and music was born."

– Ketch Secor, Old Crow Medicine Show

Introduction Origins:• 1920’s • “Old-Time Music” & “Hillbilly Music”• Roots in Southeastern American folk music,

Western, Blues• Influences from European Americans & African

Americans • Instruments: banjos, fiddles, harmonicas, &

guitars (steel guitar & drums later) • Southern United States– The Southern Appalachians Area (Kentucky,

Georgia, North & South Carolina, Maryland, Virginia, Tennessee)

• First commercial recording in 1922 by A.C. (Eck) Robertson

Sub-genres of CountryEarly Country:• The 1920s – the beginnings of Country • “Sallie Gooden” by Eck Robertson – Victor Records

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlULuyvMEJw • 1927: James Charles “Jimmie” Rodgers “Father of

Country Music” and the Carter Family “The First Family of Country” signed by Victor Records– Both inducted in to the Country Music Hall of Fame

• Blue Yodel #1 (T is for Texas) sold over 1 million copies http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEIBmGZxAhg

• The Carters – One of the most prominent musical acts http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewnfWoSQz3o

Sub-genres of CountryWestern Swing: • 1930/40s • Popularized in dance halls in the Lower Great Plains• A blend of big band, blues, dixieland, and jazz • Introduced drums and the steel guitar (by way of

Hawaii) to country music• Considered Western until the hit “It don’t mean a

thing (If it ain’t got that swing)” by Duke Ellington• Bob Wills ("King of Western Swing") and Milton Brown

(“Founder of Western Swing”)– Founded the Crust Light Doughboys (Sponsored by

Light Crust Flour)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tU_IcFBoepU

"Western Swing is nothing more than a group of talented country boys, unschooled in music, but playing the music they feel, beating a solid two-four rhythm to the harmonies that buzz around their brains. When it escapes in all it’s musical glory, my friend, you have Western Swing."

–Merle Travis

Sub-genres of CountryCowboy Music:• 1940-60s • Popularized through Hollywood and cowboy films• Roy Rogers “King of the Cowboys”

– Singer/Actor – Formed the Sons of the Pioneers – Longest surviving country music groups – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLoYFvbR0XY

• Gene Autry – Singer/Actor – Only real competitor of Roy Rogers – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vLk1MyAcFE

• Put the Western in Country & Western Music

Sub-genres of CountryHonky Tonk:• 1950s• Huge influence on today’s artists • The spirit of dancing and drinking, and of loving and then

losing the one you love• Guitar, fiddle, string bass, steel guitar with rough & nasally

vocals which developed a clear & sharp sound later• Hank Williams

– One of the most significant country artists – Died at age 29 from heart failure exacerbated by alcohol and drug

abuse – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95aP0OWx4jY

Sub-genres of CountryThe Nashville Sound:• 1950s • Blend of pop and country • Combination of big band jazz & swing with folk &

country• Jim Reeves

– Biggest hit “He’ll have to go” brought him instant stardom • Patsy Cline

– Greatest female vocalists– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsRNCvHXHHU

• Both had their careers cut short from tragic plane crashes

The Generations of CountryOutlaw Country:• 1960/70s• Resurgence of traditional country• Nashville Sound losing popularity • Conway Twitty & other artists emerged breaking

the mold• Willie Nelson

– 1975: defied country conventions with concept album – the story of fugitive preacher on the law after killing his wife

– Major role in the crossover movement – Major influence on today’s country artists http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qF5lZ82Nys

Sub-genres of CountryUrban Country:• 1980s• Move away from Country’s roots

– Towards pop culture – “Urban Cowboy”

• Attempt to crossover into easy-listening– Pop music of 60s & 70s with a hip rock beat

• Most songs and artists were forgettable, with few being memorable

• John Conlee http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woWzNRIBEcI

• Reba McEntire

Sub-genres of CountryNew Country:• 1990s• Radio helped popularize Country • Alan Jackson, Travis Tritt, Brooks & Dunn, Toby

Keith, George Strait, Dixie Chicks, Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Shania Twain

• Garth Brooks– Most popular country artist of all time – World wide success http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvCgSqPZ4EM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d05tQrhNMkA

The Grand Ole Opry• 1925• Synonymous with Country Music• WSM Radio’s Grand Ole Opry • Nashville, Tennessee• Live Country Music acts every Saturday night• Used to promote artists’ live performances• Moved around to account for growing audience • Still around today close to downtown Nashville

– Has a 6-foot circular piece of wood from Ryman Auditorium – heart of the stage

Canadian Country Artists • Canada has the 2nd largest country music base• The Prairies, Ontario, & Atlantic • Spread from radio • The prairies are Canada’s heartland for country

music– Cowboy and agrarian nature

• Shania Twain, Gordon Lightfoot, George Canyon, Stompin’ Tom Connors, Paul Brandt, Dean Brody, Doc Walker, Dallas Smith, Emerson Drive, Corb Lund and the Hurtin’ Albertans, Gord Bamford, Chad Brownlee

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhAB6Wj0pGwhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7fASdvrR-g

Related Themes• Cultural Hearths• Adaptation/Innovation• Urban vs Rural • Instruments & Recording technology • Commercialization• Cross Fertilization

Sources• http://www.roughstock.com/history/• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Country_music#Fi

rst_generation_.281920s.29

• http://www.opry.com/history

Thank You!