When country music began in America, there were no professional musicians. The typical musician sang only to entertain himself, his family or at local events. There is evidence of square dance-like events as far back as the 1830s (with origins in European country dancing). At first, most country music was either sung by itself or played on a lone fiddle or banjo. A good fiddler was a very popular person and was often asked to perform at events ranging from weddings to cattle drives. There was no concerted effort to preserve the songs played, but the songs that people loved lasted as they were passed from town to town or generation to generation. Songs traveled with wandering minstrels and soldiers as well as those who moved across the country for the Gold Rush or in search of a new home. Often people didn't even understand the origins or meaning of the songs, they just liked the tune. The music of this time has been given several names, including old-time music and mountain music.
When people hear country music, they think of “Rednecks” or “Hillbillies” out on the country side singing songs about losing their wife, dog, best friend or any other sad subject. This is not true and it showed by becoming one of the most popular music forms of the 20th century. Country music is one of the best-selling genres after rock and pop.
To help understand country music, it’s useful to look at the musical instruments. The fiddle/violin was the most common instrument since it was easy and inexpensive to make and light in weight. It was the sole lead instrument, but later it was popular to add more accompanying instruments. The banjo was brought to the American South by slaves and became popular in the mid-1800s. The guitar didn’t come along until the early 1900s when they became mass-produced and affordable for the everyday person. The guitar was used as a rhythmic instrument, but also became popular and used more often.
Contemporary country music often uses the electric guitar, which became popular in the 1950’s. Other stringed instruments include the dobro, the dulcimer, the steel guitar, the mandolin, the zither, bass guitar and the autoharp. In other types of country music you might hear the accordion, the harmonica, the piano, washboards or drums which didn’t become popular till...
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...male vocalist trophy and received his first Grammy nomination in 2001 in the all-genre best new artist category.
In 2002, he released his follow-up album Part II. The album garnered his third No. 1 hit with "I'm Gonna Miss Her (The Fishing Song)."
His third album, Mud on the Tires, arrived in 2003. It featured the hit "Celebrity," which poked fun at fame and reality television.
He made his Grand Ole Opry debut May 28, 1999, and after 40 some appearances, he was inducted into the Opry on Feb. 17, 2001. Some of his other major awards were two Country Music Awards, one ACM, three TNN Country Weekly Music Awards, People’s “Sexiest Men 2001” (one of 21; “sexiest country star”),Teen People’s Hot Guys In Music 2001 (one of 14), and Music Row Magazine’s “Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year” 2000.
Works Cited Page
"All Music Guide to Country: The Definitive Guide to County Music", 2nd Edition, Backbeat Books, Copyright 2003.
"The Country Music Book", C. Scribner's Sons,Copyright 1985
"Country Music: The Rough Guide", Wolff,Kurt; Distributed by the Penguin Group, Copyright 2000
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.
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
Kingsbury, Paul. The Grand Ole Opry History of Country Music: 70 Years of the Songs,
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.
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.
His next album was a tribute too many of the influences in his life included several of his childhood
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...
With a career that spans over three decades, George's list of accomplishments is quite impressive. He's had 33 different platinum or multi-platinum albums, earning him the most platinum certifications in country music (“George Strait Biography”). In 2013, he achieved his 60th #1 h...
...he country as very prominent musical genres. At the end of World War II, vocals-focused classic pop replaced big band/swing, although orchestras often accompanied the vocalists to provide depth. Around 1955, Mitch Miller began to set the course for the development of pop music (6). Incorporating many traditional genres, such as country, R&B, and folk music, into the standard popular music, Miller had many of his label’s most famous artists produce songs that adhered to the style of pop traditions. Miller himself often employed innovative arrangements that featured orchestral instruments or non-traditional sound effects. As a result, Miller’s work helped to maintain the popularity of the more traditional musical genres of the time. Another extremely prominent pop artist was Patti Page (7), whose music would eventually become some of the decade’s more popular songs.
In conclusion, Appalachian music can be defined as old time music, Appalachian folk music, country music, back woods country music and American Folk Music, but this type of music is and has been a staple in our society and has survived decades and with the beauty of the music it will hopefully continue for all time.
Body percussion, spoons, washboard, harp. Harmonica, a jug. Bluegrass Music - What is bluegrass music? Direct descendant of the old-time string band tradition, which developed out of Southern mountain dance music & songs. Combines old-time string band music with gospel harmonies & blues rhythms.
When country music bean in America, there were no professional musicians. The typical musician sang only to entertain himself, his family, or at local events. At first, most country music was sung unaided or played on a lone fiddle or banjo. At the turn of the century, Sears, Roebuck & Co. began advertising affordable guitars in its nationally available catalogs, as well as sheet music and songbooks. The mandolin also became available and soon string bands were being formed with different combinations of instruments.
Although bluegrass got its beginning in the United States its roots are long stretching to other countries and cultures that brought their music preference to the beginnings of America. Early settlers to America including those from Ireland, Scotland, England, and even Africa composed music and occupied their time playing new songs about their day to day lives. These songs often reflected life on farms and homesteads for the new settlers. Regularly bluegrass music was played by these settlers in the hills of southern United States; this is where bluegrass music got its first designation, “mountain music” or “country music”. Because of bluegrass’s diminutive outreach it wasn’t until an important invention changed the popularity of this vital music for so many people. “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.” (IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association))
Strait obtained the Male Vocalist of the year and Album of the year for “ Blue Clear Sky,” in 1997. He had many American Music Awards and the Top Male Country Vocalist awards in 1991. In 1996 he was awarded the Favorite Country Album for “ Blue Clear Sky”. In 1955, he got the ASCAP Voice of Music Award from the Billboard magazine. Strait received the Male Album Artist of the year in 1981 and in 1983 he gained the Male Single Artist of the Year award.
His last 2 have been nominated for an ARIA award with the 3rd “Bring It Back” won. His single “Papercuts” currently sits at 2nd on the ARIA urban single charts.