Talking about Country Music

702 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Country music history

Country music is a popular genre of music in America’s society. Originating in the 1920’s in Southern United States, country music takes inspiration from American folk music and Western music. Although Country music is loved today by many, it didn’t always enjoy such success and popularity. Country music has gone through six “generations”. Through each of these six generations, Country music and America’s perceptions towards it have changed immensely. Though all six generations played an important part in the shaping of the country music genre, the most important developments in country music have happened during the first and third generations. Those two generations took country music and shaped it into what it is today. The first generation of country music happens in the 1920’s. This is the very beginning of country music. Atlanta is considered the birthplace of country music, where Appalachian people, coming into the city to work in the cotton mills, brought their music with them. The Appalachian people used instruments brought over from countries where they immigrated from. The main instruments used in their music were the Spanish guitar, the Irish fiddle, the German dulcimer, the Italian mandolin, and the West African banjo. Country music of this first generation was unlike the music of today’s generation. Now referred to as “Original Country Music”, first generation country music evolved from folk music, gospel music and old-time or hillbilly music, unlike the pop derived music of today’s country music. Country music in this generation wasn’t as popular. Some recording companies embraced the “Hillbilly Music” and saw that it would be a good fit for the growing agricultural workers, while other companies turned away from the... ... middle of paper ... ...ne. Not even referred to as “Country” by marketing industries, western music was moved to the “Country and Western” form. Singers in this genre released their albums and songs to only mild success. Rock-and-roll country took over country music sales, and, due to low popularity, recording firms in Hollywood dropped most of their Western singers. The new increase in production in Nashville also played a huge role, where the Nashville sound, rockabilly, and country rock styles reigned over traditional "cowboy" artists. During this time, country and western music as a style and genre lost most of its southwestern, ranchera, and Tejano musical roots and influences.. However, during later generations, the traditional cowboy ballad and honky-tonk styles would be resurrected and reimagined with the huge surge in popularity of "outlaw country" music from Texas and Oklahoma.

Show More
Related

  • Evaluation of Modern Country Versus Oldies Country Music

    596 Words  | 2 Pages

    Times have changed, and along with the times so has country music. American country music lovers have went from Loretta Lynn and Waylon Jennings, just two of the many classic oldies, to Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan, two very appealing country music artists. However, it is not only the tune of the music that has changed, it is the image, the appeal, and overall the type of icons the media is portraying these modern music stars as. Icons such as Lynn and Jennings had identifiable features within their music as well as their appearance that spoke sweet southern belle and rugged twang. Whereas Underwood’s and Bryan’s appeal now is much more sexualized than it was during the oldies. These changes affect the way modern day singers are marketed compared to former country music stars, instead of focusing on talent it is now looks.

    Read More

  • George Harvey Strait Essay

    2050 Words  | 5 Pages

    George Harvey Strait, is a an American singer, actor, songwriter, and music producer, known as the “King of Country”, of the twentieth century to present. Strait was a vocalist blessed with good looks and a vibrant personality. He is one of the most influential and popular recording artists of all time. George was a 50s baby. He is also known for his neotraditionalist country style, cowboy look , and being one of the first and main country artists to bring country music back to its roots and away from the pop country era in the 1980s. George Strait has been a country music icon since the 1980s.

    Read More

  • The History of the Grand Ole Opry

    1686 Words  | 4 Pages

    For almost 90 years, The Grand Ole Opry has withstood the test of time to become one of the tried and true traditions in country music. From the show's humble beginnings as an obscure radio program, to it's renowned place today as one of the premiere stages for music, The Grand Ole Opry has had an extremely colorful and interesting existence. Over the 88 years that have passed since the show's inception, The Grand Ole Opry has featured many talented performers. Those performers, along with social changes and economics, have all contributed to the growth and success of The Grand Ole Opry.

    Read More

  • How Did Hank Williams Impact Country Music?

    722 Words  | 2 Pages

    Widely considered country music’s first superstar, Hiram/Hank Williams was born September 17, 1923, in mount olive, Alabama. Williams, the third child of Lon and Lillie Williams, grew up in a household that never had much money. His father worked as a logger before entering the Veterans’ Administration hospital when young hank was just six. Father and son rarely saw each other over the next decade, with William’s mother, who ran rooming houses, moving the family to Greenville, and later, Montgomery, Alabama. (Hank Williams) Everyone knew Hank was a good guy, but like any man had his ups and his downs throughout the short life he lived. Hank grew up rough and he knew it; however nothing was going to stop this young man from doing what he set out to pursue. What he did was astonishing changing art or “so called” music. Hank redefined country music with his personal opinion on what music really was.

    Read More

  • Johnny Cash and Luke Bryan

    2023 Words  | 5 Pages

    Country music is one of the most popular genres of music throughout America. There are many influential figures that have changed the way country music sounds, and how people interpret it. Two important people who have made a huge impact on country music overtime are Johnny Cash and Luke Bryan. From their early life, their career, and how society views them, they have opened the minds of people and country musicians all over the country. Johnny Cash’s songs help people to experience his life growing up through the Great Depression and how people lived back then. Through Luke Bryan’s songs people could understand what life was like for Luke growing up in Georgia and all the hardships he faced. Johnny Cash and Luke Bryan are two of the many country singers that have influenced country fans to be more optimistic and hopeful.

    Read More

  • All Shook Up: How Rock 'n' Roll Changed America

    792 Words  | 2 Pages

    Music can be traced back into human history to prehistoric eras. To this day archeologists uncover fragments of ancient instruments as well as tablets with carved lyrics buried alongside prominent leaders and highly influential people. This serves as a testament to the importance and power of music, as well as its influence in society. Over its many years of existence, music’s powerful invocation of feelings has allowed it to evolve and serve many purposes, one being inspiring change. American journalist and author Hunter S. Thompson once said, “Music has always been a matter of energy to me, a question of fuel. Sentimental people call it inspiration, but what they really mean is fuel.” This fuel is the very things that powers the influence of Rock ‘n’ Roll on American society, that author Glenn C. Altschuler writes about in his book, “All Shook Up – How Rock ‘n’ Roll Changed America.” Between 1945 and 1965 Rock ‘n’ Roll transformed American society and culture by helping to ease racial integration and launch a sexual revolution while most importantly developing an intergenerational identity.

    Read More

  • Hillbilly Influence On American Culture

    1252 Words  | 3 Pages

    Country music, as we know it today, was first called “Hillbilly music”. The name “Country” was not widely used until around the 1950s. The creation of this Hillbilly music, very much like American culture, was influenced from many different cultures and styles of music.

    Read More

  • Black Artists in Country Music

    2843 Words  | 6 Pages

    Sanneh, Kelefa. "Country Music? Whose Country?" The New York Times. 11 Nov. 2005. Web. 21 April 2011.

    Read More

  • Country Music: From Backwood to Hollywood

    943 Words  | 2 Pages

    Country music originated in the Appalachian mountains of the Southern United States and has traditional folk roots that date from the early 20th century. The commercial history of country music began in the Southern United States in the 1920’s, during a ‘period of intense modernization’ (Ellison, 1995). It wasn’t until this time that country was considered a viable music genre. It was first identified as ‘hillbilly’ music in 1925 and later became known officially as ‘country’ by its designation on the Billboard Music charts (Shmoop, 2014). Widely considered the ‘Mother Church’ of country, the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville became the home of many emerging and already established artists (Tichi, 1994:21). Coupled with the rise of radio and barn dance programs, country’s popularity increased greatly. Ellison (1995) describes country’s evolution from ‘rustic radio programs’ to a genre with an ‘extensive national network of fans unparalled in other forms of popular music’. During the 1930’s, the Great Depression assisted in the spread of country music throughout the US, with many poor unemployed Southerners migrating north, t...

    Read More

  • Country Music Argumentative Essay

    813 Words  | 2 Pages

    Many would argue that country music isn't country anymore; straying too far from the older generation of fiddles, violins and guitars by incorporating a "pop" feel and focusing more on the beat than the content. Pop music is typically viewed as up-beat and differs from the sad, lonesome sounds of country from the past. I would agree that today's country has a very different sound than previous years, however, still incorporates the down-to-earth feel many of us can relate

    Read More

  • History of Rock and Roll

    1146 Words  | 3 Pages

    In conclusion this report has helped us understand the significance of Music in America. Also, the impact it has on music we listen too. Music is very much like a big chain reaction. Rock ‘N’ Roll, much like music today, stood out and was in a way rebellious. Parents now hate Rap and we love it. People in the 70’s loved Rock ‘N’ Roll and parents hated it. This shows that maybe no matter how much older people deny it, the time gap and generation gap is not too far apart. Without Rock ‘N’ Roll the World would without a doubt be changed. Any guess to that of which way would be a good one.

    Read More

  • An Analysis Of Country Music, By Rascal Flatt

    1115 Words  | 3 Pages

    Country Music is everywhere. It may come blaring from a neighbor’s house, blasting the radio from a car or truck, or even playing quietly in a restaurant; but why exactly is Country Music so popular for people to listen to? When it comes to Country Music, the lyrics comes straight from the artist`s hearts where people can relate to them; the rhythm and beat are unique to the specific song, and the artist knows exactly how to tell a perfect story in the song.

    Read More

  • Country Music

    2119 Words  | 5 Pages

    The debate whether commercialism has stripped country music of its authenticity is one that requires further examination into who ultimately holds the power. The sometimes-drastic changes made in music leaves people questioning the tastes of consumers when in fact they are the bystanders of an overpowering industry. Fans are people who buy the albums, go to concerts, and request songs on the radio, not the execs that market the music, and yet their opinions/tastes aren’t taken into consideration. Fans carry a lot of clout in regards to what they define as commercialism gone wrong and acceptable country music. Despite what may seem fair, those who are financially invested in its success drive the commercialization of music.

    Read More

  • Appalachian Music

    737 Words  | 2 Pages

    It should be brief but comprehensive, as it may also be the introduction of the music to teachers as a study guide before or after an in-school presentation, or they may include this information in a history of social studies discussion if a program presentation is not possible. Bluegrass Music: The Roots. The street balladry of the people who began migrating to America in the early 1600s is considered to be the roots of traditional American music. As the early Jamestown settlers began to spread out into the Carolinas, Tennessee, Kentucky and the Virginias, they composed new songs about day to day experiences in the new land. Since most of these people lived in rural areas, the songs reflected life on the farm or in the hills and this type of music was called "mountain music" or "country music." The invention of the phonograph and the onset of the radio in the early 1900s brought this old-time music out of the rural Southern mountains to people all over the United States.

    Read More

  • The History of Country Music

    359 Words  | 1 Pages

    Country music was brought over by the first European settlers. In medieval times, storytelling was a tradition that allowed history to be recorded when few were able to read and write. When the first British settlers came to America, they brought this tradition with them, along with songs that they had learned in Europe. The people who settled the Appalachian Mountains and the West did not have an easy life and their music gave them an outlet to express their hardships.

    Read More

More about Talking about Country Music

Open Document