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An American Tradition: The History of Country Music Influences

Learn all about the history of country music!

Musicnotes

• 8 min read
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Country music has a rich and diverse history that spans over a century, evolving from the traditional folk music of the Southern United States into a genre that is now enjoyed by millions of fans worldwide. The genre has become a part of the fabric of American culture and inspires countless people to get involved with music. From its humble beginnings to today, it's amazing to see the history of country music unfold every day.

Table of Contents:

What is Country Music?

To truly appreciate this style of music, it's important to know what it is. Country music actually has roots in several different musical styles. The modern country genre people love today owes its existence to folk, blues, bluegrass and rural music. In the early 1900s, people living in America's Appalachian region merged these styles together to create a new way to express themselves and tell their stories.

As the genre became more distinct, it spread. The music gained footholds in other parts of the nation, especially in rural areas in the early days. No matter where the music came from, country music was recognized by a few distinct characteristics.

Storytelling Lyrics

Storytelling has always been a characteristic of country music. The genre's roots in traditional folk music, which often featured narrative ballads and songs about everyday life, helped to establish storytelling as a central feature of country music. The stories told in country music songs often reflect the experiences and values of rural communities, and many of the genre's most famous songs are beloved for their vivid, evocative storytelling.

This has stayed true over the years, and artists continue to draw on their own experiences and the experiences of their communities to create music that resonates with fans. Whether it's through traditional ballads or more modern pop-infused songs, storytelling has remained a central feature of the genre.

Strings

Strings are another characteristic of country music that has played an important role in shaping the genre's sound and style. From the origin of country music, stringed instruments such as the guitar, banjo, fiddle and mandolin have been essential and continue to play a prominent role in modern country music.

The guitar is perhaps the most iconic stringed instrument in country music. The acoustic guitar is particularly popular in traditional country music and provides rhythm and support to the vocals. In more modern country music, the electric guitar is often used to provide a more rock-inspired sound and has been a defining feature of country rock and other sub-genres of country music. Many country songs also incorporate steel guitars, which supply their own unique sound rarely found in other types of music.

Folk

Folk music is intrinsic in shaping the genre's sound and style. Folk music has its roots in traditional music from around the world and is characterized by its focus on acoustic instruments and its emphasis on storytelling and social commentary.

Many folk songs tell stories about everyday life, and often reflect the experiences and values of rural communities. These themes are also central to country music, and many of the genre's most famous songs draw from traditional songs and melodies that date back several decades.

Twang

Twang refers to the distinctive sound produced when a guitar or other stringed instrument is played with a particular technique that emphasizes the upper harmonics of the notes being played. This produces a bright, ringing sound that is often described as having a "nasal" or "twangy" quality. Many country vocalists echo this quality in their singing.

The use of twang in country music can be traced back to the earliest days of the genre when musicians were playing simple acoustic instruments like the guitar and the fiddle. In order to make these instruments more audible in a live performance, musicians began to develop a new playing technique. They created a sound that was more distinct and recognizable and helped to set country music apart.

Modern country music artists use twang in their playing and singing, and many of the genre's most popular songs are known for their distinctive twangy sound. In recent years, the influences of pop and rock on country music have reduced the amount of twang, but it is still very common.

Duets

Country music duets are songs that feature two vocalists, typically a male and a female, singing together in harmony. Duets have been a staple of country music since the early days of the genre, and have become a defining characteristic of the genre's sound.

One of the earliest examples of country music duets can be found in the recordings of the Carter Family. A.P. Carter, his wife Sara, and his sister-in-law Maybelle often sang together on their recordings, creating a unique blend of harmonies that helped to set them apart from other country music acts of the time. Country music duets have only become more popular in the years since.

History of Country Music

All of those characteristics came together over the long evolution of country music. Through decades of innovation and collaboration, the genre became more defined and more popular.

The Roots

The first country music recordings were made in the 1920s when record companies began to recognize the commercial potential of the genre. They heard the way artists had transformed southern Appalachian fiddle songs into something more. Commercial radio stations were popping up all over and were desperate for new songs and new trends. Early country music supplied both.

Among the earliest stars of country music was Jimmie Rodgers. He was known for his yodeling and his blues-influenced singing style, which made him one of the most popular and influential country music artists of his time. Rodgers' early recordings, such as "Blue Yodel No. 1" and "The Soldier's Sweetheart," helped to establish the sound and style of country music in the 1920s and 1930s.

Other artists would rise to carry the torch. The Carter Family is widely regarded as one of the most important groups in the history of country music. Comprised of A.P. Carter, his wife Sara, and his sister-in-law Maybelle, the Carter Family began recording in the late 1920s and quickly gained a following for their distinctive blend of harmonies and traditional folk and country music.

Bob Wills is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of Western swing, a subgenre of country music that combined elements of jazz, blues, and swing music. Gene Autry is perhaps best known as an actor, but he was also a talented musician and songwriter who helped to popularize the "singing cowboy" persona in the 1930s and 1940s. Roy Rogers was another popular "singing cowboy" in the 1930s and 1940s, and his songs, such as "Don't Fence Me In" and "Happy Trails" helped to popularize the genre among mainstream audiences.

Hank Williams' songs, such as "Your Cheatin' Heart" and "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" became beloved classics of the genre, and helped to establish Williams as one of the pioneers of modern country music. Williams' influence can be heard in the music of countless country music artists that followed. Kenny Rogers was one of the most successful country music artists of the 1970s and 1980s, and his songs, such as "The Gambler" and "Islands in the Stream" became beloved classics of the genre.

Reaching the Nation

As the music grew in the foothills of eastern Tennessee, it was on the verge of reaching the world. More and more mountaineers from the Appalachians made their way to cities such as Atlanta and found the opportunity to record their rural lyrics.

During the 1930s and 1940s, country music began to develop into a more distinct and recognizable genre. This was due in part to the rise of radio, which allowed country music to reach a wider audience. AM radio stations began to broadcast live performances by country music stars, and new artists were discovered through talent shows. The music seemed to resonate thanks to its blend of multiple genres rather than just a focus on one.

Influences on Country Music

Country music is a wonderful blend of its influences, and there have been many of those influences over the years. Each new combination has pushed the genre forward and kept the music fresh and relatable.

Combining Styles

Appalachian music and blues are two of the most important influences on the development of country music and have played a critical role in shaping the genre's sound and style. Appalachian music has its roots in the traditional music of the Scottish, Irish, and English immigrants who settled in the Appalachian Mountains in the 18th and 19th centuries and uses stringed instruments, such as the guitar, banjo, and fiddle. Even their songs represent a cultural collaboration, with the banjo coming from West African influences.

Blues music is characterized by its use of the 12-bar blues chord progression, and its emphasis on emotional expression and improvisation. Together, these two musical styles helped form a sound that is both distinctive and deeply rooted in American musical traditions.

Black Americans also played significant roles in country music history. Hank Williams is known to have learned from Black teachers, and his music was heavily influenced by blues and gospel music. Similarly, Jimmie Rodgers drew on a wide range of musical styles, including gospel, jazz, pop, cowboy, blues and folk to create his unique sound. The Carter Family recorded songs with folk, gospel, and ballad influences.

Evolution of Country Music

As the music reached new places and new generations it began to morph and grow into something revolutionary that still had the feeling of the traditional styles that made the base of the genre.

Moving Forward

With the blend of Appalachian folk and Blues nearly perfected, country music became more of an American staple. In the 1940s, country music began to gain more widespread popularity and exposure through Hollywood films and television shows, with Gene Autry and Roy Rogers being among the most prominent stars of the era.

During World War II, honky-tonk music became increasingly popular, especially in the honky-tonk bars and dance halls of Texas and other parts of the South. This style of music was characterized by its use of drums and electric guitar, which gave it a more driving, upbeat sound than the acoustic-based music that had dominated country music up to that point. Honky-tonk helped to create a more modern and urbanized image of country music.

By the 1950s, country music was continuing to evolve, with artists like Hank Williams, Lefty Frizzell, and Webb Pierce helping to establish honky-tonk as a dominant sub-genre of the genre. It was during this time that Kenny Rogers began his career, fusing western swing, country boogie, and honky-tonk into a distinctive style that helped to define the sound of country music in the years to come.

Country & Rock

Rock music played a significant role in the evolution of country music in the 1950s and 1960s, as artists like Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley began to incorporate elements of rock and roll into their music. This fusion of rock and country music became known as rockabilly and helped create a sound that was both modern and traditional.

During the 1960s, the outlaw country movement emerged with artists like Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, and Waylon Jennings rejecting the conventions of mainstream country music and creating a sound that was raw, edgy and uncompromising.

In the 1970s, artists such as the Marshall Tucker Band, the Allman Brothers and the Eagles helped to establish country rock as a popular sub-genre, while Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers helped to popularize country pop.

Top Country Artists

Some of the biggest names in music have been country singers, and their contributions are worth studying to understand the genre.

If you want to get a sample of the variety that country music has to offer, these are a few of the people to look to.

Appreciating the History of Country Music and the Future

From the simple songs of rural people in the mountains to one of the biggest genres of music in the world, country music has earned its place among the most definitive styles of music. Deeply American with a sound that has grown with the nation, country music blends the sounds of the people of this nation and creates something beautiful. Start learning some of the best country music songs today and see what's waiting for you.