Summary
American country music is a blend of musical traditions, from the balladry and dance tunes of the British Isles to African-American blues and gospel, to minstrel show and Tin Pan Alley commercial tunes, to the music of immigrant Acadian, German, and Hispanic groups, to the ballads of the coal miners and cowboys. Commercial recordings such as the landmark “Little Old Log Cabin in the Lane” recorded by Fiddlin’ John Carson and the WLS National Barn Dance and WSM’s Grand Ole Opry helped bring the music of Appalachia, the South, and the West to the attention of the rest of the country. The 1930s and 1940s saw new artists develop new styles, including western swing and honky tonk. Despite several dry spells in country music history, mostly during the 1950s, real country music never died and made a comeback in the 1970s. American Popular Music: Country documents the evolution of this genre as it carved a place for itself in the music industry, one song at a time.
Entries include:
- Johnny Cash
- Patsy Cline
- Dixie Chicks
- Fiddlin' John Carson
- The Kentucky Headhunters
- k.d. lang
- Loretta Lynn
- Tim McGraw
- Dolly Parton
- Minnie Pearl
- Elvis Presley
- Roy Rogers
- Shania Twain
- Doc Watson
- Dwight Yoakam.