Country Music Folk music European and African roots Appalachian Mountains String band music
1920s—first country records produced 1920s—first country records produced 78s 78s String bands String bands Carter Family Carter Family Jimmie Rodgers Jimmie Rodgers Popularity of radio Popularity of radio Early stations Early stations WLS Chicago WLS Chicago WSB Atlanta WSB Atlanta WSM Nashville WSM Nashville No format; much variety; irregular hours No format; much variety; irregular hours
Cumberland Ridge Runners
Carter Family
Jimmie Rodgers
Grand Ole Opry Grand Ole Opry WSM 650AM WSM 650AM Nashville, TN Nashville, TN Radio barn dance Radio barn dance Old-time country music Old-time country music Ryman Auditorium ( ) Ryman Auditorium ( ) World’s longest-running radio show World’s longest-running radio show
Golden Age (1930s-40s) Golden Age (1930s-40s) String bands String bands Uncle Dave Macon Uncle Dave Macon Singing cowboys Singing cowboys Bob Wills—western swing Bob Wills—western swing Roy Acuff Roy Acuff Honky Tonk (1940s-50s) Honky Tonk (1940s-50s) Post-WWII, modernization Post-WWII, modernization Ernest Tubb Ernest Tubb Hank Williams, Sr. Hank Williams, Sr.
Western Swing Western Swing Texas, Oklahoma Texas, Oklahoma Dance halls Dance halls String band + jazz orchestra String band + jazz orchestra Bob Wills, Tex Williams, Spade Cooley Bob Wills, Tex Williams, Spade Cooley
Bluegrass (c.1945) Bluegrass (c.1945) “folk music in overdrive” “folk music in overdrive” Acoustic Acoustic Banjo, fiddle, mandolin, guitar, bass Banjo, fiddle, mandolin, guitar, bass Bill Monroe Bill Monroe Lester Flatt Lester Flatt Earl Scruggs Earl Scruggs
Rock & Roll (c.1955) Rock & Roll (c.1955) New, fresh, rebellious New, fresh, rebellious Appealed to youth, young adults Appealed to youth, young adults Country sales dropped Country sales dropped
Nashville Sound (late 1950s-1960s) Nashville Sound (late 1950s-1960s) Slick production Slick production Cookie-cutter sound Cookie-cutter sound Orchestras and choirs replaced fiddles and banjos Orchestras and choirs replaced fiddles and banjos Subtle, subdued, pop-flavored Subtle, subdued, pop-flavored
Patsy Cline – “Crazy”
Bakersfield (1960s) Bakersfield (1960s) California California Stripped-down honky tonk Stripped-down honky tonk Buck Owens and Merle Haggard Buck Owens and Merle Haggard Return to a more country sound Return to a more country sound Hee Haw (1969) Hee Haw (1969) CBS CBS Opry-inspired Opry-inspired
Buck Owens – “Love’s Gonna Live Here”
Merle Haggard – “The Fightin’ Side of Me”
Tammy Wynette – “Stand By Your Man”
Countrypolitan (late 1960s-70s) Countrypolitan (late 1960s-70s) Pop sound Pop sound Aimed at mainstream pop radio (Top 40) Aimed at mainstream pop radio (Top 40) Newer version of Nashville Sound Newer version of Nashville Sound Charlie Rich Charlie Rich Lynn Anderson Lynn Anderson Glen Campbell Glen Campbell
Glen Campbell “Wichita Lineman”
Country Rock (late 1960s) Country Rock (late 1960s) Rock musicians playing country Rock musicians playing country Gram Parsons Gram Parsons International Submarine Band International Submarine Band The Byrds The Byrds Sweetheart of the Rodeo (1968) Sweetheart of the Rodeo (1968) Flying Burrito Brothers Flying Burrito Brothers The Eagles The Eagles
Flying Burrito Brothers “Christine’s Tune”
Outlaw Country (1970s) Outlaw Country (1970s) DIY attitude DIY attitude Rebellious, irreverent, rowdy Rebellious, irreverent, rowdy Austin, TX Austin, TX Willie Nelson Willie Nelson Waylon Jennings Waylon Jennings Hank Williams, Jr. Hank Williams, Jr. David Allan Coe David Allan Coe Wanted: Outlaws (1976) Wanted: Outlaws (1976)
Flying Burrito Brothers “Christine’s Tune”
Waylon Jennings – “Good Hearted Woman”
New Traditionalists (1980s) New Traditionalists (1980s) Return to a more country sound, look Return to a more country sound, look George Strait George Strait The Judds The Judds Randy Travis Randy Travis Ricky Skaggs Ricky Skaggs Keith Whitley Keith Whitley Dwight Yoakam Dwight Yoakam
Garth Brooks & Reba McEntire Rose to popularity in 1980s Rose to popularity in 1980s Huge crossover appeal Huge crossover appeal Gigantic stage shows w/pyrotechnics, costumes, choreography, etc. Gigantic stage shows w/pyrotechnics, costumes, choreography, etc. Far-reaching media exposure Far-reaching media exposure Billions and billions of awards, gold records, etc. Billions and billions of awards, gold records, etc.
Modern Country
Fender Telecaster
Nudie