1. History of Rock and Roll Roots of Rock, 2 Country

2. Roots of Country Early 1900s Appalachian roots; the South and the Midwest was the center of this musical activity Predominated by string bands influenced by black styles of fiddle and guitar (and banjo, which is African in origin)

3. Roots of Country, continued Strong influence of church music, gospel, and hymns (vocal harmonies) As radio and recordings became more popular, the emphasis shifted more strongly toward vocals

4. The Carter Family AP Carter, fiddle; Sara and Maybelle Carter, autoharp and guitar They began recording in 1927, for Ralph Peer at the Bristol Sessions

5. The Carter Family, continued AP Carter was also a folksong collector Maybelle and her daughters continued to record until the 1970s Maybelle’s daughter June married Johnny Cash

6. Jimmie Rodgers First true “country star” Born 1897 in Mississippi; moved to Texas Famous for his “yodel” Suffered from tuberculosis; died 1933, age 36

7. Bluegrass Characteristics: a mixture of old-time music and fiddle styles the strong, triple vocal harmonies of church hymns, Scotch Irish folk music and blues influences. driving rhythm high-speed technical virtuosity Bluegrass pioneer Bill Monroe b.1911. Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs

8. Western Swing A dance-style, based in country music but with a strong “swinging” beat, influenced by big band dance music. Influences: Blues Jazz, esp. Dixieland Dance Music, esp. country two-step Big Bands “Singing Cowboys” (Gene Autry, etc.) Factors in the development of Western Swing: 1930s oil boom Increase in bars and dance halls in Texas Huge popularity of Western Swing in the south and southwest, late 1930s The use of a new “sound” -- electric guitar

9. Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys Bob Wills started recording in 1929 piano, accordion, sax, horn – electric guitar, drums vocalist Tommy Duncan Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys were the first group to use drums on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry, 1945

10. Enter the Electric Guitar Both country and blues share an important characteristic: the use of electric guitar as a “lead” instrument, rather than being confined to the “rhythm section” 1953 Telecaster

11. Electric guitar, continued The first type of “amplified” guitar was the steel guitar (pictured left) 1931: manufacture of an electric steel guitar, used in Western Swing Mid 40s: the advent of pedal steel guitar (pictured right) Lap steels

12. What IS an electric guitar? Has electromagnetic pickups under the strings The vibration of the string moves the magnetic field of the pickup Resulting signal is sent to an amplifier, and then a loudspeaker All of the above makes possible the construction of a solid body guitar (Late 40s, early 50s) @1952: Gibson solid body Les Paul @1954: Leo Fender introduces the Stratocaster By end of 1950s: electric basses

13. Grand Ole Opry Nashville: becomes a center for country music Many big record companies establish offices there: Decca, Capitol, Columbia, RCA. Nashville also becomes a center for country music radio broadcasting 1920s: A Nashville station copies a popular Chicago radio show called “Barn Dance.” They change the name to Grand Ole Opry in 1927.

14. Roy Acuff (1903-1992) Singer, born in Tennessee First big Star of the Grand Ole Opry Founded a publishing house with Fred Rose in 1942 (“Acuff-Rose”) Huge star during WW2

15. Ernest Tubb Also a famous star of Grand Ole Opry Tubb’s style was known as “honky tonk.” Much stronger dance beat than Acuff’s music Tubb’s style helped popularize the use of the electric guitar in the southeast

16. Hank Williams (1923 -1953) One of country music’s most famous artists tumultuous life - alcohol, drugs, difficult relationships songs reflect a lot of these personal experiences; his lyrics famous for capturing universal emotions first appeared on Grand Ole Opry in 1949; had string of huge hits, was very famous fired in 1952 from Opry for drunkenness; career went downhill from there died of heart attack New Years 1953 - age 29 “Hank Williams is to country music what Robert Johnson was to Delta Blues”