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, spirituals, and the blues. A spiritual is a African-American song, usually with a religious text. ... Appalachian folk music is a distinctive genre of folk music originating in the Appalachia region of the United States of America. ... For other uses, see blues (disambiguation) Blues is a vocal and instrumental music form which emerged in the African-American community of the United States. ... (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. Appalachia is a partly rural, partly urbanized and industrialized region in and around the Appalachian Mountains in the Eastern United States. ... State nickname: Volunteer State Other U.S. States Capital Nashville Largest city Memphis Governor Phil Bredesen (D) Senators {{{Senators}}} Official languages English Area 109,247 km² (36th)  - Land 106,846 km²  - Water 2,400 km² (2. ... State nickname: Old Dominion Other U.S. States Capital Richmond Largest city Virginia Beach Governor Mark R. Warner (D) Senators John Warner (R) George Allen (R) Official languages English Area 110,862 km² (35th)  - Land 102,642 km²  - Water 8,220 km² (7. ... State nickname: Bluegrass State Other U.S. States Capital Frankfort Largest city Louisville Governor Ernie Fletcher (R) Official languages English Area 104,749 km² (37th)  - Land 102,989 km²  - Water 1,760 km² (1. ... A musical instrument is a device that has been constructed or modified with the purpose of making music. ... The classical guitar typically has 3 nylon and 3 nickel-wound strings. ... 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 Dobro® is a trade name used mainly for guitars. ... A harmonica A harmonica is a very common free reed musical wind instrument (also known, among other things, as a mouth organ, french harp, blues harp, simply harp, or Mississippi saxophone), having multiple, variably-tuned brass or bronze reeds, each secured at one end over an airway slot of like... Image:Fender vintage precision bass. ... The violin is a stringed musical instrument that has four strings tuned a fifth apart. ... For other kinds of drums, see drum (disambiguation). ... Carved and round backed mandolins (front) A mandolin is a stringed musical instrument. ... The banjo is a stringed instrument, derived from the banjar, a stringed instrument of American origins, sometimes called the gourd banjo. The banjar, in turn was based on the African akonting. Some etymologists derive it from a dialectal pronunciation of bandore, though recent research suggests that it may come from... 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. ... 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. ... Country blues (also folk blues, rural blues, or downhome blues) refers to all the acoustic, guitar-driven forms of the blues. ... 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. ... Willie Nelson Outlaw country was a significant trend in country music during the late 1960s and the 1970s. ... Alternative Country is a term applied to various subgenres of country music. ... Country-rap is the fusion of country music with hip hop 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. ... Rockabilly is the earliest form of rock and roll as a distinct style of music. ... This is an alphabetical list of country music performers. ... This page indexes the individual year in music pages. ... 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. ... The U.S. Southern states or the South, also known colloquially as Dixie, constitute a distinctive region covering a large portion of the United States, with its own unique heritage, historical perspective, customs, musical styles, and cuisine. ... Folk music, in the original sense of the term, is music by and of the people. ... A spiritual is an African American song, usually with a Christian religious text. ... For other uses, see blues (disambiguation) Blues is a vocal and instrumental music form which emerged in the African-American community of the United States. ...

However, country music is actually a catch-all category that embraces several different genres of music: Nashville sound (the pop-like music very popular today); bluegrass, a fast mandolin and fiddle-based music popularized by Bill Monroe and by the Foggy Mountain Boys; Western which encompases 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); 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 – 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 (born August 12, 1929) is an American country singer who defined the gritty Bakersfield sound. ... Merle Ronald Haggard (April 6, 1937 in Bakersfield, California) is an American country music singer and songwriter. ... The Cajuns are an ethnic group consisting essentially of the descendants of Acadians who came from Nova Scotia to Louisiana as a result of their refusal to swear allegiance to the British Crown. ... Zydeco is a form of folk music, originated in the beginning of the 20th century among the 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. ... Rockabilly is the earliest form of rock and roll as a distinct style of music. ... 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 Bob Wills to Willie Nelson, George Strait to Ricky Nelson and Elvis Presley. Kokomo Arnold (15 February 1901–8 November 1968) was a popular early blues musician. ... James Robert (Bob) Wills (March 6, 1905 – May 13, 1975) was an American country musician and songwriter. ... Willie Nelson Willie Hugh Nelson (born April 30, 1933) is an American guitarist and country singer, originally from Abbott, Texas. ... George Strait George Harvey Strait (born May 18, 1952) is an American country music artist. ... Ricky Nelson Eric Hilliard Ricky Nelson, alternately Rick Nelson (May 8, 1940 - December 31, 1985), was one of the first American teen idols. ... Elvis Presley Elvis Aron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), also known as The King of Rock and Roll or The King, was an American singer and actor. ...

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 - 14 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 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. James Charles Jimmie Rodgers (September 8, 1897 -– 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 1st is the 213th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (214th in leap years), with 152 days remaining. ... 1927 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. ...

It is possible to categorize many country singers as being either from the Jimmie Rodgers strand or the Carter Family strand of country music.

Jimmie Rodgers' influence

Jimmie Rodgers' gift to country music was country blues. 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 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 blues to create his tunes. Country blues (also folk blues, rural blues, or downhome blues) refers to all the acoustic, guitar-driven forms of the blues. ... For other uses, see blues (disambiguation) Blues is a vocal and instrumental music form which emerged in the African-American community of the United States. ...

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 Ronald Haggard (April 6, 1937 in Bakersfield, California) is an American country music singer and songwriter. ... Waylon Jennings (June 15, 1937 – February 13, 2002) was a respected and influential American country music singer and guitarist, born in Littlefield, Texas. ... George Jones George Glenn Jones (born September 12, 1931), nicknamed The Possum, is an American country singer known for his distinctive voice and phrasing that frequently evoke the raw emotions caused by grief, unhappy love, and emotional hardship. ... Townes Van Zandt Townes Van Zandt (March 7, 1944 - January 1, 1997) was a folk music songwriter and performer. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Johnny Cash (February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was a vastly influential singer and songwriter. ... Honky tonk was originally the name of a type of bar common throughout the southern United States, also Honkatonk or Honkey-tonk. ... 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 barbershop Indians ("Kaw-Liga"). He took the music to a different level and a wider audience. Hank Williams Sr. ... Waylon Jennings (June 15, 1937 – February 13, 2002) was a respected and influential American country music singer and guitarist, born in Littlefield, Texas. ... Alan Jackson wearing his hat Alan Jackson (born October 12, 1958) is an American country music singer, and songwriter, originally from Newnan, Georgia. ... 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). ... The Cajuns are an ethnic group consisting essentially of the descendants of Acadians who came from Nova Scotia to Louisiana as a result of their refusal to swear allegiance to the British Crown. ... Jambalaya is a popular song. ...

Both Hank Williams Jr and his son Hank 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 sounds. Hank Williams, Jr. ... Shelton Hank Williams III (born December 12, 1972) is a musician. ... Willie Nelson Outlaw country was a significant trend in country music during the late 1960s and the 1970s. ... Death metal is a type of heavy metal music with thrash metal influences which emerged in the United States (especially Florida and California), Europe (especially the United Kingdom and Sweden) and Canada in the late 1980s and early 1990s. ... 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. These two women were the musical talent. They 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 – March 5, 1963) was an American country music singer. ... Loretta Lynn on the cover of her album Who Was That Stranger Loretta Lynn (born April 14, 1935) is an American country singer, known as Americas Sweetheart. ... Skeeter Davis Norma Nicole Skeeter Davis (December 30, 1931 - 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 – April 6, 1998) was an American country singer and songwriter. ... Dolly Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American country singer, songwriter, composer and actress. ... June Carter Cash June Carter Cash (born Valerie June Carter) (June 23, 1929 – May 15, 2003), middle daughter of Ezra (Eck) Carter and Maybelle Carter (Mother Maybelle), was a singer, songwriter, a member of the first family of country music, the Carter Family, and married to legendary singer Johnny Cash. ...

Bluegrass

The Carter Family probably influenced the development of bluegrass by Ralph Stanley and Bill Monroe. Monroe, in turn, influenced people like Ricky Skaggs, 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. ... Ralph Stanley Ralph Stanley (born in 25 February 1927) is an American bluegrass musician. ... 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. ... Ricky Skaggs (born July 18, 1954 in Lawrence County, Kentucky) is a country music musician, singer and composer. ...

Other influences

While country music has had only a handful of African American stars (Charley Pride and Deford Bailey being the most notable), the innovators and originators were strongly influenced by the sounds and songs of black musicians. Country music has also influenced the work of black musicians such as Ray Charles and Keb' Mo'. African Americans, also known as Afro-Americans or black Americans, are an ethnic group in the United States of America whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Sub-Saharan and West Africa. ... 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 – July 2, 1982) was an early country music star and the first African American performer on the Grand Ole Opry. ... Ray Charles at the piano. ... Keb Mo is a noted blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter. ...

At the time of its early popularity, country music shared America's affection with swing music—a type of jazz—and enterprising musicians such as Bob Wills fused the two to form western swing. The early development of rock and roll was a fusion of country music and blues. Jazz master Louis Armstrong was one of the best loved and best known of all jazz musicians. ... James Robert (Bob) Wills (March 6, 1905 – May 13, 1975) was an American country musician and songwriter. ... Western swing, also known as Country Swing, is dance music with an up-tempo beat and a decidedly Southwestern US regional flavor. ... 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. ... For other uses, see blues (disambiguation) Blues is a vocal and instrumental music form which emerged in the African-American community of the United States. ...

The Nashville sound

During the 1960s, country music became a multimillion-dollar industry centered on Nashville, Tennessee. Under the direction of Chet Atkins, the Nashville sound brought country music to a diverse audience. Although country music has great stylistic diversity, this diversity was strangled somewhat by the formulaic approach of the record producers like Chet Atkins. They played safe to protect sales. Even today the variety of country music is not usually well reflected in radio airplay and the popular perception of country music is still influenced by the maudlin ballads and whining steel guitars that many people still associate with the genre. The 1960s, or The Sixties, in its most obvious sense refers to the decade between 1960 and 1969, but the expression has taken on a wider meaning over the past twenty years. ... The Nashville skyline Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee. ... State nickname: Volunteer State Other U.S. States Capital Nashville Largest city Memphis Governor Phil Bredesen (D) Senators {{{Senators}}} Official languages English Area 109,247 km² (36th)  - Land 106,846 km²  - Water 2,400 km² (2. ... Chet Atkins Chester Burton Chet Atkins (June 20, 1924 – June 30, 2001) was an influential country guitarist and record producer in country music. ... The Nashville sound in country music arose during the 1950s in the United States. ...

Reaction to the Nashville sound

The "vanilla"-flavored sounds that emanated from Nashville under the influence of Chet Atkins and his fellow producers 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. State nickname: The Golden State Other U.S. States Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles [[List of Governors of California|Governor]] Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) Official languages English Area 410,000 km² (3rd)  - Land 404,298 km²  - Water 20,047 km² (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 (born August 12, 1929) is an American country singer who defined the gritty Bakersfield sound. ... Merle Ronald Haggard (April 6, 1937 in Bakersfield, California) is an American country music singer and songwriter. ... The Maddox Brothers and Rose was a country music band which was based in California from the 1930s to the 1950s. ...

Texas produced rebels like Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Butch Hancock, Jerry Jeff Walker and others who bucked the Nashville system and created outlaw country. ... Jimmie Dale Gilmore (born May 6, 1945) is a country singer, songwriter, recording artist and producer, currently living in Austin, Texas. ... Jerry Jeff Walker (born March 16, 1942) is a country music singer. ... Willie Nelson Outlaw country was a significant trend in country music during the late 1960s and the 1970s. ...

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 is 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 (born July 18, 1954 in Lawrence County, Kentucky) is a country music musician, singer and composer. ... Capitol record by Wingy Manone Capitol Records is a major United States-based record label, founded in 1942. ... The 1960s, or The Sixties, in its most obvious sense refers to the decade between 1960 and 1969, but the expression has taken on a wider meaning over the past twenty years. ...

Country music developments

The two strands of country music have continued to develop. 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. ... TIME cover featuring Garth Brooks Troyal Garth Brooks (born February 7, 1962 in Tulsa, Oklahoma) is an American singer, songwriter, actor, and charity director who performs country music. ... Iris DeMent (born 5 January 1961) is an American country/folk singer and songwriter. ... Drawing of Nancy Griffith on the cover of her album Flyer Nanci 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, 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. // Events and trends The 1990s are generally classified as having moved slightly away from the more conservative 1980s, but otherwise retaining the same mindset. ... Alternative Country is a term applied to various subgenres of country music. ... 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. ...

Country music has its own television station, Country Music Television or CMT, where country music videos are played. Also on CMT are western genre television shows. For the disease CMT see Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. ...

Samples

• Download recording - "Prisoner’s Song" country music from the Library of Congress' Gordon Collection; performed by Ernest Hilton with banjo accompaniment in Biltmore, North Carolina on November 20, 1925
• Download sample of Hank Williams' "Cold, Cold Heart", one of the best-known Williams songs, covered by numerous other stars, and an excellent representation of the 1950s Nashville music.

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 The 1950s in Western society was marked with a sharp rise in the economy for the first time in almost 30 years and return to the 1920s-type consumer society built on credit and boom-times, as well as the height of the baby-boom from returning...

Further reading

• In The Country of Country: A Journey to the Roots of American Music,
  Nicholas Dawidoff, Vintage Books, 1998, ISBN 0-375-70082-x

• Are You Ready for the Country: Elvis, Dylan, Parsons and the Roots of Country Rock,
  Peter Dogget, Penguin Books, 2001, ISBN 0-140-26108-7

• Dreaming Out Loud: Garth Brooks, Wynonna Judd, Wade Hayes and the changing face of Nashville,
  Bruce Feiler, Avon Books, 1998, ISBN 0-380-97578-5

• Roadkill on the Three-Chord Highway,
  Colin Escott, Routledge, 2002, ISBN 0-415-93783-3

• Guitars & Cadillacs,
  Sabine Keevil, Thinking Dog Publishing, 2002, ISBN 0-968-99730-9

• Country Music USA,
  Bill C. Malone, University of Texas Press, 1985, ISBN 0-292-71096-8

Early innovators

• Vernon Dalhart recorded hundreds of songs until 1931.
• Jimmie Rodgers, first country superstar, the "Father of Country Music", also a bluesman
• The Carter Family, rural country-blues, known for hits like "Wildwood Flower"
• Roy Acuff Grand Ole Opry star for 50 years, "King of Country Music"
• Ernest Tubb Beloved Texas troubadour who helped scores become stars
• Hank Snow Canadian-born Grand Ole Opry star famous for his traveling songs.
• Hank Williams Sr, honky-tonk pioneer, singer, and songwriter, known for hits like "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" and "Your Cheatin' Heart"
• Bill Monroe, father of bluegrass music
• Grand Ole Opry, one of the oldest radio programs
• Louvin Brothers, inspired the Everly Brothers
• Little Jimmy Dickens 4-foot 11 inch star of the Grand Ole Opry.
• Wilf Carter, the "yodeling" cowboy, aka Montana Slim.
• Webb Pierce, classic honky-tonker who dominated '50s country music
• Kitty Wells, country's first female superstar, called the "Queen of Country Music"

Vernon Dalhart (6 April 1883 - 14 September 1948) was a popular United States singer and songwriter of the early decades of the 20th century. ... James Charles Jimmie Rodgers (September 8, 1897 -– May 26, 1933) was the first country music superstar. ... For other uses, see blues (disambiguation) Blues is a vocal and instrumental music form which emerged in the African-American community of the United States. ... 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 1903–23 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 – December 20, 1999), better known as Hank Snow, was a country singer. ... 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

James William Anderson III (born November 1, 1937 in Columbia, South Carolina) is an American country music singer and songwriter. ... Born Elizabeth Jane Haaby on March 13, 1928 in Roseau, Minnesota, Liz Anderson became involved with the California country scene in the 1960s when her husband Casey Anderson was a car salesman. ... 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 a 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 – September 12, 2003) was a vastly influential singer and songwriter. ... Jeremy Castle 2002 Jeremy Glen Castle (August 2, 1974) is an American country music singer and songwriter from Oklahoma. ... Patsy Cline Patsy Cline, (September 8, 1932 – March 5, 1963) was an American country music singer. ... Skeeter Davis Norma Nicole Skeeter Davis (December 30, 1931 - September 19, 2004) was an American country music singer and a member of the Grand Ole Opry radio show for more than 40 years. ... This article is about Jimmy Dean, singer, television performer, and sausage entepreneur. ... Donna Fargo (born Yvonne Vaughan on November 10, 1945 in Mount Airy, North Carolina) is an American singer, best known for her 1972 hit The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A., which hit #1 on the Billboard country music charts. ... Lefty Frizzell (March 31, 1928 – July 19, 1975) was a country music singer and songwriter. ... Donald Eugene Gibson (April 3, 1928 - November 17, 2003) was an American country musician. ... Merle Ronald Haggard (April 6, 1937 in Bakersfield, California) is an American country music singer 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. ... John Gale Johnny Horton (April 30, 1925–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. ... Sonny James (born James Loden on May 1, 1929 in Hackleburg, Alabama) is an American country music singer and songwriter. ... Wanda Jackson (born 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 – February 13, 2002) was a respected and influential American country music singer and guitarist, born in Littlefield, Texas. ... George Jones George Glenn Jones (born September 12, 1931), nicknamed The Possum, is an American country singer known for his distinctive voice and phrasing that frequently evoke the raw emotions caused by grief, unhappy love, and emotional hardship. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... A songwriter is someone who writes, in part or in full, the lyrics to songs, the musical composition or melody to songs, or both. ... Loretta Lynn on the cover of her album Who Was That Stranger Loretta Lynn (born April 14, 1935) is an American country singer, known as Americas Sweetheart. ... Roger Dean Miller (January 2, 1936 – October 25, 1992) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician. ... 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 Willie Hugh Nelson (born April 30, 1933) is an American guitarist and country singer, originally from Abbott, Texas. ... A songwriter is someone who writes, in part or in full, 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 (born August 12, 1929) is an American country singer who defined the gritty Bakersfield sound. ... 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 Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American country singer, songwriter, composer and actress. ... Ray Price (born January 12, 1926) is an American country and western singer. ... 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. ... Leading female country music vocalist of the 1970s born October 8 1944 in Eugene, Oregon. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... The Nashville sound in country music arose during the 1950s in the United States. ... Chet Atkins Chester Burton Chet Atkins (June 20, 1924 – June 30, 2001) was an influential country guitarist and record producer in country music. ... Charlie Rich ( December 14, 1932 - July 25, 1995) was an American country, jazz, and blues musician. ... Marty Robbins, (September 26, 1925 - December 8, 1982), born Martin David Robinson near Glendale, Arizona, served in the United States Navy during World War II and went on to become an immensely popular singing star of the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee and a talented NASCAR race car driver. ... Jeannie C. Riley (born Jeanne Carolyn Stephenson on October 19, 1945 in Anson, Texas) is an American country and gospel music singer. ... Kenny Rogers Alternate meaning: Kenny Rogers (baseball player) Kenneth Donald Rogers (born August 21, 1938, in Houston, Texas) is a prolific American country music singer, photographer, producer, songwriter and actor. ... 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. ... Born Marilyn Jeanne Seely on July 6, 1940 in Titusville, Pennsylvania, Jeannie Seely was a leading country music female vocalist during the 1960s and 1970s. ... Connie Smith (August 14, 1941—), born Constance Meadows 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 (born Harold Ray Ragsdale on January 24, 1939 in Clarkdale, Georgia, now part of Decatur), is an American country music and pop singer-songwriter known for his novelty songs. ... Conway Twitty Conway Twitty, born Harold Lloyd Jenkins, (September 1, 1933 – June 5, 1993) was one Americas 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. ... 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, Tennessee - September 4, 1991 in Nashville, Tennessee) was a United States country music singer. ... Tammy Wynette on the cover of her tribute album Tammy Wynette Remembered Tammy Wynette (May 5, 1942 – 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

• The Allman Brothers Band, bluegrass-influenced jam band
• The Band
• Blackfoot
• The Byrds, pioneers in the field
• Flying Burrito Brothers
• The Eagles, possibly the most popular country rock band
• The Everly Brothers, predated others in this category but important figures in the transition from rockabilly to country rock
• Kinky Friedman
• Grateful Dead, extremely long-lived bluegrass and psychedelic band
• Gram Parsons, critical favorite of the country rock movement
• Poco
• John Rich
• Lynyrd Skynyrd, for many, the archetypal country rock band
• Kid Rock, only part of his music is Country Rock most notabilly the music on the album "Kid Rock"

The Allman Brothers Band is a pioneering and innovative Southern rock and Blues group from Macon, Georgia originally popular in the 1970s, described by Rolling Stones George Kimball in 1971 as the best . ... 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. ... Blackfoot are a Southern rock band from Jacksonville, Florida. ... The Byrds’ original line-up. ... 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. ... The Eagles are an American rock music group that originally came together in Los Angeles, California in the early 1970s. ... The Everly Brothers 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 18, 1939 in Chicago, Illinois) are country-influenced rock and roll performers who had their greatest success... 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. ... Richard F. Kinky Friedman, (born October 31, 1944 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American singer, songwriter and novelist. ... The Grateful Dead in the late 1970s: (from left) Mickey Hart, Phil Lesh, Jerry Garcia, Brent Mydland, Bill Kreutzmann, Bob Weir The Grateful Dead was an American psychedelia-influenced rock band, formed in 1965 in San Francisco from the remnants of another band, Mother McCrees Uptown Jug Champions. ... Psychedelic music is a musical genre which is not rigorously defined, and is sometimes interpreted to include everything from Flower Power music to Hard Rock and Acid Rock. ... Gram Parsons, wearing his Nudie suit on the lot of A&M records Gram Parsons (November 5, 1946 – September 19, 1973) was born Ingram Cecil Connor III in Winter Haven, Florida to a wealthy family of fruit growers with extensive properties both there and in Waycross, Georgia, where he was... Poco is a country rock band started by Richie Furay (vocals and rhythm guitar) and Jim Messina (lead guitar and vocals) following the demise of Buffalo Springfield in 1968. ... There are multiple individuals by this name with entries in Wikipedia. ... Lynyrd Skynyrd, 1973 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. ... Kid Rock Kid Rock (real name Robert James Ritchie, born January 17, 1971 in Romeo, Michigan) is a performer who combines many genres of music together ranging from hard rock to rap and even country. ...

Contemporary Country Stars 1980-2005

Alabama is a country music band that was started in 1969 but did not get a recording contract until 1977. ... Dierks Bentley is a country music singer, from Phoenix, Arizona. ... Big & Rich are an American genre-busting country music duo comprising Big Kenny (Kenny Alphin) and John Rich. ... Clint Patrick Black (born February 4, 1962 in Long Branch, New Jersey, USA) is a country music singer, songwriter and producer. ... Paul Brandt 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. ... TIME cover featuring Garth Brooks Troyal Garth Brooks (born February 7, 1962 in Tulsa, Oklahoma) is an American singer, songwriter, actor, and charity director who performs country music. ... Johnny Cash (February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was a vastly influential singer and songwriter. ... Jeremy Castle 2002 Jeremy Glen Castle (August 2, 1974) is an American country music singer and songwriter from Oklahoma. ... Mary Chapin Carpenter poses with Lt. ... Kenny Chesney, Greatest Hits Kenny Chesney (born 26 March 1968 in Knoxville, Tennessee) is a country music singer and songwriter, known for such works as No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems and When the Sun Goes Down. ... Cowboy Troy (born Troy Coleman, December 18, 1970 in Victoria, Texas) is one of the few current African-American country music artists. ... The Dixie Chicks: Martie, Natalie and Emily The Dixie Chicks is a country music group, formed in 1989 in Dallas, Texas. ... Sara Evans (born February 5, 1971, in Boonville, Missouri) is a country music singer. ... Vince Gill Vince Gill (born April 12, 1957) is an American country music musician and singer. ... 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... Faith Hill Audrey Faith Perry, later known as Faith Hill (born September 21, 1967 in Jackson, Mississippi), is an American country singer, known for her commercial success as well as her much-publicized marriage to country singer Tim McGraw. ... Alan Jackson wearing his hat Alan Jackson (born October 12, 1958) is an American country music singer, and songwriter, originally from Newnan, Georgia. ... Toby Keith (right) 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 July 23, 1971 in Decatur, Illinois, is a bluegrass singer and virtuoso fiddle player who grew up in Champaign, Illinois. ... Lonestar is an American country music band consisting of Richie McDonald (lead vocals), Michael Britt (guitar), Keech Rainwater (drums) and Dean Sams (keyboards). ... Patty Loveless Patty Loveless (born Patricia Lee Ramey on January 4, 1957 in Pikeville, Kentucky) is an American country music singer. ... Barbara Ann Mandrell (born December 25, 1948 in Houston, Texas is an American country music singer. ... Martina McBride Greatest Hits, 2001 Martina McBride (born Martina Mariea Schiff, July 29, 1966 in Medicine Lodge, Kansas), is a very successful American country music singer. ... Lila Elaine McCann (born December 4, 1981) is a successful country music artist. ... Tucker Tim McGraw Tucker Tim McGraw (born May 1, 1967) is a country music singer who has achieved many number one singles on the country charts, six multi-platinum albums and sales of over 25 million albums. ... 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, in McAlester, Oklahoma) is one of the best-selling country music performers of all time, known for pop ballads that include 22 #1 hits on the Billboard Country Chart. ... Jo-Dee Marie Messina (born August 25, 1970 in Framingham, Massachusetts) is is a country music singer. ... Montgomery Gentry is a two-man country band, consisting of Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry and founded in the 1990s. ... Craig Morgan (born July 17, 1965 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee) is an American country music singer. ... Lorrie Morgan (born Loretta Lynn Morgan on June 27, 1959 in Nashville, Tennessee) is a country music singer. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Rascal Flatts is an American country music group comprised of second cousins Gary Levox (vocals) and Jay DeMarcus (bass) along with good friend Joe Don Rooney (electric guitarist). ... George Strait George Harvey Strait (born May 18, 1952) is an American country music artist. ... Bob Style was born in Germany in 1978 and became Europe´s first country top 40-act in 2000. ... 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. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Keith Lionel Urban was born October 26, 1967 in Whangarei, New Zealand and raised in rural Caboolture, Australia before relocating to Nashville to become a highly successful country singer. ... 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. ... Gretchen Wilson on the cover of her first album Gretchen Wilson (born 26 June, 1973) is a US country music singer. ... Trisha Yearwood (19 September 1964 - ) is a country music singer. ... Dwight Yoakam at the unveiling of his Hollywood star. ...

Television and radio shows of note

• Austin City Limits, PBS goes country
• The Beverly Hillbillies, legendary situation comedy series that featured a country theme song and frequent appearances, by Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs
• Grand Ole Opry, broadcasting on WSM from Nashville since 1925
• Hee Haw, featuring Buck Owens and Roy Clark and a pack of droll, cornball comedians, notably Junior Samples. Other artist of note, Archie Campbell, writer and on-air talent.
• Lost Highway, a significant BBC documentary on the History of Country Music
• Louisiana Hayride, featured Hank Williams in his early years
• Ozark Jubilee
• The Porter Wagoner Show, aired from 1960 to 1979 and featured a young Dolly Parton

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. ... Main cast of The Beverly Hillbillies: Donna Douglas (Elly May), Irene Ryan (Granny), Max Baer, Jr. ... Lester Flatt (June 19, 1914 - May 11, 1979) was one of the pioneers of bluegrass music. ... Earl Scruggs Earl Scruggs (born Earl Eugene Scruggs 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 Grand Ole Opry is a weekly Saturday night country music radio program broadcast live on WSM Radio in Nashville, Tennessee. ... WSM is the call letters of a 50,000 watt AM radio station located in Nashville, Tennessee. ... Hee Haw was a long-running 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 (born August 12, 1929) is an American country singer who defined the gritty Bakersfield sound. ... Roy Linwood Clark (born April 15, 1933) 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. ... Corporate logo of the British Broadcasting Corporation The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is the national broadcaster of the United Kingdom. ... The Louisiana Hayride, was a radio broadcast from the Municipal Auditorium in Shreveport, Louisiana, United States that during its heyday from 1948 to 1960 spawned the careers of the some of the greatest names in American music. ... The Ozark Jubilee was the first national country music show on television. ... 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 was a leap year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... This page refers to the year 1979. ... Dolly Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American country singer, songwriter, composer and actress. ...

See also

• List of country music performers
• Academy of Country Music
• Country Music Association
• Alternative country for a list of performers in that sub-genre
• WSM Radio
• Country Music Hall of Fame
• Grand Ole Opry
• Country Music Television
• Great American Country

This is an alphabetical list of country music performers. ... The Academy of Country Music (ACM) was founded in 1964 in Nashville, Tennessee. ... The Country Music Association (CMA) was founded in 1958 in Nashville, Tennessee. ... Alternative Country is a term applied to various subgenres of country music. ... WSM is the call letters of a 50,000 watt AM radio station (and its associated FM station) located in Nashville, Tennessee. ... Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum 2001 - Present The Country Music Hall of Fame is a museum at 222 Fifth Avenue South in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. ... The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly Saturday night country music radio program broadcast live on WSM Radio in Nashville, Tennessee. ... For the disease CMT see Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. ... Great American Country, or GAC, is a Tennessee-based country music cable television network similar to Country Music Television (CMT). ...

External links

• GoneCountry.us - Rising Country Music Talent
• History of Country Music
• Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
• The Country Music Association (America)
• The Canadian Country Music Association
• AngryCountry Country Music News Magazine
• Country Weekly magazine
• Grand Ole Opry website
• LP Discography-Covers & Lyrics
• Traditional Country Hall of Fame
• Pure Country Music
• Top Country Songs

Tribute sites to early artists

• Vernon Dalhart
• Carson Robison
• Don Richardson