NationMaster - Encyclopedia: American country music

In popular music, Country music, also called country and western music or country-western, is an amalgam of popular musical forms developed in the Southern United States, with roots in traditional folk music, Celtic Music, Blues, Gospel music, and Old-time music that began to develop rapidly ^[1] in the 1920s. The term country music began to be widely applied to the music in the 1940s and was fully embraced in the 1970s while country and western declined in use ^[1]. Appalachian folk music is a distinctive genre of folk music originating in the Appalachia region of the United States of America. ... The blues is a vocal and instrumental form of music based on a pentatonic scale and a characteristic twelve-bar chord progression. ... A spiritual is an African American song, usually with a Christian religious text. ... England has a long and rich musical history. ... Celtic music is a broad grouping of musical genres that evolved out of the folk musical traditions of the Celtic peoples of Western Europe. ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999 in the... Appalachian Region of the U.S., as defined by the Appalachian Regional Commission Appalachia is a term used to include a region stretching from Maine to Alabama that surrounds the Appalachian mountains. ... Official language(s) English Capital Nashville Largest city Memphis Area - Total - Width - Length - % water - Latitude - Longitude Ranked 36th 109,247 kmÂ² 195 km 710 km 2. ... Official language(s) English Capital Richmond Largest city Virginia Beach Area - Total - Width - Length - % water - Latitude - Longitude Ranked 35th 110,862 kmÂ² 320 km 690 km 7. ... Official language(s) English Capital Frankfort Largest city Louisville Area - Total - Width - Length - % water - Latitude - Longitude Ranked 37th 104,749 kmÂ² 225 km 610 km 1. ... A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified with the purpose of making music. ... A guitar is a musical instrument characterized by its visually dominant body and neck. ... A Dobro style resonator guitar Steel guitar, strictly speaking, refers to a method of playing using a metal slide (or steel) on a guitar played horizontally, with the strings uppermost. ... A Dobro style resonator guitar DobroÂ® is a trade name used mainly for guitars. ... Wikibooks has more about this subject: Harmonica A harmonica is a free reed musical wind instrument (also known, among other things, as a mouth organ, French harp, tin sandwich, blues harp, simply harp, or Mississippi saxophone), having multiple, variably-tuned brass or bronze reeds, each secured at one end over... Martin EB18 Bass Guitar in flight case The electric bass guitar (also called an electric bass, or simply a bass) is an electric string instrument similar in appearance to an electric guitar, but with a larger body, commonly four strings, a longer scale neck and tuned an octave lower in... // Jazz The earliest references to jazz performance using the violin as a solo instrument are documented during the first decades of the 20th century. ... For other kinds of drums, see drum (disambiguation). ... Carved and round backed mandolins (front) A mandolin is a small, plucked, stringed musical instrument, descended from the mandora. ... Old 6-string zither banjo For other uses, see Banjo (disambiguation) The banjo is a stringed instrument of African American origin, early or original examples sometimes being called the gourd banjo. Its name is commonly thought to be derived from the Kimbundu term mbanza. ... The Nashville sound in country music arose during the 1950s in the United States. ... Bluegrass music is considered a form of American roots music with its own roots in the English, Irish and Scottish traditional music of immigrants from the British Isles (particularly the Scots-Irish immigrants of Appalachia), as well as the music of rural African-Americans, jazz, and blues. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Bakersfield sound was a genre of country music developed in the mid- to late 1950s in and around Bakersfield, California, at bars such as The Blackboard. ... Bluegrass music is considered a form of American roots music with its own roots in the English, Irish and Scottish traditional music of immigrants from the British Isles (particularly the Scots-Irish immigrants of Appalachia), as well as the music of rural African-Americans, jazz, and blues. ... Close harmony is an arrangement of the notes of chords within a narrow range, typically one octave. ... Honky tonk was originally the name of a type of bar common throughout the southern United States, also Honkatonk or Honkey-tonk. ... A jug band is a band employing a jug player and other traditional and homemade instruments, such as rhythm guitar, washtub bass, washboard, jug, mandolin, spoons, and kazoo. ... Lubbock sound is a genre of American music that began with the popularity of Lubbock, Texas native Buddy Holly. ... The Nashville sound in country music arose during the 1950s in the United States. ... Neotraditional country, also known as new traditional country, is a country music style that rejects both the Nashville Sound and traditional honky-tonk. ... Willie Nelson Outlaw country was a significant trend in country music during the late 1960s and the 1970s. ... This article or section contains information that has not been verified and thus might not be reliable. ... Alternative country is a term applied to various subgenres of country music. ... Country rock is a musical genre formed from the fusion of rock and roll with country music. ... Psychobilly is a genre of music generally described as a mix between the British punk rock of the 1970s and the American rockabilly of the 1950s. ... Deathcountry is a country music genre, best described as traditional country music with a morbid anarchist Punk rock and Psychobilly attitude. ... 1950s Rockabilly book by Harlan Ellison Rockabilly is the earliest form of rock and roll as a distinct style of music. ... Country-rap is the fusion of country music with hip hop music. ... Country pop is a musical genre formed from the fusion of pop music with country music. ... This is an alphabetical list of country music performers. ... This page indexes the individual year in music pages. ... Popular music is music belonging to any of a number of musical styles that are accessible to the general public and mostly distributed commercially. ... The music of the United States includes a number of kinds of distinct folk and popular music, including some of the most widely-recognized styles in the world. ... Southern United States. ... Folk music, in the original sense of the term, is music by and of the common people. ... Celtic music is a broad grouping of musical genres that evolved out of the folk musical traditions of the Celtic peoples of Western Europe. ... The blues is a vocal and instrumental form of music based on a pentatonic scale and a characteristic twelve-bar chord progression. ... Gospel music may refer either to the religious music that first came out of African-American churches in the 1930s or, more loosely, to both black gospel music and to the religious music composed and sung by white southern Christian artists. ... Old-time music is a form of North American folk music, with roots in the folk music of many countries, most notably: England, Scotland, Ireland, and Africa. ...

However, country music is actually a catch-all category that embraces several different genres of music: Nashville sound (the pop-like music very popular in the 1960s); bluegrass, a fast mandolin, banjo and fiddle-based music popularized by Bill Monroe and by the Foggy Mountain Boys; Western which encompasses traditional Western ballads and Hollywood Cowboy Music, Western swing, a sophisticated dance music popularized by Bob Wills; Bakersfield sound (popularized by Buck Owens and Merle Haggard); Outlaw country; Cajun; Zydeco; gospel; oldtime (generally pre-1930 folk music); honky tonk; Appalachian; rockabilly; neotraditional country and jug band. The Nashville sound in country music arose during the 1950s in the United States. ... Bluegrass music is considered a form of American roots music with its own roots in the English, Irish and Scottish traditional music of immigrants from the British Isles (particularly the Scots-Irish immigrants of Appalachia), as well as the music of rural African-Americans, jazz, and blues. ... Bill Monroe Bill Monroe (September 13, 1911 - September 9, 1996) developed the style of country music known as bluegrass, which takes its name from his band, the Blue Grass Boys, named for his home state of Kentucky. ... Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs, and the Foggy Mountain Boys were an influential bluegrass band performing and recording the 1950s and 1960s. ... The Western is an American genre in literature and film. ... Western swing, also known as Country Swing, is dance music with an up-tempo beat and a decidedly Southwestern US regional flavor. ... James Robert (Bob) Wills (March 6, 1905 â€“ May 13, 1975) was an American country musician and songwriter. ... The Bakersfield sound was a genre of country music developed in the mid- to late 1950s in and around Bakersfield, California, at bars such as The Blackboard. ... Buck Owens and the Buckaroos in a 1960s-era promotional postcard Alvis Edgar Buck Owens, Jr. ... Merle Haggard Merle Ronald Haggard (April 6, 1937 in Bakersfield, California) is an American country music singer, guitarist, and songwriter. ... Willie Nelson Outlaw country was a significant trend in country music during the late 1960s and the 1970s. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Zydeco is a form of folk music, originated in the beginning of the 20th century among the Francophone Creole peoples of south-west Louisiana and influenced by the music of the French-speaking Cajuns. ... For the genre of Christian-themed music, see gospel music. ... Oldtime is the common term for an American musical tradition generally centered on the fiddle. ... Honky tonk was originally the name of a type of bar common throughout the southern United States, also Honkatonk or Honkey-tonk. ... The Appalachian Mountains are a system of North American mountains running from Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada to Alabama in the United States, although the northernmost mainland portion ends at the Gaspe Peninsula of Quebec. ... 1950s Rockabilly book by Harlan Ellison Rockabilly is the earliest form of rock and roll as a distinct style of music. ... Neotraditional country, also known as new traditional country, is a country music style that rejects both the Nashville Sound and traditional honky-tonk. ... A jug band is a band employing a jug player and other traditional and homemade instruments, such as rhythm guitar, washtub bass, washboard, jug, mandolin, spoons, and kazoo. ...

Each style is unique in its execution, its use of rhythms, and its chord structures, though many songs have been adapted to the different country styles. One example is the tune Milk Cow Blues, an early blues tune by Kokomo Arnold that has been performed in a wide variety of country styles by everyone from Aerosmith to Bob Wills to Willie Nelson, George Strait to Ricky Nelson and Elvis Presley. Kokomo Arnold (15 February 1901â€“8 November 1968) was an American blues musician. ... Aerosmith is a prominent American rock band. ... James Robert (Bob) Wills (March 6, 1905 â€“ May 13, 1975) was an American country musician and songwriter. ... Willie Nelson William Hugh Willie Nelson (born April 30, 1933) is an American entertainer and songwriter, and originally from Abbott, Texas. ... -1... Ricky Nelson Ricky Nelson can also mean Ricky Nelson (wrestler) or Ricky Lee Nelson, baseball player. ... Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 â€“ August 16, 1977), also known as The King of Rock n Roll was an American singer, music producer and actor, a giant in the modern entertainment industry. ...

History

Vernon Dalhart was the first country singer to have a nationwide hit (May 1924, with "The Wreck of Old '97") (see External Links below). Other important early recording artists were Riley Puckett, Don Richardson, Fiddling John Carson, Ernest Stoneman, Charlie Poole and the North Carolina Ramblers, and The Skillet Lickers. Vernon Dalhart (6 April 1883 - 15 September 1948) was a popular United States singer and songwriter of the early decades of the 20th century. ... George Riley Puckett (May 7, 1894 - July 14, 1946) was a country music pioneer, born in Alpharetta, Georgia, USA. An accident during infancy left him blind. ... Don Richardson who some people claim made the first country music recording in 1914. ... Fiddling John Carson (1868 - 1949) was an important early country fiddler. ... This article needs to be wikified. ... Charlie Poole and the North Carolina Ramblers were an American country string band that recorded a number of songs with banjo, fiddle and guitar from 1925 to 1930. ...

Some ^{[weasel word]} trace the origins of modern country music to two seminal influences and a remarkable coincidence. Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family are widely considered to be the founders of country music, and their songs were first captured at an historic recording session in Bristol, Tennessee on August 1, 1927, where Ralph Peer was the talent scout and sound recordist. It is possible to categorize many country singers as being either from the Jimmie Rodgers strand or the Carter Family strand of country music: The Original James Charles Jimmie Rodgers (September 8, 1897 -â€“ May 26, 1933) was the first country music superstar. ... Maybelle, A.P. and Sara The Carter Family was a rural country music group that performed and recorded between 1927 and 1943. ... The Bristol sessions are considered the Big Bang of modern country music. ... Bristol is a city located in Sullivan County, Tennessee. ... August 1 is the 213th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (214th in leap years), with 152 days remaining. ... 1927 (MCMXXVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... Ralph Peer (May 22, 1892 - January 19, 1960) was born Ralph Sylvester Peer in Independence, Missouri. ...

Jimmie Rodgers' influence

Jimmie Rodgers' gift to country music was country folk. Building on the traditional ballads and musical influences of the South, Jimmie wrote and sang songs that ordinary people could relate to. He took the experiences of his own life in the Meridian, Mississippi, area and those of the people he met on the railroad, in bars and on the streets to create his lyrics. He used the musical influences of the traditional ballads and the folk to create his tunes. An annual festival has been held in Meridian for over 30 years. Folk music, in the original sense of the term, is music by and of the common people. ...

Pathos, humor, women, whiskey, murder, death, disease and destitution are all present in his lyrics and these themes have been carried forward and developed by his followers. People like Hank Williams, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, George Jones, Townes van Zandt, Kris Kristofferson and Johnny Cash have also suffered, and shared their suffering, bringing added dimensions to those themes. It would be fair to say that Jimmie Rodgers sang about life and death from a male perspective, and this viewpoint has dominated some areas of country music. It would also be fair to credit his influence for the development of honky tonk, rockabilly and the Bakersfield sound. Hank Williams Sr. ... Merle Haggard Merle Ronald Haggard (April 6, 1937 in Bakersfield, California) is an American country music singer, guitarist, and songwriter. ... Waylon Jennings (June 15, 1937 â€“ February 13, 2002) was a respected and influential American country music singer and guitarist, born in Littlefield, Texas. ... George Jones See also George Jones (disambiguation) for other people with similar names. ... Townes Van Zandt Townes Van Zandt (March 7, 1944â€“January 1, 1997) was a folk music singer-songwriter and performer. ... Kris Kristofferson (born June 22, 1936) is an influential country music songwriter, singer and actor. ... Johnny Cash (February 26, 1932 â€“ September 12, 2003) was a vastly influential American country music and rock music singer, guitarist and songwriter. ... Honky tonk was originally the name of a type of bar common throughout the southern United States, also Honkatonk or Honkey-tonk. ... 1950s Rockabilly book by Harlan Ellison Rockabilly is the earliest form of rock and roll as a distinct style of music. ... The Bakersfield sound was a genre of country music developed in the mid- to late 1950s in and around Bakersfield, California, at bars such as The Blackboard. ...

Hank Williams

Jimmie Rodgers is a major foundation stone in the structure of country music, but the most influential artist from the Jimmie Rodgers strand is undoubtedly Hank Williams, Sr. In his short career (he was only 29 when he died), he dominated the country scene and his songs have been covered by practically every other country artist, male and female. Some have even included him in their compositions (for example, Waylon Jennings and Alan Jackson). Hank had two personas: as Hank Williams he was a singer-songwriter and entertainer; as "Luke the Drifter", he was a songwriting crusader. The complexity of his character was reflected in the introspective songs he wrote about heartbreak, happiness and love (e.g., "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry"), and the more upbeat numbers about Cajun food ("Jambalaya") or cigar store Indians ("Kaw-Liga"). He took the music to a different level and a wider audience. Hank Williams Sr. ... Waylon Jennings (June 15, 1937 â€“ February 13, 2002) was a respected and influential American country music singer and guitarist, born in Littlefield, Texas. ... Alan Jackson on the cover of his #1 album Drive Alan Jackson (born October 17, 1958) is an American country music singer and songwriter, who became one of the best-selling country musicians of the 1990s. ... The term singer-songwriter refers to performers who both write and sing their own material. ... Luke the Drifer was a name used by Hank Williams for a persona he developed to record recitations (often called talking songs by country music fans). ... Im So Lonesome I Could Cry is a song written and recorded by American country music singer-songwriter Hank Williams in 1949. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Jambalaya is a popular song. ... The Cigar store Indian or Wooden Indian is an old advertisement figure made to represent cigar shops, much like barber poles advertise barber shops or the three gold balls of the pawn shop. ...

Both Hank Williams, Jr. and his son Hank Williams III have been innovators within country music as well, Hank Jr. leading towards rock fusion and "outlaw country", and Hank III going much further in reaching out to death metal and psychobilly soul. Hank Williams, Jr. ... Hank Williams III. Shelton Hank Williams (born December 12, 1972 in Nashville, Tennessee) is an American musician. ... Willie Nelson Outlaw country was a significant trend in country music during the late 1960s and the 1970s. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Psychobilly is a genre of music generally described as a mix between the British punk rock of the 1970s and the American rockabilly of the 1950s. ...

The Carter Family's influence

The other Ralph Peer discovery, the Carter family, consisted of A.P. Carter, his wife Sara and their sister-in-law Maybelle. They built a long recording career based on the sonorous bass of A.P., the beautiful singing of Sara and the unique guitar playing of Maybelle. A.P.'s main contribution was the collection of songs and ballads that he picked up in his expeditions into the hill country around their home in Maces Springs, Virginia. In addition, being a man, he made it possible for Sara and Maybelle to perform without stigma at that time. Sara and Maybelle arranged the songs that A.P. collected and wrote their own songs. They were the precursors of a line of talented female country singers like Kitty Wells, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Skeeter Davis, Tammy Wynette, Dolly Parton and June Carter Cash, the daughter of Maybelle and the wife of Johnny Cash. Maces Springs is a small settlement on Route 614, a spur off Route 421 that cuts through Poor Valley, in Scott County, Virginia. ... Kitty Wells Kitty Wells (born Muriel Deason on August 30, 1919) is an American country musician from Nashville, Tennessee, known from about 1955 as the Queen of Country Music. ... Patsy Cline Patsy Cline (September 8, 1932 â€“ March 5, 1963) was an American country music singer. ... Loretta Lynn Loretta Lynn (born April 14, 1935) is an American country singer who was the leading country female vocalist during much of the 1960s and 1970s. ... Skeeter Davis Skeeter Davis Skeeter Davis Mary Frances Skeeter Davis (December 30, 1931 â€“ September 19, 2004) was an American country music singer and a member of the Grand Ole Opry radio show for more than 40 years. ... Tammy Wynette on the cover of her tribute album Tammy Wynette Remembered Tammy Wynette (May 5, 1942 â€“ April 6, 1998) was an American country singer and songwriter. ... Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American country singer, songwriter, composer, author and actress. ... June Carter Cash June Carter Cash (June 23, 1929 â€“ May 15, 2003) was a singer, songwriter, a member of the first family of country music, the Carter Family, and the wife of legendary singer Johnny Cash. ... Johnny Cash (February 26, 1932 â€“ September 12, 2003) was a vastly influential American country music and rock music singer, guitarist and songwriter. ...

Bluegrass

Bluegrass carries on the tradition of the old String Band Music and was invented, in its pure form, by Bill Monroe. The name "Bluegrass" was simply taken from Monroe's band, the "Blue Grass Boys". The first recording in the classic line-up was made in 1945: Bill Monroe on mandolin and vocals, Lester Flatt on guitar and vocals, Earl Scruggs on 5-String banjo, Chubby Wise on fiddle and Cedric Rainwater on upright bass. This band set the standard for all bluegrass bands to follow, most of the famous early Bluegrass musicians were one-time band members of the Bluegrass Boys, like Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs, Jimmy Martin and Del McCoury, or played with Monroe occasionally, like Sonny Osborne, The Stanley Brothers and Don Reno. Monroe also influenced people like Ricky Skaggs, Alison Krauss and Rhonda Vincent, who carry on the folk and ballad tradition in the bluegrass style. Bluegrass music is considered a form of American roots music with its own roots in the English, Irish and Scottish traditional music of immigrants from the British Isles (particularly the Scots-Irish immigrants of Appalachia), as well as the music of rural African-Americans, jazz, and blues. ... Bill Monroe Bill Monroe (September 13, 1911 - September 9, 1996) developed the style of country music known as bluegrass, which takes its name from his band, the Blue Grass Boys, named for his home state of Kentucky. ... Carved and round backed mandolins (front) A mandolin is a small, plucked, stringed musical instrument, descended from the mandora. ... Lester Flatt (June 19, 1914 - May 11, 1979) was one of the pioneers of bluegrass music. ... A guitar is a musical instrument characterized by its visually dominant body and neck. ... Earl Scruggs Earl Eugene Scruggs (born January 6, 1924 in Flint Hill, North Carolina) created a banjo style (now called Scruggs style) that is one of the defining characteristics of bluegrass. ... Old 6-string zither banjo For other uses, see Banjo (disambiguation) The banjo is a stringed instrument of African American origin, early or original examples sometimes being called the gourd banjo. Its name is commonly thought to be derived from the Kimbundu term mbanza. ... // Jazz The earliest references to jazz performance using the violin as a solo instrument are documented during the first decades of the 20th century. ... Bluegrass musician Jimmy Martin Jimmy Martin (August 10, 1927 - May 14, 2005) was an American bluegrass musician, known as the King of Bluegrass. Born James H. Martin in Sneedville, Tennessee, beginning in 1949 Martin was lead vocalist for Bill Monroes Bluegrass Boys, until he formed his own band, The... Del McCoury Delano Floyd McCoury (born February 1, 1939 in Bakersville, North Carolina) is an American bluegrass musician. ... Carter and Ralph Stanley The Stanley Brothers (Carter Stanley, 1925-1966, and Ralph Stanley, born 1927) - American bluegrass musicians. ... The Reverend Don Wayne Reno is a banjo player who created his own playing technique. ... Ricky Skaggs, April 1988 Ricky Skaggs (born July 18, 1954 in Lawrence County, Kentucky) is a country and bluegrass musician, singer and composer. ... Alison Krauss on the cover of her album Forget About It Alison Krauss (born on July 23, 1971) is an American bluegrass singer and fiddle-player. ... Rhonda Vincent on the cover of her album Ragin Live Rhonda Vincent is a bluegrass singer and an accomplished mandolin, guitar and fiddle player. ...

The Nashville sound

During the 1960s, country music became a multimillion-dollar industry centered on Nashville, Tennessee. Under the direction of producers such as Chet Atkins, Owen Bradley, and later Billy Sherrill, the Nashville sound brought country music to a diverse audience. This sound was notable for borrowing from 1950s pop stylings: a prominent and 'smooth' vocal, backed by a string section and vocal chorus. Instrumental soloing was de-emphasised in favor of trademark 'licks'. Leading artists in this genre included Patsy Cline, Jim Reeves, and later Tammy Wynette and Charlie Rich. Although country music has great stylistic diversity, some critics say this diversity was strangled by the formulaic approach of the Nashville Sound producers. Others point to the commercial need to re-invent country in the face of the dominance of '50s rock'n'roll and subsequent British Invasion. Even today the variety of country music is not usually well reflected in commercial radio airplay and the popular perception of country music is fraught with stereotypes of hillbillies and maudlin ballads. The 1960s decade refers to the years from 1960 to 1969, inclusive. ... Nickname: Music City Official website: http://www. ... Official language(s) English Capital Nashville Largest city Memphis Area - Total - Width - Length - % water - Latitude - Longitude Ranked 36th 109,247 kmÂ² 195 km 710 km 2. ... Chet Atkins Chester Burton Chet Atkins (June 20, 1924 â€“ June 30, 2001) was an influential guitarist and record producer. ... Billy Sherill (born Campbell, Alabama, 11/5/36) was a record producer and arranger who is most famous for his association with a number of country artists, most notably Tammy Wynette. ... The Nashville sound in country music arose during the 1950s in the United States. ... Patsy Cline Patsy Cline (September 8, 1932 â€“ March 5, 1963) was an American country music singer. ... Jim Reeves Jim Reeves is also the name of a competitive eater. ... Tammy Wynette on the cover of her tribute album Tammy Wynette Remembered Tammy Wynette (May 5, 1942 â€“ April 6, 1998) was an American country singer and songwriter. ... Charlie Rich ( December 14, 1932 - July 25, 1995) was an American country, jazz, and blues musician. ... Rock and roll (also spelled rock n roll, especially in its first decade), also called rock, is a form of popular music, usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles. ... The appearance of The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show, February 9, 1964, marked the dramatic start of the British Invasion. ... In modern usage, a stereotype is a simplified mental picture of an individual or group of people who share a certain characteristic (or stereotypical) qualities. ... Hillbilly is a term for people who dwell in remote, rural, mountainous areas. ...

Reaction to the Nashville sound

The supposedly "vanilla"-flavored sounds that emanated from Nashville led to a reaction among musicians outside Nashville, who saw that there was more to the genre than "the same old tunes, fiddle and guitar..." (Waylon Jennings).

California produced the Bakersfield sound, promoted by Buck Owens and Merle Haggard and based on the work of the legendary Maddox Brothers and Rose, whose wild eclectic mix of old time country, hillbilly swing and gospel in the 1940s and 1950s was a feature of honky-tonks and dance halls in the state. Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area - Total - Width - Length - % water - Latitude - Longitude Ranked 3rd 158,302 sq mi 410,000 kmÂ² 250 miles 400 km 770 miles 1,240 km 4. ... The Bakersfield sound was a genre of country music developed in the mid- to late 1950s in and around Bakersfield, California, at bars such as The Blackboard. ... Buck Owens and the Buckaroos in a 1960s-era promotional postcard Alvis Edgar Buck Owens, Jr. ... Merle Haggard Merle Ronald Haggard (April 6, 1937 in Bakersfield, California) is an American country music singer, guitarist, and songwriter. ... The Maddox Brothers and Rose was a country music band which was based in California from the 1930s to the 1950s. ...

Within Nashville in the 1980s, Randy Travis, Ricky Skaggs and others brought a return to the traditional values. Their musicianship, songwriting and producing skills helped to revive the genre momentarily. However, even they, and such long-time greats as Jones, Cash, and Haggard, fell from popularity as the record companies again imposed their formulas and refused to promote established artists. Capitol Records made an almost wholesale clearance of their country artists in the 1960s. 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... Randy Travis sings his chart-topping song Three Wooden Crosses, at the DoD-sponsored salute to Korean War veterans at the MCI Center in Washington, July 26, 2003. ... Ricky Skaggs, April 1988 Ricky Skaggs (born July 18, 1954 in Lawrence County, Kentucky) is a country and bluegrass musician, singer and composer. ... Capitol Records is a major United States-based record label, owned by EMI. // History The Capitol Records company was founded by the songwriter Johnny Mercer in 1942, with the financial help of movie producer Buddy DeSylva and the business acumen of Glenn Wallichs, (1910-1971) (owner of Music City, at... The 1960s decade refers to the years from 1960 to 1969, inclusive. ...

Other developments

The two strands of country music have continued to develop since 1990s. The Jimmie Rodgers influence can be seen in a pronounced "working man" image promoted by singers like Brooks & Dunn and Garth Brooks. On the Carter Family side, singers like Iris Dement and Nanci Griffith have written on more traditional "folk" themes, albeit with a contemporary point of view. Brooks & Dunn are a country music singer/songwriter duo, one of the most successful in the history of country music. ... Garth Brooks, from his No Fences album Troyal Garth Brooks (born February 7, 1962 in Tulsa, Oklahoma) is an American country music singer songwriter and charity director. ... Iris DeMent (born 5 January 1961) is an American country/folk singer and songwriter. ... Depiction of Nanci Griffith on the cover of her album Flyer Nanci Caroline Griffith, born July 6, 1953, is a singer, guitarist and songwriter from Austin, Texas. ...

In the 1990s a new form of country music emerged, called by some alternative country, neotraditional, or "insurgent country". Performed by generally younger musicians and inspired by traditional country performers and the country reactionaries, it shunned the Nashville-dominated sound of mainstream country and borrowed more from punk and rock groups than the watered-down, pop-oriented sound of Nashville. The 1990s decade refers to the years from 1990 to 1999, inclusive. ... Alternative country is a term applied to various subgenres of country music. ... Neotraditional country, also known as new traditional country, is a country music style that rejects both the Nashville Sound and traditional honky-tonk. ... Punk Rock is an anti-establishment music movement that began about 1976 (although precursors can be found several years earlier), exemplified by The Ramones,the Misfits, the Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damned. ... Rock and roll (also spelled Rock n Roll, especially in its first decade), also called rock, is a form of popular music, usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles. ...

There are at least three U. S. cable networks devoted to the genre: CMT (owned by Viacom), VH-1 Country (also owned by Viacom), and GAC (owned by The E. W. Scripps Company). For other uses of this three-letter abbreviation, see CMT. Country Music Television, or CMT as it often called, is a country music oriented cable television channel. ... Viacom is a high-growth media conglomerate with various worldwide interests in cable and satellite television networks (MTV Networks and BET), video gaming (part of Sega of America), and movie production and distribution (the Paramount Pictures movie studio and DreamWorks). ... VH1 (which stands for Video Hits 1) is an American cable television channel that was created in 1985. ... Viacom is a high-growth media conglomerate with various worldwide interests in cable and satellite television networks (MTV Networks and BET), video gaming (part of Sega of America), and movie production and distribution (the Paramount Pictures movie studio and DreamWorks). ... Great American Country, or GAC, is a Tennessee-based country music cable television network similar to Country Music Television (CMT). ... Scripps Center, the corporate headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio. ...

African-American country

Country music has had only a handful of Black stars Charley Pride and Deford Bailey being the most notable. Pride endured much open racism early in his career. Many TV audiences were shocked to realize that the songs they enjoyed were performed by a black man. Pride became the second black member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1993 (he had declined an invitation to join in 1968). He is considered a major influence on traditionalists today. Country music has also influenced the work of many black musicians such as Ray Charles, Keb' Mo' and Cowboy Troy. This article is about the color black; for other uses, see topic Black (disambiguation). ... Charley Pride on the cover of one of his several greatest hits albums, from 2003 Charley Frank Pride (born March 18, 1938 in Sledge, Mississippi) is a former Negro League baseball player who became one of the only African Americans to have a successful career in modern country music. ... DeFord Bailey (December 14, 1899 â€“ July 2, 1982) was an early country music star and the first African American performer on the Grand Ole Opry. ... The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly Saturday night country music radio program broadcast live on WSM Radio in Nashville, Tennessee. ... For Ray Charles of the Ray Charles Singers and longtime vocal conductor for Perry Como, see Ray Charles (elder). ... Keb Mo is a noted blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter. ... Cowboy Troy (born Troy Coleman, December 18, 1970 in Victoria, Texas) is one of the few current African-American country music artists. ...

African-American influences in Country Music can be documented at least as far back as the 1920s. Harmonica ace, DeFord Bailey, appeared on the Grand Ole Opry stage in 1926. Whites and blacks in rural communities in the South played in stringbands.

The Black Country Music Association, headed by Frankie Staton, and located in Nashville, provides a forum for and gives visibility to credible black artists. By assembling a network and building an infrastructure previously lacking, it gives African-American performers a place to turn to for advice and education in the music business.

"The Black Experience: From Where I Stand," is an album that presents 52 black artists' contributions to country music and includes not only African-American artists primarily known for their contributions to the blues, but those such as Charlie Pride and Cleve Francis, who identified themselves solely as country artists. Charley Frank Pride was one of eleven children born in Sledge, Mississippi, on March 18, 1938 to poor sharecroppers. ...

Performers

Below is a list of notable country performers alphabetically by period, with each listing followed by a description of the artists' work. This is an alphabetical list of country music performers. ...

Early innovators

Vernon Dalhart (6 April 1883 - 15 September 1948) was a popular United States singer and songwriter of the early decades of the 20th century. ... The Original James Charles Jimmie Rodgers (September 8, 1897 -â€“ May 26, 1933) was the first country music superstar. ... Maybelle, A.P. and Sara The Carter Family was a rural country music group that performed between 1927 and 1943. ... Roy Claxton Acuff (15 September 1903â€“23 November 1992) was an American country musician. ... Ernest Dale Tubb (February 9, 1914 - September 6, 1984), nicknamed the Texas Troubadour, was an American singer and songwriter and one of the pioneers of country music. ... Clarence Eugene Snow (May 9, 1914 â€“ December 20, 1999), better known as Hank Snow, was a Hall of Fame country music singer and songwriter. ... Hank Williams Sr. ... A Honky tonk was originally a type of bar common throughout the southern United States, also called honkatonks, honkey-tonks, tonks or tunks. ... Bill Monroe Bill Monroe (September 13, 1911 - September 9, 1996) developed the style of country music known as bluegrass, which takes its name from his band, the Blue Grass Boys, named for his home state of Kentucky. ... Bluegrass music is considered a form of American roots music with its own roots in the English, Irish and Scottish traditional music of immigrants from the British Isles (particularly the Scots-Irish immigrants of Appalachia), as well as the music of rural African-Americans, jazz, and blues. ... The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly Saturday night country music radio program broadcast live on WSM Radio in Nashville, Tennessee. ... The Louvin Brothers were Charlie and Ira Louvin, an American duo best-known as the popularizers of close harmony, a kind of country music. ... James Cecil Dickens (born 19 December 1920), better known as Little Jimmy Dickens, is an American country singer and guitarist. ... Wilf Carter (born December 18, 1904 in Port Hilford, Nova Scotia, Canada, died December 5, 1996 in Scottsdale, Arizona), also known as Montana Slim, was a Canadian country music singer and yodeler. ... Wilf Carter (born December 18, 1904 in Port Hilford, Nova Scotia, Canada, died December 5, 1996 in Scottsdale, Arizona), also known as Montana Slim, was a Canadian country music singer and yodeler. ... Webb Pierce (born August 8, 1921 - died February 24, 1991), was an American country music singer. ... Kitty Wells Kitty Wells (born Muriel Deason on August 30, 1919) is an American country musician from Nashville, Tennessee, known from about 1955 as the Queen of Country Music. ... Kitty Wells (born Muriel Deason on August 30, 1919) is an American country musician from Nashville, Tennessee, known from about 1955 as the Queen of Country Music. ...

The golden age

Bill Anderson, singer who is still a major songwriter of new hits
Liz Anderson, as famous for her songwriting as her singing
Lynn Anderson, a California blonde who became a top country star
Eddy Arnold, the all-time hit leader by Joel Whitburn's point system
The Browns, brother-sister trio who hit No. 1
Johnny Cash, a major influence on country music who died in 2003
Patsy Cline, immensely popular balladeer who died in 1963
Skeeter Davis, major female vocalist for decades
Jimmy Dean, singer and TV personality, former owner of Jimmy Dean Sausage Company
Roy Drusky, smooth-singing Opry star for 40 years
Jimmy Martin, The King of bluegrass
Lefty Frizzell, perhaps the greatest of the honky-tonkers
Don Gibson, wrote and recorded many standards
Merle Haggard, popularized the Bakersfield sound
Tom T. Hall, "The Storyteller", wrote most of his many hits
Buddy Holly, an early country-rock'n'roll singer
Johnny Horton, made the story-song very popular about 1960
Jan Howard, pop-flavored female vocalist who sang pure country
Stonewall Jackson, honky-tonk icon
Sonny James, had a record 16 consecutive No. 1 hits
Wanda Jackson, honky-tonk female vocalist equally at home in rock and roll
Waylon Jennings, one of the leaders of the "outlaw" country sound
George Jones, widely considered "the greatest living country singer", #1 in charted hits
Kris Kristofferson, songwriter and one of the leaders of the "outlaw" country sound
Loretta Lynn, arguably country music's biggest star in the 1960s and 1970s
Roger Miller, a Grammy record breaker
Ronnie Milsap, country's first blind superstar

Willie Nelson, songwriter and one of the leaders of the outlaw country sound
Norma Jean, gifted "hard country" vocalist
Buck Owens, pioneer innovator of the Bakersfield sound
Dolly Parton, began her career singing duets with Porter Wagoner
Ray Price, went from hard country to Las Vegas slick
Charley Pride, the first (and only) black country music star
Susan Raye, Buck Owens' protégée who became a solo star
Jim Reeves, crossover artist, invented Nashville Sound with Chet Atkins
Charlie Rich, '50s rock star who enjoyed greatest success in '70s country
Marty Robbins, another performer of story-songs who did well in the pop field
Jeannie C. Riley, sexy girl in a miniskirt who socked it to the pop charts
Kenny Rogers, unique-voiced storyteller who also recorded love ballads and more rock material. He defined what was known as country crossover and became one of the biggest artists in country and any music genre.
Jeannie Seely, known as "Miss Country Soul"
Connie Smith, known for her "big" voice
Billie Jo Spears, a hard-country vocalist with international popularity
Ray Stevens, comedy crossover artist, Branson businessman
Conway Twitty, honky-tonk traditionalist
Don Walser, yodeling Texas legend
Porter Wagoner, pioneer on country television
Dottie West, country glamour girl who had her biggest success 20 years into her career
The Wilburn Brothers, popular male duet for decades
Ginny Wright
Tammy Wynette, three-time CMA top female vocalist
Faron Young, a country chart topper for three decades

James William Anderson III (born November 1, 1937 in Columbia, South Carolina) is an American country music singer and songwriter. ... Liz Anderson was one of the major country music songwriters of the 1960s who was also one of the eras leading female vocalists. ... Lynn Anderson on the cover of her album The Bluegrass Sessions Lynn Anderson (born September 26, 1947 in Grand Forks, North Dakota) is an American country musician. ... Eddy Arnold (May 15, 1918) is an American country music singer. ... Joel Carver Whitburn (born November 29, 1939 in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin) is an American author and music historian. ... The Browns were an American family singing group from Sparkman, Arkansas made up of Jim Ed Brown (b. ... Johnny Cash (February 26, 1932 â€“ September 12, 2003) was a vastly influential American country music and rock music singer, guitarist and songwriter. ... Patsy Cline Patsy Cline (September 8, 1932 â€“ March 5, 1963) was an American country music singer. ... Skeeter Davis Skeeter Davis Skeeter Davis Mary Frances Skeeter Davis (December 30, 1931 â€“ September 19, 2004) was an American country music singer and a member of the Grand Ole Opry radio show for more than 40 years. ... Jimmy Dean Jimmy Dean (born on August 10, 1928 in Plainview, Texas) is an American singer, actor, and businessman. ... Bluegrass musician Jimmy Martin Jimmy Martin (August 10, 1927 - May 14, 2005) was an American bluegrass musician, known as the King of Bluegrass. Born James H. Martin in Sneedville, Tennessee, beginning in 1949 Martin was lead vocalist for Bill Monroes Bluegrass Boys, until he formed his own band, The... Lefty Frizzell (March 31, 1928 – July 19, 1975) was a country music singer and songwriter. ... Donald Eugene Gibson (April 3, 1928 â€“ November 17, 2003) was an American country musician. ... Merle Haggard Merle Ronald Haggard (April 6, 1937 in Bakersfield, California) is an American country music singer, guitarist, and songwriter. ... The Bakersfield sound was a genre of country music developed in the mid- to late 1950s in and around Bakersfield, California, at bars such as The Blackboard. ... Tom T. Hall (born May 25, 1936 in Olive Hill, Kentucky) is an American country balladeer and songwriter. ... Charles Hardin Holley (September 7, 1936 â€“ February 3, 1959), better known as Buddy Holly, was an American singer, songwriter, and a pioneer of Rock and Roll. ... John Gale Johnny Horton (April 30, 1925â€“November 5, 1960) was an American country music singer. ... Jan Howard (born Lula Grace Johnson on March 13, 1930 in West Plains, Missouri) was one of the trail-blazing country music female vocalists of the 1960s. ... Stonewall Jackson (born November 6, 1932) was a Country musician. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Wanda Jackson (born Wanda Jean Jackson, on October 20, 1937, in Maud, Oklahoma) was the first female rock and roll singer in the United States, releasing her debut record in 1956. ... Rock and roll (also spelled Rock n Roll, especially in its first decade), also called rock, is a form of popular music, usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles. ... Waylon Jennings (June 15, 1937 â€“ February 13, 2002) was a respected and influential American country music singer and guitarist, born in Littlefield, Texas. ... George Jones See also George Jones (disambiguation) for other people with similar names. ... Kris Kristofferson (born June 22, 1936) is an influential country music songwriter, singer and actor. ... A songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics to songs, the musical composition or melody to songs, or both. ... Loretta Lynn Loretta Lynn (born April 14, 1935) is an American country singer who was the leading country female vocalist during much of the 1960s and 1970s. ... A section of the album jacket for Golden Hits. ... Ronnie Milsap Ronnie Lee Milsap (born January 16, 1946 (though the internet, including Wikipedia, lists a variety of contradictory years) in Robbinsville, North Carolina, USA) is an American country music singer and musician with 40 number one hit songs to his credit. ... Willie Nelson William Hugh Willie Nelson (born April 30, 1933) is an American entertainer and songwriter, and originally from Abbott, Texas. ... A songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics to songs, the musical composition or melody to songs, or both. ... Willie Nelson Outlaw country was a significant trend in country music during the late 1960s and the 1970s. ... Norma Jean Beasler (Pretty Miss Norma Jean), born January 30, 1938 in Wellston, Oklahoma, recorded and sang professionally simply as Norma Jean. She had her own radio show in Oklahoma as a teenager and first attracted national attention on Red Foleys Ozark Jubilee television series in 1958. ... Buck Owens and the Buckaroos in a 1960s-era promotional postcard Alvis Edgar Buck Owens, Jr. ... The Bakersfield sound was a genre of country music developed in the mid- to late 1950s in and around Bakersfield, California, at bars such as The Blackboard. ... Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American country singer, songwriter, composer, author and actress. ... Ray Price (born January 12, 1926), is an American country and western singer. ... Charley Pride on the cover of one of his several greatest hits albums, from 2003 Charley Frank Pride (born March 18, 1938 in Sledge, Mississippi) is a former Negro League baseball player who became one of the only African Americans to have a successful career in modern country music. ... Susan Raye (born October 8, 1944 in Eugene, Oregon) was one of the leading female country music vocalist of the 1970s. ... Jim Reeves Jim Reeves is also the name of a competitive eater. ... The Nashville sound in country music arose during the 1950s in the United States. ... Chet Atkins Chester Burton Chet Atkins (June 20, 1924 â€“ June 30, 2001) was an influential guitarist and record producer. ... Charlie Rich ( December 14, 1932 - July 25, 1995) was an American country, jazz, and blues musician. ... Marty Robbins, (September 26, 1925 - December 8, 1982), was an American Country & Western Hall of Fame musican and a talented NASCAR race car driver. ... Jeannie C. Riley (born Jeanne Carolyn Stephenson on October 19, 1945 in Anson, Texas) to Oscar and Nora Stephenson is an American country and gospel music singer. ... Kenny Rogers For the baseball player, see Kenny Rogers (baseball player). ... A term used for country music singers who were also big in the pop charts and/or pop acts that hit in big in the country genre. ... Marilyn Jeanne Seely (born July 6, 1940 in Titusville, Pennsylvania) is a country music singer. ... Connie Smith (August 14, 1941â€”), born Constance Meador in Elkhart, Indiana, USA, is a country singer. ... Born Billie Jean Spears January 14, 1937 in Beaumont, Texas, Billie Jo Spears moved to Nashville in 1964 and earned a Capitol Records contract in 1968. ... Ray Stevens was born Harold Ray Ragsdale on January 24, 1939 in Clarkdale, Georgia, now part of Decatur. ... Conway Twitty Conway Twitty, born Harold Lloyd Jenkins, (September 1, 1933 â€“ June 5, 1993) was one of the United States most successful artists of the 20th century. ... A Honky tonk was originally a type of bar common throughout the southern United States, also called honkatonks, honkey-tonks, tonks or tunks. ... Don Walser, a unique, award-winning yodeling Texas country music legend[1], was born Donald Ray Walser on September 14, 1934 in Brownfield. ... The Porter Wagoner Show, RCA, 1963 Porter Wagoner (born August 12, 1927, in Howell County, Missouri, in the Ozark Mountains) is an American country music singer. ... Dottie West, born Dorothy Marie Marsh (October 11, 1932 in McMinnville, Tennesseeâ€“September 4, 1991 in Nashville, Tennessee) was a United States country music singer. ... The Wilburn Brothers were american country music performers. ... This article needs cleanup. ... Tammy Wynette on the cover of her tribute album Tammy Wynette Remembered Tammy Wynette (May 5, 1942 â€“ April 6, 1998) was an American country singer and songwriter. ... Faron Young (born February 25, 1932 near Shreveport, Louisiana, died December 10, 1996) was an American country music singer. ...

Country rock

Country rock is a musical genre formed from the fusion of rock and roll with country music. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The term jam band is commonly used to describe psychedelic rock-influenced bands whose concerts largely consist of bands reinterpreting their songs as springboards into extended improvisational pieces of music. ... The Band on the cover of their second album: Manuel, Helm, Danko, Hudson, Robertson The Band were an influential Canadian-American rock and roll group of the 1960s and 1970s. ... Blackfoot are a Southern rock band from Jacksonville, Florida. ... THE BYRDS The Byrds (formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964) was an American rock group. ... Sheryl Suzanne Crow (born February 11, 1962) is a nine-time Grammy winning American blues rock singer, guitarist, bassist and songwriter. ... The First Cut Is The Deepest is a song written by Cat Stevens. ... Eagles redirects here. ... Don (born Isaac Donald Everly February 1, 1937 in Brownie, a small coal-mining town (now defunct) near Central City, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky) and Phil Everly (born Philip Everly January 19, 1939 in Chicago, Illinois) are country-influenced rock and roll performers who had their greatest success in the 1950s. ... 1950s Rockabilly book by Harlan Ellison Rockabilly is the earliest form of rock and roll as a distinct style of music. ... Country rock is a musical genre formed from the fusion of rock and roll with country music. ... Cover of The Gilded Palace of Sin (1969) The Flying Burrito Brothers were an early country rock band, best known for their massively influential debut album, 1969s The Gilded Palace of Sin. ... Kinky Friedman Richard F. Kinky Friedman, (born October 31, 1944) is an American singer, songwriter, novelist and, currently, an independent candidate for the office of Governor of the State of Texas. ... Gram Parsons, wearing his Nudie suit on the lot of A&M records Gram Parsons (November 5, 1946 â€“ September 19, 1973) was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and pianist born Ingram Cecil Connor, III. A solo artist as well as a member of both The Byrds and The Flying Burrito... The Grateful Dead was an American psychedelia-influenced rock band formed in 1965 in San Francisco. ... Psychedelic music is a musical style inspired by or attempting to replicate the mind-altering experience of drugs such as cannabis, psilocybin, mescaline, and especially LSD. Psychedelic music is a misnomer and should properly be called psychedelic rock music, but for the purposes of this article it is not rigorously... Poco is a band that was started by Richie Furay (vocals and rhythm guitar) and Jim Messina (lead guitar and vocals) following the demise of Buffalo Springfield in 1968. ... Pure Prairie League was a popular American soft rock and country rock band from Columbus, Ohio, active in the 1970s and early 1980s. ... Vince Gill Vince Gill (born April 12, 1957) is an American country music musician, songwriter, and singer. ... There are multiple individuals by this name with entries in Wikipedia. ... Please wikify (format) this article as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ... Please wikify (format) this article as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ... Linda Maria Ronstadt (born July 15, 1946) is an American singer most closely associated with the country rock genre prevalent in the 1970s. ... Photoshoot for 1973 debut album Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd Lynyrd Skynyrd is an American Southern rock band, described by All Music Guides Stephen Thomas Erlewine as the definitive Southern rock band, fusing the overdriven power of blues-rock with a rebellious, Southern image and a hard rock swagger. ...

Contemporary country stars 1980-2006

To suggest a relevant news story for the main page, refer to the criteria then add your suggestion at the candidates page. ... Billy Currington (born November 19, 1973) is an American country singer/songwriter who was raised in Rincon, Georgia. ... Sherrié Austin (born Sherrie Krenn on August 28, 1970 in Sydney, Australia) is an Australian actress-turned-singer. ... Baillie & the Boys is a country music group which gained prominence in the late 1980s and early 1990s was originally comprised of lead singer Kathie Baillie, her husband guitarist Michael Bonagura, and bassist Alan LeBoeuf. ... Dierks Bently Dierks Bentley (born November 20, 1975 in Phoenix, Arizona) is a country music singer. ... Big & Rich are an American country music duo comprising Big Kenny and John Rich. ... Clint Patrick Black (born February 4, 1962 in Long Branch, New Jersey, USA) is a country music singer, songwriter and producer. ... Suzy Bogguss (born December 30, 1956) is a country music singer, who had several hits during the early 1990s. ... Paul Brandt (born July 21, 1972 as Paul Rennee Belobersycky in Calgary, Alberta, Canada) is a country music singer. ... Brooks & Dunn are a country music singer/songwriter duo, one of the most successful in the history of country music. ... Garth Brooks, from his No Fences album Troyal Garth Brooks (born February 7, 1962 in Tulsa, Oklahoma) is an American country music singer songwriter and charity director. ... Jann Browne from the insert to her second album, It Only Hurts When I Laugh. ... Chris Cagle is a country music singer and songwriter. ... George Canyon (born August 22, 1970) is a rising country music star from Canada. ... Mary Chapin Carpenter poses with Lt. ... Rebecca Carlene Smith (born in 1955 and professionally known as Carlene Carter) is an American country singer and songwriter. ... Johnny Cash (February 26, 1932 â€“ September 12, 2003) was a vastly influential American country music and rock music singer, guitarist and songwriter. ... Rosanne Cash (born May 24, 1955) is an American singer and songwriter. ... Jeremy Castle 2002 Jeremy Glen Castle (August 2, 1974) is an American country music singer and songwriter from Oklahoma. ... Kasey Chambers (born: June 4, 1976) is Australias most popular country music performer with two successive albums reaching number one on the Australian album charts in 2002 and 2004. ... Kenny Chesney, Greatest Hits Kenneth Arnold Chesney (born March 26, 1968 in Luttrell, Tennessee) is a popular country music singer and songwriter, known for such works as No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems and When the Sun Goes Down. ... Mark Chesnutt Mark Chesnutt is an American country music singer. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Cowboy Troy (born Troy Coleman, December 18, 1970 in Victoria, Texas) is one of the few current African-American country music artists. ... Texas singer/songwriter, considered as a part of both the Alt Country and the mainstream Country music camps. ... Linda Davis from the cover of her second album Linda Davis (1992). ... The Dixie Chicks: Martie, Natalie and Emily The Dixie Chicks is a country music group, formed in 1989 in Dallas, Texas. ... Holly Dunn was a country music artist in the late 1980s and early 1990s, who first found fame with the release of her 1986 hit Daddys Hands from her self-titled dÃ©but album. ... Sara Lynn Evans, born February 5, 1971, in Boonville, Missouri, is a country music singer. ... Steve Fox is a Canadian singer/songwriter. ... Janie Fricke (born December 19, 1947) is an American country music singer-guitarist. ... Crystal Gayle on the cover of her concert DVD Crystal Gayle in Concert, showing her trademark long hair Crystal Gayle (born January 9, 1951) is an American country music singer. ... Vince Gill Vince Gill (born April 12, 1957) is an American country music musician, songwriter, and singer. ... Depiction of Nanci Griffith on the cover of her album Flyer Nanci Caroline Griffith, born July 6, 1953, is a singer, guitarist and songwriter from Austin, Texas. ... Emmylou Harris on the cover of her collection Profile Emmylou Harris (born April 2, 1947) is a country music singer-songwriter and musician from Birmingham, Alabama, USA. // Early years Harris graduated from high school as class valedictorian and won a drama scholarship to the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. ... Ty Herndon (born May 2, 1962 in Butler, Alabama) is an American country music singer who shot to national acclaim in 1995 with his hit single (and album) What Mattered Most. Shortly after, he received criminal charges of drug possession, indecent exposure, and solicitation for gay sex in a Texas... The original members of Highway 101 from left to right: Curtis Stone, Paulette Carlson, Jack Daniels, and Cactus Moser. ... Audrey Faith Perry, later known as Faith Hill (born September 21, 1967 in Jackson, Mississippi), is a successful American country singer, known for her commercial success as well as her much-publicized marriage to country singer Tim McGraw. ... Singles ... Alan Jackson on the cover of his #1 album Drive Alan Jackson (born October 17, 1958) is an American country music singer and songwriter, who became one of the best-selling country musicians of the 1990s. ... Wynonna Judd shakes hands with Marine Cpl. ... The Judds are an American mother/daughter country music duo of Naomi Judd and her daughter, Wynonna. ... Toby Keith visits with fans during brief breaks in filming the music video American Soldier in hangar 1600 at Edwards Air Force Base, November 17, 2003. ... Sammy Kershaw (born February 24, 1958, in Abbeville, Louisiana) is an American Country and Western music singer and songwriter. ... Alison Krauss on the cover of her album Forget About It Alison Krauss (born on July 23, 1971) is an American bluegrass singer and fiddle-player. ... Danni Leigh from the insert to her first album 29 Nights. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Lonestar also refers to a Rock Band that released a self titled album in 1976 under the UK CBS label Lonestar poses for pictures before a show Lonestar is an American country music band consisting of Richie McDonald (lead vocals) (born Richard Vance McDonald, on 6 February 1962, in Mesquite... This article or section contains information that has not been verified and thus might not be reliable. ... Lyle Lovett, from the cover of 1996s The Road to Ensenada Lyle Lovett (born in Klein, Texas on November 1, 1957) is an American singer-songwriter. ... Barbara Ann Mandrell (born December 25, 1948 in Houston, Texas) is an American country music singer. ... Kathy Mattea (b. ... Martina McBride at the 2003 American Music Awards. ... Lila McCann on the cover of her third album Complete Lila Elaine McCann (born December 4, 1981 in Steilacoom, Washington) is a successful country music artist. ... Jason McCoy (born August 27, 1970 in Minesing, Ontario)son of the old mkkoyotee is an Canadian singer/songwriter who performs country music. ... Neal McCoy is a famous country singer who stepped into the scene in the early 90s. ... Malinda Gayle Mindy McCready (born November 30, 1975 in Fort Myers, Florida) is an American country music artist. ... Reba Nell McEntire (born on March 28, 1955) is a Grammy Award-winning singer, and one of the best-selling country music performers of all time, known for her pop tinged ballads that include 22 #1 hits, she has issued no less than 29 albums, with more than 45 million... Tim McGraw performing for the United States Air Force. ... Jo-Dee Marie Messina (born August 25, 1970 in Framingham, Massachusetts, USA) is a country music singer. ... Montgomery Gentry is a two-man country music group, consisting of Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry, which was founded in the 1990s. ... Craig Morgan (born July 17, 1965) is an American country music singer. ... Lorrie Morgan (born Loretta Lynn Morgan on June 27, 1959 in Nashville, Tennessee) is a country music singer. ... Anne Murray on the cover of her Christmas album What a Wonderful Christmas Anne Murray, CC , ONS , LL.D (born Morna Anne Murray June 20, 1945), is a Canadian singer born in Springhill, Nova Scotia, known for her rich alto voice and her taste in choosing songs that appeal to... Heather Myles from the back cover of her first album, Just Like Old Times. ... We dont have an article called Neon blue Start this article Search for Neon blue in. ... Kay Toinette K.T. Oslin, (born 1941), is a country music singer. ... Brad Paisley - Time Well Wasted album cover Brad Paisley (born October 28, 1972) is an American country music singer and songwriter from Glen Dale, West Virginia. ... Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American country singer, songwriter, composer, author and actress. ... Rascal Flatts performing in Iraq in 2005(Joe Don Rooney, left)(Gary LeVox, center)(Jay DeMarcus,right) Rascal Flatts is an American country music group comprised of lead vocalist Gary LeVox (born July 10, 1970 in Columbus, Ohio), bassist Jay DeMarcus (born April 27, 1971 in Columbus, Ohio) and electric... Collin Raye (born Floyd Collin Wray August 22, 1959 in De Queen, Arkansas) is a country singer. ... LeAnn Rimes performing Margaret LeAnn Rimes (born August 28, 1982 in Jackson, Mississippi) is a popular American country music singer. ... Kenny Rogers For the baseball player, see Kenny Rogers (baseball player). ... Overview A 2005 album by Steven Seagal, his first. ... Ricky Skaggs, April 1988 Ricky Skaggs (born July 18, 1954 in Lawrence County, Kentucky) is a country and bluegrass musician, singer and composer. ... -1... Bob Style was born in Germany in 1978 and became EuropeÂ´s first country top 40-act in 2000. ... Sugarland is a country music duo. ... Kristine Oliver Arnold and Janis Oliver Gill, the Sweethearts of the Rodeo. ... Pam Tillis (born July 24, 1957 in Plant City, Florida) is an American country music singer and actress. ... Randy Travis sings his chart-topping song Three Wooden Crosses, at the DoD-sponsored salute to Korean War veterans at the MCI Center in Washington, July 26, 2003. ... Tanya Denise Tucker (born October 10, 1958) is an American country music singer. ... Shania Twain, OC (born August 28, 1965) is a Canadian singer and songwriter who has been very successful in the country and pop music genres, setting several sales records for female artists and for country artists. ... Carrie Marie Underwood (born March 10, 1983) is an American country music singer who rose to fame as the winner of the fourth season of American Idol and has since become a successful recording artist. ... Keith Lionel Urban (born 26 October 1967 in Whangarei, New Zealand) is a country singer. ... Rhonda Vincent on the cover of her album Ragin Live Rhonda Vincent is a bluegrass singer and an accomplished mandolin, guitar and fiddle player. ... Clay Walker (born 19 August 1969 in Beaumont, Texas) is an American country music singer. ... Steve Wariner (born December 25, 1954 in Noblesville, Indiana) is an American country music singer, guitarist and songwriter. ... Brittany Wells performs for Sailors aboard USS John F. Kennedy, January 28, 2005 Brittany Wells (born c. ... Lucinda Williams Lucinda Williams (born January 26, 1953) is an American rock, folk, and country music singer and songwriter. ... Kelly Willis is a country music singer-songwriter noted for her clear, unadorned vocal style and her model-like beauty. ... Gretchen Wilson on the cover of Here for the Party Gretchen RenÃ©e Wilson (born June 26, 1973 in Pocahontas, Illinois, ca. ... Lee Ann Womack performs for troops and their families at the Coalition to Salute Americas Heroes Gala, Gratitude Tribute to Veterans Lee Ann Womack (born August 19, 1966 in Jacksonville, Texas) is a country music artist whom may best be known for her 2000 crossover hit, I Hope You... Country singer Chely Wright signs an autograph for Joe Dan Worley, a wounded Marine in Iraq Richelle Renee Wright (born October 25, 1970), best known as Chely Wright, is a country music singer who released her debut album in 1994. ... Michelle Wright (born July 1, 1961 in Charing Cross, Ontario) is a Canadian country music singer. ... Trisha Yearwood Trisha Yearwood (born September 19, 1964) is a country music singer. ... Dwight Yoakam at the unveiling of his Hollywood star. ... Alabama is a country music band that was started in 1969 but did not get a recording contract until 1977. ...

Television and radio shows of note

Johnny Cash (February 26, 1932 â€“ September 12, 2003) was a vastly influential American country music and rock music singer, guitarist and songwriter. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Austin City Limits is a music program on American television. ... PBS re-directs here; for alternate uses see PBS (disambiguation) PBS logo The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is a non-profit public broadcasting television service with 349 member TV stations in the United States. ... The Beverly Hillbillies The Beverly Hillbillies is a TV sitcom about a hillbilly family living in Southern California of the 1960s. ... Lester Flatt (June 19, 1914 - May 11, 1979) was one of the pioneers of bluegrass music. ... Earl Scruggs Earl Eugene Scruggs (born January 6, 1924 in Flint Hill, North Carolina) created a banjo style (now called Scruggs style) that is one of the defining characteristics of bluegrass. ... The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour hosted by country singer Glen Campbell from January, 1969 through June, 1972. ... The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly Saturday night country music radio program broadcast live on WSM Radio in Nashville, Tennessee. ... WSM is the callsign of a 50,000 watt AM radio station located in Nashville, Tennessee. ... Hee Haw was a long-running U.S. television variety show hosted by Buck Owens and Roy Clark and featuring country music and humor with rural Kornfield Kounty as a backdrop. ... Buck Owens and the Buckaroos in a 1960s-era promotional postcard Alvis Edgar Buck Owens, Jr. ... Roy Clark - March 2002 Roy Linwood Clark (born April 15, 1933 in Meherrin, Virginia) is one of the most versatile and well-known country music musicians and performers. ... Junior Samples (real name Alvin Samples, Jr. ... Archie Campbell (born November 7, 1914 in Bulls Gap, Tennessee, died August 29, 1987 in Knoxville, Tennessee) was a writer and star of Hee Haw, a popular long-running country-flavored television variety show. ... Lost Highway is a 1997 film directed by David Lynch. ... The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is the largest publicly-funded radio and television broadcasting corporation of the United Kingdom (see British television). ... The Louisiana Hayride was a radio broadcast from the Municipal Auditorium in Shreveport, Louisiana, United States that during its heyday from 1948 to 1960 helped launch the careers of the some of the greatest names in American music. ... The Porter Wagoner Show, RCA, 1963 Porter Wagoner (born August 12, 1927, in Howell County, Missouri, in the Ozark Mountains) is an American country music singer. ... 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1960 calendar). ... This page refers to the year 1979. ... Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American country singer, songwriter, composer, author and actress. ... Timothy Alan Patrick Rose (September 23, 1940 â€“ September 24, 2002) was an American singer-songwriter. ...

Reception

Though "its primary audience is the children and grandchildren of the poor rural Southerners that gave commercial country music its birth (Ellison 1995; Peterson and Kern 1995)", "country music is widely enjoyed by people in all walks of North American society and around the world" ^[1] it is an often controversial, much loved and much hated, music. Race issues play a large part in country music reception and the music has been praised for diversity and universality as well as criticised for its lack of those qualities and supposed racism. However, "country music is [also] widely disparaged in racialized terms, and assertions of its essential 'badness' are frequently framed in specifically racial terms" such as "white trash" (Fox 2004). Reception is a noun form of receiving, or to receive something, such as information, art, experience, or people. ... An African-American man drinks out of the colored only water cooler at a racially segregated streetcar terminal in the United States in 1939. ... White trash is an American ethnic slur with a social class component. ...

President George H. W. Bush celebrated country music by declaring October, 1990 "Country Music Month". The proclamation read: George Herbert Walker Bush, GCB, (born June 12, 1924 in Milton, MA) was the 41st President of the United States (1989â€“1993). ... A proclamation (Lat. ...

Contrastingly, the Lyndon LaRouche founded Schiller Institute (quoted in ibid, p.46) represents an extreme though familiar view when it criticises country music for those same populist values. They write that country music represents: Defunct California Proposition 64 North American Labour Party Party for the Commonwealth of Canada Parti pour la rÃ©publique du Canada U.S. Labor Party Lyndon Hermyle LaRouche, Jr. ... The Schiller Institute is an international political and economic thinktank and is one of the primary institutions in the Lyndon LaRouche movement, with headquarters in both Germany and the United States. ...

However, the institute describes country's origins dubiously and contradictorily as elitist:

While country music is not a benevolent conspiracy as described by the Schiller Institute neither is it the ideal representation of positive values and inclusion described by President Bush. For both the Institute and the President "whiteness, racism, poverty, and alienated labor are, it seems quite as irrelevant as country music's obvious failure to appeal to listeners from at least some walks of life." (ibid) Max Horkheimer (front left), Theodor Adorno (front right), and JÃ¼rgen Habermas in the background, right, in 1965 at Heidelberg Theodor Ludwig Wiesengrund Adorno (September 11, 1903 â€“ August 6, 1969) was a German sociologist, philosopher, musicologist and composer. ... An African-American man drinks out of the colored only water cooler at a racially segregated streetcar terminal in the United States in 1939. ...

These contrasting and contradicting views highlight that country may be celebrated or criticised by different listeners for the exact same and directly opposite reasons. One listener may value country as an expression of their rural roots, values, and culture, while another dislikes country because they feel excluded from or do not wish to participate in that expression. Yet another listener may value country for the providing an ability to feel included or participate in its values without sharing its roots and culture.

Discomfort with country music and accusations of racism may stem from listeners discomfort with their own racism, including a projection of that racism onto country musicians and fans:

While mainstream country may contain no examples of overt or even covert racism:

It must be noted that Rebel is an extreme and not at all representative example: To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ...

To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Samples

Hank Williams Sr. ... Cold, Cold Heart is a country music and popular music song, that is both a classic of honky tonk and an entry in the Great American Songbook. ... // Events and trends This map shows two essential global spheres during the Cold War in 1959. ...

Contents

History

Jimmie Rodgers' influence

Hank Williams

The Carter Family's influence

Bluegrass

The Nashville sound

Reaction to the Nashville sound

Other developments

African-American country

Performers

Early innovators

The golden age

Country rock

Contemporary country stars 1980-2006

Television and radio shows of note

Reception

Samples

See also

Further reading

References

External links

Contents

History GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

Jimmie Rodgers' influence

Hank Williams

The Carter Family's influence

Bluegrass

The Nashville sound

Reaction to the Nashville sound

Other developments

African-American country

Performers

Early innovators

The golden age

Country rock

Contemporary country stars 1980-2006

Television and radio shows of note

Reception

Samples

See also

Further reading

References

External links

History