Big Blog #1: Country Music

 Let's take a look into my favorite genre of music!

What Makes Country Music Country?: Country music is defined as "a style and genre of largely string-accompanied American popular music having roots in the folk music of the Southeast and cowboy music of the West, usually vocalized, generally simple in form and harmony, and typified by romantic or melancholy ballads accompanied by acoustic or electric guitar, banjo, violin, and harmonica.” The word country itself is used to denote rural areas and things in distinction to urban ones and there's evidence that the phrase country music was used in the late 1500s even though the name for the modern music genre wasn't recorded until the 1940s. 

Where Did It Originate From?: Country music originated in the early twentieth century and was popular among the working- class Americans of the south. While a number of musical genres influenced country music, scholars trace the origins of country music to eastern Tennessee. Ultimately, country music's roots lie in the ballads, folk songs, and popular songs of the English, Scots, and Irish settlers of the Appalachians and other parts of the South. With the migration of Southern rural whites to industrial cities during the Great Depression and World War II, country music was exposed to new influences including the blues, jazz, and gospel music. The term "country music" became the preferential term to the previous "hillbilly music" in the 1940s.

Common Instruments and Vocal Styles: String instruments such as the banjo, acoustic and electric guitar, dobro, fiddle were often accompanied by the harmonica. The earliest country musicians did not like using drums because they were too brash and loud but by the mid-1930s western swing musicians added drums and by the 1950s most country music groups included a drummer. "Twang" is very common vocal style in country music. This is a nasal vocal resonance lending a bright and edgy sound. The singers also sing with a southern accent which can make it hard for some listeners to enjoy because they simply are not used to hearing the southern accent. 

Sub- Genres: There are a lot of different sub- genres of country music that branched out from the original "Old- Time" music. These include Appalachian Folk, Bluegrass, Classic Country, Honky Tonk, Western Swing, Rockabilly, etc. 

Appalachian Folk comes from the Appalachian Region in the eastern United States. This kind of music was the melting pot of influences derived from African folk songs, English ballads, traditional Irish and Scottish music using fiddles, and African American Blues. The fiddle and banjo are the most commonly used instruments. A few artists of this genre include: Fiddlin' John Carson, Bascom Lamar Lunsford, and Dock Boggs.

Bluegrass derived from Appalachian Folk music. Not only does it have the same influences as Appalachian folk, but it also draws influences from jazz and incorporates elements of improvisation. In Bluegrass music musicians would play the same chord structure while another musician would create their own melodies over it. A couple of famous artists include Earl Scruggs and Nickel Creek.

Classic Country is a term mainly used by radio stations today to describe country and western hits that have been made over the course of the last few decades. This is usually split up into two sub-genres of it’s own. The first being music from the 20s to the 70s also known as the “Golden Age”. Artists from this time include Hank Williams, George Jones, and Jonny Cash. The other sub-genre is country music from the 60s to the 90s. Artists from this time include Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard, George Strait, and Garth Brooks.

Western Swing was a style of Western Dance music and became popular in Texas, Oklahoma, and California. It used amplified instruments like the pedal steel guitar. It was a lively mix of Western Country music and swing jazz. One of the most popular bands was Bob Willis and The Texas Playboys. 

Rockabilly was developed from the merge of Western swing bands, R&B, and country songs. These bands usually consisted of an acoustic guitar, electric guitar, stand-up bass, and drums. Elvis Presley has several rockabilly hits as did Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, and Jonny Cash. 

Honk Tonk was first developed in the 1940s in the working-class honky tonk bars near the oil fields of Texas. These bands usually included acoustic and pedal steel guitars, fiddle, stand-up bass, and drums. The songs were often about loneliness, love, heartbreak, and pain. Working-class Americans could relate to these songs. One of the most famous county musicians of this genre was singer-songwriter Hank Williams. 

Country Music Today: Country music today has seen a lot of diversification in regards to its styles. Rock music and hip- hop have made it's mark creating a new sub- genre, country rap. Most of the best- selling country songs of today were mostly country pop and some of the most famous artists being Lady Antebellum, Florida Georgia Line, Carrie Underwood, and Taylor Swift.

Now is on to the fun stuff! Below I will be sharing videos of country music through out history and from them you'll be able to hear how it's changed and evolved to were it is today.

Bibliography: 

“The Origins of Country Music.” Centre College's Norton Center For The Arts. Last modified June 1, 2017. Accessed January 28, 2021. 

“History of Country Music.” EnglishClub. Accessed January 28, 2021.

Concialdi, Leah. “Breaking Down the Many Types of Country Music.” ACountry. Last modified January 21, 2021. Accessed January 28, 2021. 

Austrew, Ashley. “What Kind Of Songs Get To Be Called ‘Country Music’?” Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com, January 19, 2021. Last modified January 19, 2021. Accessed January 28, 2021.