Week 5:  Country

Country (sometimes called Country and Western) music has roots in folk and jazz blues. It originated in the American south and southwest in the 1920s and was at first called "Hillbilly" music, as it was based on instrumentation and melodies found in Appalachian folk music.   It is a storytelling style of music that traditionally expresses the experience of rural and working-class Americans.  "Honkytonk" was fast-paced dancing music that incorporated the sounds from Cajun and Mexican folk music as America expanded westward. "Cowboy" music chronicles the stories of ranchers in the American west and was popularized by western films in the 1930s.  "Bluegrass" is a style of country music that mixes rhythm and blues with traditional Appalachian folk, often played by musicians with high levels of technical skill on various stringed instruments.  In the 1940s, drums and piano became popular in country music creating a style called "Hillbilly Boogie" that would later influence rock and roll.  Modern country music incorporates folk, rhythm and blues, jazz, soul, rock and roll, pop and even hip-hop sounds, but it still generally expresses the experiences of rural Americans. 

• Daniel E. Kelly (1843-1905)/Brewster M. Higley (1823-1911): Daniel Kelly was a musician and entertainer in the western territories.  Brewster Higley was a surgeon and amateur poet.  Together, they wrote and composed "Home on the Range", the first-known "Cowboy" song, and now the state anthem of Kansas.  Listen: Home on the Range

• James Gideon Tanner (1865-1960): James Tanner was a fiddler and the lead of the Skillet Lickers, a "strings" band (band with only string instruments) that created what is known to be the first "hillbilly" record in 1926. Listen: Cotton-Eyed Joe

• Jimmie Rogers (1897-1933): Jimmie Rogers is known as the "Father of Country Music".  He worked on the railroad, which allowed him to travel and sing in vaudeville halls around the country.  He was famous for his yodeling.  Listen: Blue Yodel No. 1 (T for Texas)

• Roy Acuff (1903-1992): Roy Acuff was a singer, fiddler and promoter of country music.  He pioneered the genre's transition from the instrumental string band to the vocalist-centered style ofc country music we know today.  Listen: The Wabash Cannonball

• Gene Autry (1907-1998):  Gene Autrey was an actor, singer, musician, composer, rodeo star and baseball team owner. He is nicknamed the "Singing Cowboy" because he often portrayed cowboys in movies and sung cowboy inspired songs on the radio and in films in the 1930s.  Listen: Back In the Saddle Again

• William Monroe (1911-1996): Bill Monroe was a mandolin player who created "bluegrass".  The name of this style of music was taken from his band, which he called The Blue Grass Boys.  Listen: Kentucky Mandolin 

• Kitty Wells (1919-2012): Kitty Wells was an early country western star that broke down barriers for women in the industry. She was the first female country solo artist to have a No. 1 hit, the first female country artists to sell 1 million records, the first female musician (of any genre) to headline a major tour, and the first woman musician (of any genre) to headline a variety TV show.  Listen: If Teardrops Were Pennies

• Hank Wiliams (1923-1953): A singer-songwriter from Alabama, Hank Williams is known for his straightforward lyrics and performance style. He was a talented songwriter who set what is now standard for country music song structure. Listen: Jambalaya (On the Bayou)

• The Carter Family (est.1926): The Carter Family was a folk band that became the first country music "stars" and the first group to record commercially produced country music.  Their music influenced later sub-genres of bluegrass and 1960s revival folk. Listen: Keep on the Sunny Side

• George Jones (1931-2015): Known as the "greatest country singer", George Jones was known for his honest storytelling and distinctive singing voice.  He was great at harmonizing and sang many duets with other country singers, and he also served as a mentor to younger artists.  Listen: A Picture of Me Without You 

• Patsy Cline (1932-1963): Pasty Cline is widely considered one of the greatest vocalist of all-time.  She was known for her powerful, bold voice and emotional performances.  She was the first country musician to successfully cross over into the pop rock genre.  Listen: Crazy

• Johnny Cash (1932-2003): Nicknamed "The Man in Black" because he always wore only black when performing, Johnny Cash began writing songs at the age of 12.  He is best known for his deep, baritone voice and storytelling vocal style. His songs often explore themes of sorrow, moral questions and redemption.  Listen: One Piece at a Time

• Loretta Lynn (1932-2022): Loretta Lynn grew up as one of 8 children in a cabin on a subsistence farm (a farm that only grows enough for the owners to live on) in a coal mining region of Kentucky near the Appalachian Mountains. Her music was influenced by the community where she lived. She grew up to be one of the most well-known and decorated (won a lot of awards) country artists of all time. Listen: Coal Miner's Daughter

• Willie Nelson (b.1933): Willie Nelson pioneered the "outlaw" movement in country music, writing music that challenged the conservative values of the country music world in the 1960s.  He wrote his first song at the age of seven and started his first band at ten.  Listen: Railroad Lady

• Charley Pride (1934-2020): Charley Pride was a singer, guitarist and professional baseball player.  He was the first African American performer on Grand Ole Opry (a regular program featuring country artists). He started singing at his baseball games, receiving $5 from the team manager for every performance.  Listen: Is Anyone Going' to San Antone

• Wylan Jennings (1937-2002): Another pioneer of the "outlaw" country music movement, Wylan Jennings is known for his rough textured singing voice and innovative guitar playing.  Listen: The Highwayman

• Freddy Fender (1937-2006): Freddy Fender was an artist of Mexican descent who pioneered a "Tejano" (Tex-Mex) country sound that blended contemporary country song structure with traditional Mexican folk rhythms.  Listen: You Can't Get Here From There

• Tammy Wynette (1942-1998): Tammy Wynette was a pioneer for women in the country music industry.  Many of her songs spoke for the experiences of rural, working-class women, and her popularity helped get many female musician's songs on the radio.  Listen: There Goes My Everything

• Dolly Parton (b.1946): Dolly Parton is a country music icon, actress and philanthropist.  She has composed over 5,000 songs, many for other artists, as well as for cinema and theater.  She has experimented with many genres of music from folk, straight country, country-pop, and in 2023 (at the age of 77) release a rock album.  Listen: I Will Always Love You

• Reba McEntire (b.1952): Known as the "Queen of Country", Reba McEntire is a singer and actress.  She grew up on a cattle ranch in Oklahoma and got her big break singing the National Anthem at a local rodeo. Listen: Climb That Mountain High

• George Strait (b.1952): George Strait is a singer, songwriter and actor.  He is most known for pioneering "neotraditional" country music - a revival of early country music, utilizing contemporary instrumentation such as electric guitar. Listen: A Love Without End, Amen

• Garth Brooks (b.1962): Garth Brooks is a singer songwriter who is known for bridging the gap between the country and rock genres, crossing over into the pop charts. Listen: Standing Outside the Fire

• Rhonda Vincent (b.1962): Rhonda Vincent is a bluegrass singer, songwriter and instrumentalist.  She was a pioneer for women in bluegrass music and gained respect from her male peers for her mastery of chord changes and fast-paced vocals.  Listen: Kentucky Borderline

• Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (est.1966): The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band started out as a "jug band" (a band that incorporates homemade, make-shift instruments). They were the first Amercian group allowed to tour the (then) Soviet Union in the 1970s. They are known for their folk-country sound. Listen: Long Hard Road

• Alabama (est.1969): Alabama is credited for substantially widening the audience for country music.  Their blend of country with southern rock and pop influences made them one of the most popular Amercian bands in history.  Listen: Song of the South

• Alison Krauss (b.1971): Alison Krauss is a bluegrass-country singer and fiddle player. She is known for her angelic soprano voice.  Listen: Gentle on My Mind

• Chris Stapleton (b.1978): Chris Stapleton began as a professional songwriter, then later started singing in various bands before going solo.  He is known for his blend of country, southern rock and jazz blues, as well as his vocal texture. Listen: Broken Halos

• Dixie Chicks (est.1989): The Dixie Chicks (now known as The Chicks) is an all-female country band that blended a pop sound with traditional country and folk instruments. They started busking (playing in public places for donations) outside bluegrass festivals before attracting attention from a record label. They are known for breaking bariers with their feminist lyrics and public political viewpoints. Listen: Ready to Run

• Brooks & Dunn (est.1990): Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn were a country duo known for their mixture of honkytonk with mainstream country. Their music helped to revive country line dancing in the 1990's.  Listen: Neon Moon

• Amythyst Kiah (b.1986): Amysthyst Kiah is an African American singer, songwriter and banjo player who is changing the face of country music. She is known for her powerful voice, socially conscious lyrics and blues-rock influencence. Listen: Fracture Me 

• Taylor Swift (b.1989): Taylor Swift is one of the most successful country to pop cross-over artists.  She is known for her simple, honest songwriting that speaks to the experiences of girls and women at whatever age she is at the moment she writes the song. Listen: You Belong With Me