Country music has long resonated with an eclectic audience, thanks to its iconic sound of steel guitar twanging and vocal-focused song structures. These distinctive elements have helped shape it into one of today’s most beloved genres.
Hillbilly music’s roots began in the 1920s with singing cowboy movie stars like Gene Autry romanticizing Western themes through music films. Over time, this subset developed with subgenres such as Western swing created by Bob Wills and Texas Playboys.
Origins
Before Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash existed, fiddle players created the sounds that would become country music. Emigrants from England, Scotland, and Ireland brought with them Celtic musical traditions that fused with traditional folk styles to produce what became popular by the turn of the twentieth century as country music became an international sensation. All of this influence laid the groundwork for today’s international renown of country music.
Country music recordings date back to the 1920s. At that time, small radio stations began appearing across America that provided airtime to live and recorded music suitable for rural audiences – one such influential program being The Grand Ole Opry which premiered in 1925 and went on to inspire many musicians from rural South to make recordings themselves.
By the 1940s, country music had gained national attention as artists like Gene Autry and Roy Rogers achieved success on Hollywood films and television programs. Country also began merging into mainstream American popular music through rock n roll influences while still maintaining its country identity.
Honky tonk music also formed part of this genre, recalling back to when early Appalachian settlers mixed African-American musical aesthetics with European brass-band tradition to produce what would later become country music’s characteristic sound – one that claims to represent all white Americans equally.
Country music’s origins remain controversial today. Some view it as the music of working class people who adhere to traditional social and religious values found in folk culture; others see its roots in religious dissent brought with settlers from England and Scotland. Whatever its true roots are, modern country has grown into an industry worth billions each year that continues to make waves with artists such as Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Garth Brooks and Carrie Underwood helping propel it into its 21st-century popularity.
Influences
In the 1920s and 1930s, country music first came into the mainstream through the Carter Family’s Appalachian legacy and Jimmie Rodgers’ yodeling style. Country’s roots, however, ran deep: European immigrants brought songs, instruments and traditions from their home countries while enslaved Africans retained theirs; all were mixed together with indigenous music, work chants, blues and swing jazz orchestras to produce its distinct sound that eventually found its place among America’s popular repertoire – ultimately shaping its rural Southern appeal by 1940 when Grand Ole Opry radio shows helped promote country’s rural Southern roots further than ever before.
Gene Autry and other singing cowboy stars who emphasized country’s Western identity also had a considerable impact on its development, while Hank Williams popularized honky-tonk as a subgenre within country music. Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys decided against fiddle/steel guitar combinations of more recent styles in favor of lead fiddle playing and high harmony singing; eventually this form became accepted within country as an overall genre.
Following World War II, country music experienced an explosive surge in popularity due to the introduction of television and greater mobility enabled by automobiles. The Grand Ole Opry established similar events across America that introduced country music to a much broader audience through themes of love, loss and patriotism.
In the 1970s, Nashville’s smooth “Nashville Sound” led to an alternative movement known as “outlaw country.” Artists such as Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash used their songs to promote an image of independent country music with rougher edges that blended elements of rock and blues music in order to challenge Nashville.
Country music in the 21st century continues to change and expand. Bro-country’s ascendency on American Idol, and crossover artists such as Lil Nas X pushing traditional country further than ever are two examples of how its definition has broadened significantly over time. But its future remains uncertain; will banjos and mandolins remain at its core or will it move beyond country into pop-infused hip-hop beats is unknown.
Musicians
Early country music was predominantly performed by solo singers; as its popularity increased, musicians formed duos and larger ensembles to form unique sounds or simply for entertainment purposes; these groups helped mold what is now considered country music.
Beginning in the 1920s, true country stars began emerging. These pioneers drew upon their experiences to adapt traditional folk songs into more commercial pieces while incorporating elements from other genres into their own unique sound. When radio became more widespread, radio enabled these artists to reach an even broader audience and gain national fame.
At about this time, the term “country music” was coined to refer to this new genre. This designation refers to music performed in rural areas with cowboy themes popularized by singers such as Gene Autry, Roy Rogers and Jimmie Rodgers. Hollywood movies and television shows fueled this newfound genre, leading to singing cowboys wearing their own outfits onscreen.
Country music’s roots may lie in rural America, but today its reach extends far beyond our shores. While its sound has evolved through time, merging with various styles while remaining true to its roots.
Dolly Parton, Kenny Chesney and Brad Paisley are some of the most beloved country artists of all time; other genre legends include Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson have had an enormous impact on young music fans over time and continue to do so today. These stars continue to influence an entire generation with their influence resonating through generations of listeners worldwide.
At various points in their careers, many prominent country stars have ventured beyond country music to broaden their appeal and fan base. R&B music in particular draws heavily upon country influences for inspiration; hence it comes as no surprise that some of its most renowned artists also perform country. Country has even served as an influence for rock bands!
Styles
Country music arose as an amalgam of various traditions during the 1920s. Immigrants brought over their folk songs and string instruments from Europe; these combined with blues and gospel from African Americans to create something that was uniquely American and deeply rooted in Southern United States rustic roots. Key features of country music are stringed instruments like guitar, banjo and mandolin as well as two, three or four part harmony vocals sung by multiple singers; additionally its twangy vocals serve to distinguish it as uniquely country music while convey its rustic or rural roots.
Country music first rose to mainstream popularity during the 1940s due to radio broadcasts and Hollywood films featuring cowboy heroes. Country songs stood out due to their energetic yet realistic approach compared to other forms of popular music at that time which were marked by mawkish sentimentality.
By the 1950s, hillbilly fiddle band music had all but vanished, giving way to country/western. Jimmie Rodgers is often considered the founder of country/western. His songs reflected grand, romantic ideals of life in western states while often wearing cowboy clothing when performing. Furthermore, he pioneered yodeling as a signature vocal style among country artists.
In the 1960s, artists began writing songs that addressed social issues like divorce, poverty and Vietnam War – in contrast to more conventional pop music that predominated during this period – this approach solidified country music’s legitimacy as an authentic American style.
Over the years, country music has continued to adapt and incorporate different styles. Now, this genre boasts an eclectic lineup of artists–ranging from mainstream superstars such as Taylor Swift to up-and-comers such as Lil Nas X–who recently conquered audiences everywhere with their song Old Town Road. Furthermore, country can come in any shape or form: honky-tonk, rap and even rockabilly are all part of its mix.
Recent trends have further broadened country music’s diversity with the rise of “Bro-Country”, an amalgamation of country and rap music aimed at reaching younger listeners. Although this trend has since subsided significantly since 2010, it remains a crucial part of country music.