This article is about the genre of popular music from the United States and Canada. For other music genres that are sometimes described as country music, see Country music (disambiguation) Country music covers different genres of music, including: American country music Australian country music Brazilian country music in the American tradition: sertaneja British country music Canadian country music Christian country music Irish country music Japanese country music Native American country music Norwegian country music Russian country music South African country...

Country music, the first half of Billboard's country and western music category, is a blend of popular musical forms originally found in the Southern United States. It has roots in traditional folk music, Celtic music, blues, gospel music, hokum, and old-time music and evolved rapidly in the 1920s.^[1] The term country music began to be used in the 1940s when the earlier term hillbilly music was deemed to be degrading, and the term was widely embraced in the 1970s, while country and western has declined in use since that time.^[1] West Virginia fiddler Edwin Edden Hammons, with unidentified banjo player Old-time music is a form of North American folk music, with roots in the folk music of many countries, including England, Scotland and Ireland, as well as the continent of Africa. ... Blues is a vocal and instrumental form of music based on the use of the blue notes and a repetitive pattern that most often follows a twelve-bar structure. ... == Historical background on spiritual music Spirituals were often expressions of religious faith, although they may also have served as socio-political protests veiled as assimilation to white, American culture. ... The Music of England has a long history. ... Celtic music is a term utilized by record companies, music stores and music magazines to describe a broad grouping of musical genres that evolved out of the folk musical traditions of the Celtic peoples of Western Europe. ... It has been suggested that Poverty in Appalachia be merged into this article or section. ... Official language(s) English Capital Nashville Largest city Memphis Largest metro area Nashville Area  Ranked 36th  - Total 42,169 sq mi (109,247 km²)  - Width 120 miles (195 km)  - Length 440 miles (710 km)  - % water 2. ... Official language(s) English Capital Charleston Largest city Charleston Area  Ranked 41st  - Total 24,244 sq mi (62,809 km²)  - Width 130 miles (210 km)  - Length 240 miles (385 km)  - % water 0. ... Official language(s) English[1] Capital Frankfort Largest city Louisville Area  Ranked 37th  - Total 40,444 sq mi (104,749 km²)  - Width 140 miles (225 km)  - Length 379 miles (610 km)  - % water 1. ... A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified with the purpose of making music. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... 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 modern Gibson Dobro Dobro is a trade name now owned by Gibson Guitar Corporation and used for a particular design of resonator guitar. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The electric bass guitar (or electric bass) is an electrically-amplified string instrument played with the fingers by plucking, slapping, or using a pick. ... // 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). ... A mandolin is a small, stringed musical instrument which is plucked, strummed or a combination of both. ... For other uses, see Banjo (disambiguation) A modern 5-string banjo The banjo is a stringed instrument of African American origin adapted from several African instruments. ... The Nashville sound in country music arose during the 1950s in the United States. ... Bluegrass music is considered a form of American roots music which has its own roots in Irish, African, Scottish and English traditional music. ... This is a list of music genres derived from and related to country music Alternative country Appalachian Americana Bakersfield sound Bluegrass New traditional bluegrass Old-time bluegrass/Appalachian bluegrass Progressive bluegrass Cajun Close harmony Country gospel Country pop/Cosmopolitan country Cowpunk Country rock/Cosmic American music Country soul Deathcountry Folk... 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 which has its own roots in Irish, African, Scottish and English traditional music. ... 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 a mix of traditional and home-made instruments. ... 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 most elements of modern Top 40 country music. ... Willie Nelson Outlaw country was a significant trend in country music during the late 1960s and the 1970s (and even into the 1980s in some cases), commonly referred to as The Outlaw Movement (both by fans and by people in the music industry) or simply Outlaw music [1]. The focus... Red Dirt is a genre of music based in and around Stillwater, Oklahoma. ... // A Texas Country Guitar. ... Matt Hillyer of Texas-based Eleven Hundred Springs 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. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Deathcountry is a country music genre, best described as traditional country music with a morbid anarchist Punk rock and Psychobilly attitude. ... Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock n’ roll music to emerge during the 1950s. ... Country-rap is the fusion of country music with hip hop music. ... Country Pop is a subgenre of country music that first emerged in the 1970s, with roots in both the countrypolitan sound and in soft rock. ... This is an alphabetical list of country music performers. ... This page indexes the individual year in country music pages. ... Billboard can refer to: Billboard magazine Billboard (advertising) Billboard antenna In 3D computer graphics, to billboard is to rotate an object so that it faces the viewer. ... 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. ... Historic Southern United States. ... “Folk song” redirects here. ... Celtic music is a term utilized by record companies, music stores and music magazines to describe a broad grouping of musical genres that evolved out of the folk musical traditions of the Celtic peoples of Western Europe. ... Blues is a vocal and instrumental form of music based on the use of the blue notes and a repetitive pattern that most often follows a twelve-bar structure. ... Gospel music refers to the religious music that first came out of African-American churches in the first quarter of the twentieth century or, more loosely, to both black gospel music and to the religious music composed and sung by predominately white Southern Gospel artists. ... Hokum is a particular song type of American blues music - a humorous song which uses extended analogies or euphemistic terms to make sexual innuendoes. ... West Virginia fiddler Edwin Edden Hammons, with unidentified banjo player Old-time music is a form of North American folk music, with roots in the folk music of many countries, including England, Scotland and Ireland, as well as the continent of Africa. ... Hillbilly is a term referring to people who dwell in remote, rural, mountainous areas. ...

In the Southwestern United States a different mix of ethnic groups from Mexico, the British Isles, Germany, and the Czech Republic created the music that became the Western music of the term Country Western. [1] Regional definitions vary from source to source. ... Poster from the Western Music, directly related to the old English, Scottish, and Irish folk ballads, was originally composed by and about the people settling and working in the American West and western Canada. ...

Country music has produced three of the top selling solo artists of all time. Elvis Presley, “The Hillbilly Cat”, appeared on the Louisiana Hayride for three years,[2] went on help define rock ‘n’ roll, and became known as “The King.” Garth Brooks, except for a short foray into non-country near the end of his recording career, recorded and performed country music and is one top selling solo artist. Johnny Cash the "Man In Black," is one of the best and one of the most influential country singers of all time. Elvis Aron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), often known simply as Elvis and also called The King of Rock n Roll or simply The King, was an American singer, musician and actor. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Johnny Cash (born J. R. Cash, February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American, multi Grammy Award-winning influential American country and rock and roll singer and songwriter. ...

As of 2007, country is the most popular radio format in America, reaching 77.3 million adults--almost 40 percent of the adult population--every week. [3]

Many songs have been adapted to different country music 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 many artists including Patsy Cline, Ricky Nelson, Willie Nelson, Elvis Presley,[4] George Strait, and Bob Wills. Kokomo Arnold (15 February 1901–8 November 1968) was an American blues musician. ... Patsy Cline (September 8, 1932 – March 5, 1963) was an American country music singer, who enjoyed pop music cross-over success during the era of the Nashville Sound in the early 1960s. ... This article or section needs additional references or sources to facilitate its verification. ... Willie Nelson (born William Hugh Nelson, 30 April 1933) is an American entertainer and songwriter, born and raised in Abbott, Texas. ... Elvis Aron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), often known simply as Elvis and also called The King of Rock n Roll or simply The King, was an American singer, musician and actor. ... George Harvey Strait, (born May 18, 1952), is an American country music singer. ... James Robert (Bob) Wills (March 6, 1905 – May 13, 1975) was an American country musician, songwriter, and big band leader. ...

Subgenres

Country music is a catch-all category that embraces several different music genres. Each style is unique in its execution, use of rhythms, and its chord structures. Country music subgenres include:

• 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 Flatt and Scruggs;
• Western, which encompasses traditional Western cowboy campfire ballads and Hollywood cowboy music made famous by Roy Rogers, The Sons of the Pioneers, and Gene Autry;
• Western swing, a sophisticated dance music popularized by Bob Wills;
• the Bakersfield sound which used the new Fender Telecaster guitars, a big drum beat, and dance style music that would catch your attention like "a freight train running" (Buck Owens) (popularized by Buck Owens and Merle Haggard);
• outlaw country made famous in the 1970s by Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Billy Joe Shaver, David Allan Coe, Jerry Jeff Walker, Mickey Newbury, Kris Kristofferson, Merle Haggard, and Hank Williams, Jr.;
• Cajun and zydeco;
• honky tonk;
• Old-time music;
• rockabilly;
• neotraditional country.

The Nashville sound in country music arose during the 1950s in the United States. ... Bluegrass music is considered a form of American roots music which has its own roots in Irish, African, Scottish and English traditional music. ... A mandolin is a small, stringed musical instrument which is plucked, strummed or a combination of both. ... For other uses, see Banjo (disambiguation) A modern 5-string banjo The banjo is a stringed instrument of African American origin adapted from several African instruments. ... The term fiddle refers to a violin when used in folk music. ... 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 and Earl Scruggs were influential bluegrass musicans during the 1950s and 1960s. ... Poster from the Western Music, directly related to the old English, Scottish, and Irish folk ballads, was originally composed by and about the people settling and working in the American West and western Canada. ... Dale Evans & Roy Rogers at the 61st Academy Awards. ... The Sons of the Pioneers was an American cowboy singing group founded in 1933 by Leonard Slye (better known by his later screen name Roy Rogers), with Tim Spencer and Bob Nolan. ... Gene Autry. ... 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, songwriter, and big band leader. ... 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. ... The Fender Telecaster, also known as a Tele, is a typically dual-pickup, solid-body electric guitar made by Fender. ... Alvis Edgar Buck Owens, Jr. ... Merle Ronald Haggard (born April 6, 1937) 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 (and even into the 1980s in some cases), commonly referred to as The Outlaw Movement (both by fans and by people in the music industry) or simply Outlaw music [1]. The focus... Johnny Cash (born J. R. Cash, February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American, multi Grammy Award-winning influential American country and rock and roll singer and songwriter. ... Waylon Jennings in the 1960s. ... Willie Nelson (born William Hugh Nelson, 30 April 1933) is an American entertainer and songwriter, born and raised in Abbott, Texas. ... Billy Joe Shaver (He was born August 16, 1939 in Corsicana, Texas) is an American country music singer and songwriter. ... David Allan Coe (born David Alan Coe on September 6, 1939 in Akron, Ohio) is an American country music singer who achieved his greatest popularity in the 1970s and 1980s. ... Jerry Jeff Walker, 2002 Jerry Jeff Walker (born March 16, 1942) is a country music singer. ... Mickey Newbury ( May 19, 1940 - September 29, 2002) was an American singer and songwriter. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Merle Ronald Haggard (born April 6, 1937) is an American country music singer, guitarist and songwriter. ... This article is not written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. ... Cajun music, an emblematic music of Louisiana, is rooted in the ballads of the French-speaking Catholics of Canada. ... Early Creole musicians playing an accordion and a washboard in front of a store, near New Iberia, Louisiana (1938). ... Honky tonk was originally the name of a type of bar common throughout the southern United States, also Honkatonk or Honkey-tonk. ... West Virginia fiddler Edwin Edden Hammons, with unidentified banjo player Old-time music is a form of North American folk music, with roots in the folk music of many countries, including England, Scotland and Ireland, as well as the continent of Africa. ... Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock n’ roll music to emerge during the 1950s. ... Neotraditional country, also known as new traditional country, is a country music style that rejects most elements of modern Top 40 country music. ...

Early History

Immigrants to the Southern Appalachian Mountains of North America brought the music and instruments of the Old World along with them for nearly 300 years. The Irish fiddle, the German derived dulcimer, the Italian mandolin, the Spanish guitar, and the African banjo[5] were the most common musical instruments. The interactions among musicians from different ethnic groups produced music unique to this region of North America. Appalachian string bands of the early 20th century primarliy consisted of the fiddle, guitar, and banjo. [6] This early country music along with early recorded country music is often referred to as Old-time music. The term fiddle refers to a violin when used in folk music. ... Two Appalachian dulcimers The Appalachian dulcimer is a fretted string instrument of the zither family, typically with three or four strings, although contemporary versions of the instrument can have as many as twelve strings and six courses. ... A mandolin is a small, stringed musical instrument which is plucked, strummed or a combination of both. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... For other uses, see Banjo (disambiguation) A modern 5-string banjo The banjo is a stringed instrument of African American origin adapted from several African instruments. ... West Virginia fiddler Edwin Edden Hammons, with unidentified banjo player Old-time music is a form of North American folk music, with roots in the folk music of many countries, including England, Scotland and Ireland, as well as the continent of Africa. ...

Throughout the nineteenth century, several immigrant groups from Central Europe and the British Isles moved to Texas. These groups interacted with the Spanish, Mexican, Native American, and U.S. communities that were already established in Texas. As a result of this cohabitation and extended contact, Texas has developed unique cultural traits that are rooted in the culture of all of its founding communities. The settlers from the area now known as Germany and the Czech Republic established large dance halls in Texas where farmers and townspeople from neighboring communities could gather, dance, and spend a night enjoying each other’s company. The music at these halls, brought from Europe, included the waltz and the polka, played on an accordion, an instrument invented in Italy, which was loud enough to fill the entire dance hall. [7]

Early Recorded History

Columbia Records began issuing records with "hillbilly" music (series 15000D "Old Familiar Tunes") as early as 1924.[8] A year earlier on June 14, 1923 Fiddlin' John Carson recorded "Little Log Cabin in the Lane" for Okeh records.[9] Vernon Dalhart was the first country singer to have a nationwide hit in May of that same year with "The Wreck of Old '97". [10][11] Other important early recording artists were Riley Puckett, Don Richardson, Fiddlin' John Carson, Ernest Stoneman, Charlie Poole and the North Carolina Ramblers and The Skillet Lickers.[12]The steel guitar entered country music as early as 1922, when Jimmie Tarlton met famed Hawaiian guitarist Frank Ferera on the West Coast.^[2] Columbia Records is the oldest brand name in recorded sound, dating back to 1888, and was the first record company to produce pre-recorded records as opposed to blank cylinders. ... Fiddlin John Carson (March 23, 1868–December 11, 1949) was an early country music musician. ... 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. ... Fiddlin John Carson (March 23, 1868–December 11, 1949) was an early country music musician. ... 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. ...

The origins of modern country music can be traced 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 a historic recording session in Bristol, Tennessee/Bristol, Virginia on August 1, 1927, where Ralph Peer was the talent scout and sound recordist. ‹ The template below has been proposed for deletion. ... Maybelle, A.P. and Sara The Carter Family was a country music group that performed and recorded between 1927 and 1943. ... The Bristol sessions are considered the Big Bang of modern country music. ... Nickname: The Birthplace of Country Music Motto: A Good Place To Live Coordinates: Country United States State Tennessee County Sullivan Mayor Jim Messimer Area    - City 76. ... Motto: A Good Place to Live Nickname: The Birthplace of Country Music Map Political Statistics County Independent city Mayor To Be Determined Geographic Statistics Area  - Total  - Land  - Water 34. ... August 1 is the 213th day of the year (214th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1927 (MCMXXVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar). ... Ralph Peer (May 22, 1892 - January 19, 1960) was born Ralph Sylvester Peer in Independence, Missouri. ...

Jimmie Rodgers' influence

Jimmie Rodgers built on the traditional ballads and musical influences of the South, and 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. Since 1953, Meridian's Jimmie Rodgers Memorial Festival has been held annually during May to honor the anniversary of Rodgers' death. The first festival was on May 26, 1953. Jimmie Rodgers was the name of two singers: Jimmie Rodgers (country singer) Jimmie Rodgers (pop singer) Jimmie Rodgers (SPC Deputy Director General) Note that there was also a Jimmy Rogers (note the spelling), a blues singer born in 1924. ... Meridian is a city located in, and the county seat of, Lauderdale County in Mississippi, a state of the United States of America. ... “Folk song” redirects here. ... May 26 is the 146th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (147th in leap years). ... 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday. ...

Pathos, humour, 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, Sr., 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. For other persons named Hank Williams, see Hank Williams (disambiguation). ... Merle Ronald Haggard (born April 6, 1937) is an American country music singer, guitarist and songwriter. ... Waylon Jennings in the 1960s. ... George Glenn Jones (born September 12, 1931), is an American country music artist 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 singer-songwriter, performer, and poet. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Johnny Cash (born J. R. Cash, February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American, multi Grammy Award-winning influential American country and rock and roll 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 one of the earliest styles of rock n’ roll music to emerge during the 1950s. ... 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. ...

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 (born Ellen Muriel Deason on August 30, 1919) is an American Country Music Singer. ... Patsy Cline (September 8, 1932 – March 5, 1963) was an American country music singer, who enjoyed pop music cross-over success during the era of the Nashville Sound in the early 1960s. ... Loretta Lynn (born Loretta Webb April 14, 1934) is an American country singer and was one of the leading country female vocalists during the 1960s and 1970s. ... Skeeter Davis Skeeter Davis Skeeter Davis Mary Frances 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 (May 5, 1942 – April 6, 1998) was a country singer and songwriter. ... Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American Grammy-winning and Academy Award-nominated country singer, songwriter, composer, author, actress and philanthropist. ... Valerie June Carter Cash (June 23, 1929 – May 15, 2003) was a singer, songwriter, actress and comedian and was a member of the Carter Family, and the second wife of singer Johnny Cash. ... Johnny Cash (born J. R. Cash, February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American, multi Grammy Award-winning influential American country and rock and roll singer and songwriter. ...

Hank Williams

Hank Williams 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. During the years 1949 through 1953, Williams had 7 songs in Billboard's annual Top 5 Country singles, and of the 66 songs recorded under his own name, an astonishing 37 were hits.[13] His songs have been not only been covered by many country artists, they have also been recorded by jazz, pop, and rhythm and blues. Examples of those who reintrepreted his songs are: Tony Bennett (1951), Bob Dylan, jazz diva Norah Jones, crooner Perry Como, R&B star Dinah Washington, and British punk band, The The.[14] Songs such as "Cold, Cold Heart" and "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" have long been pop standards. It has been suggested that Audrey Williams be merged into this article or section. ... Jazz is a musical art form that originated in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States around the start of the 20th century. ... For popular forms of music in general, see Popular music. ... Rhythm and blues (also known as R&B or RnB) is a popular music genre combining jazz, gospel, and blues influences — first performed by African American artists. ... Cold, Cold Heart is a country music and popular music song, written by Hank Williams, that is both a classic of honky tonk and an entry in the Great American Songbook. ... Im So Lonesome I Could Cry is a song written and recorded by American country music singer-songwriter Hank Williams in 1949. ... The term pop standards refers to an American songwriting, arranging, and singing style that is widely considered as the high point of Western vocal popular music. ...

Williams 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 such as I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry and Your Cheating Heart; and more upbeat numbers about Cajun life ("Jambalaya") or cigar store Indians ("Kaw-Liga"). 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. ... This article is about an ethnic culture. ... 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. ... Kaw-Liga by Hank Williams MGM Records Kaw-Liga (IPA: ) is a proto-rockabilly song written by Hank Williams and Fred Rose. ...

The 1950s

One contemporary of Williams outpaced him in reaching the Top 5 Country list. Eddy Arnold placed a total of 8 songs in the years 1947 through 1949, and one each in the years 1951 and 1954. [15][16] Eddy Arnold (May 15, 1918) is an American country music singer. ...

1956 could be called the year of rockabilly in country music. The number 2, 3, and 4 songs on Billboard's charts for that year are: Elvis Presley Heartbreak Hotel, Johnny Cash I Walk the Line, and Carl Perkins Blue Suede Shoes.[17] Cash and Presley would place songs in the top 5 in 1958 with #3 Guess Things Happen That Way/Come In, Stranger by Cash, and #5 by Presley Don't/I Beg Of You.[18] Elvis Aron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), often known simply as Elvis and also called The King of Rock n Roll or simply The King, was an American singer, musician and actor. ... Heartbreak Hotel is a rock and roll song by Elvis Presley, with Bill Black (bass) and Scotty Moore (guitar) as the main supporting musicians. ... Johnny Cash (born J. R. Cash, February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American, multi Grammy Award-winning influential American country and rock and roll singer and songwriter. ... I Walk the Line is a song written by Johnny Cash and recorded in 1956. ... Carl Lee Perkins (April 9, 1932 – January 19, 1998) was an American pioneer of rockabilly music, a mix of rhythm and blues and country music that evolved at Sun Records in Memphis in the early 1950s. ... For other uses of Blue Suede Shoes, see Blue Suede Shoes (disambiguation). ...

What is now most commonly referred to as rockabilly was most popular with country music fans in the 1950s, and was recorded and performed by country musicians. Within a few years many rockabilly musicians returned to a more mainstrean style, or had defined their own unique style. Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock n’ roll music to emerge during the 1950s. ...

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 and helped revive country as it emerged from a commercially fallow period. [19] 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. The "slip note" piano style of session musician Floyd Cramer was an important component of this style. 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. Nickname: Location in Davidson County and the state of Tennessee Coordinates: Country United States State Tennessee Counties Davidson County Founded: 1779 Incorporated: 1806 Government  - Mayor Bill Purcell (D) Area  - City  526. ... Official language(s) English Capital Nashville Largest city Memphis Largest metro area Nashville Area  Ranked 36th  - Total 42,169 sq mi (109,247 km²)  - Width 120 miles (195 km)  - Length 440 miles (710 km)  - % water 2. ... Chet Atkins Chester Burton Chet Atkins (June 20, 1924 – June 30, 2001) was an influential guitarist and record producer. ... The cover of Bradleys biggest single as a performer, Big Guitar. ... Billy Sherrill (born Campbell, Alabama, November 5, 1936) 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 (September 8, 1932 – March 5, 1963) was an American country music singer, who enjoyed pop music cross-over success during the era of the Nashville Sound in the early 1960s. ... Jim Reeves (August 20, 1923 – July 31, 1964) was an American country singer and pop singer. ... Tammy Wynette (May 5, 1942 – April 6, 1998) was a country singer and songwriter. ... Charlie Rich (December 14, 1932 - July 25, 1995) was an American musician, songwriter, and pianist. ... Floyd Cramer (October 27, 1933 - December 31, 1997) was an American Hall of Fame pianist who was one of the architects of the Nashville Sound. ... 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, was the breakthrough moment of the burgeoning 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 referring to people who dwell in remote, rural, mountainous areas. ...

Not Nashville

In 1962 Ray Charles surprised the pop world by turning his attention to country & western music, topping the charts and rating # 3 for the year on BillBoard’s pop chart [20] with the I Can't Stop Loving You single, and recording the hugely popular album Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music. Ray Charles was the stage name of Ray Charles Robinson (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004). ... I Cant Stop Loving You was an international smash for legendary musician Ray Charles in 1962. ... Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music is a 1962 album by Ray Charles. ...

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).^{[citation needed]}

"After I left Nashville (the early 70s), I wanted to relax and play the music that I wanted to play, and just stay around Texas, maybe Oklahoma. Waylon and I had that outlaw image going, and when it caught on at colleges and we started selling records, we were O.K. The whole outlaw thing — it had nothing to do with the music, it was something that got written in an article, and the young people said, "Well, that's pretty cool." And started listening." (Willie Nelson)^[3]

Dwight Yoakam helped lead a revival of the Bakersfield Sound in the 1980s and Brad Paisley incorporates it in much of his music today. Dwight David Yoakam (born October 23, 1956) is an American musician, songwriter, and actor. ... Brad Paisley (born October 28, 1972) is an American country music singer, virtuoso guitarist, and songwriter from Glen Dale, West Virginia. ...

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. 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 Skaggs1st off Skaggs was known to hate everyone he met. ... Capitol Records is a major United States-based record label, owned by EMI. // 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...

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 is an American country music singer-songwriter duo. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... 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 in Seguin, Texas) is an American singer, guitarist and songwriter from Austin, Texas. ...

In the mid 1990s country western music was influenced by the popularity of line dancing. This influence was so great that Chet Atkins was quoted as saying "The music has gotten pretty bad, I think. It's all that damn line dancing." ^[4] By the end of the decade, however, at least one line dance choreographer complained that good country line dance music was no longer being released. Line dance is a formation dance where a group of people stand in a line or in lines, and they all execute the same dance moves. ... Chet Atkins Chester Burton Chet Atkins (June 20, 1924 – June 30, 2001) was an influential guitarist and record producer. ...

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. Matt Hillyer of Texas-based Eleven Hundred Springs 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 most elements of modern Top 40 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. ...

One infrequent, but consistent theme in country music is that of proud, stubborn independence. "Country Boy Can Survive",[21] and "Copperhead Road" [22] are two of the more serious songs along those lines; while "Some Girls Do",[23] and "Redneck Woman" [24] are more light hearted variations on the theme.

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). The original American country music video cable channel was TNN (The Nashville Network). The channel was launched in the early 1980s. In 2000, the channel was renamed and reformated to TNN (The National Network), which was a general interest network to compete with USA Network, TNT, and Superstations, such as TBS and WGN. Subsequently, The National Network became SpikeTV, the first network for men. Country Music Television, or CMT as it usually called, is an American country music oriented cable television channel. ... This page is about the post-2005 Viacom. ... VH1 (which stands for Video Hits 1) is an American cable television channel that was created in 1985. ... This page is about the post-2005 Viacom. ... Great American Country (or GAC), is a Nashville, Tennessee-based country music cable television network. ... The E.W. Scripps Company (NYSE: SSP) is an American media conglomerate founded by Edward W. Scripps on November 2, 1878, originally known as the Cleveland Penny Press. ...

Performers

Main article: List of country music 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 recorded hundreds of songs until 1931.
• Johnny Cash created the boom-chicka-boom sound and recorded music from 1954 to 2003.
• Jimmie Rodgers, first country superstar, the "Father of Country Music".
• The Carter Family, rural country-folk, known for hits like "Wildwood Flower".
• Roy Acuff Grand Ole Opry star for 50 years, "King of Country Music".
• Patsy Montana, the first female Country singer to sell 1 million records.
• Girls of the Golden West, one of the first Country music duo groups.
• 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", "Your Cheatin' Heart" and "Jambalaya (On the Bayou)".
• Bill Monroe, father of bluegrass music.
• The Davis Sisters, best-known for the hit "I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know"
• 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.
• Goldie Hill, the "golden hillbilly", best known for the hit song "I Let the Stars Get in My Eyes".
• Wilf Carter, the "yodeling" cowboy, aka Montana Slim.
• Jean Shepard, one of Country's leading female vocalists in the 1950s.
• 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 - 15 September 1948) was a popular United States singer and songwriter of the early decades of the 20th century. ... Johnny Cash (born J. R. Cash, February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American, multi Grammy Award-winning influential American country and rock and roll singer and songwriter. ... ‹ The template below has been proposed for deletion. ... Maybelle, A.P. and Sara The Carter Family was a rural country music group that performed between 1927 and 1943. ... Roy Acuff on the cover of The Great Roy Acuff (1964) Roy Claxton Acuff (15 September 1903 – 23 November 1992) was an American country musician. ... Rubye Blevins aka Patsy Montana (30 October 1908–3 May 1996) was an American country music singer-songwriter and the first female country music performer to sell one million records. ... The Girls of the Golden West (Mildred Fern Good & Dorothy Laverne Good) were a female country music girl group that was popular during the Western Era of Country music in the 1930s and 40s. ... 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 Hall of Fame country music singer and songwriter. ... Hank Williams Sr. ... A vintage belt buckle from Gilleys, a large honky tonk featured in the movie Urban Cowboy. ... Jambalaya (On the Bayou) is a song credited to Hank Williams, released in 1952, which reached great popularity in two genres: country and popular music. ... 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 which has its own roots in Irish, African, Scottish and English traditional music. ... The Davis Sisters were a country music duo group consisting of two singers, Skeeter Davis and Betty Jack Davis. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly Saturday night country music radio program broadcast live on WSM radio in Nashville, Tennessee, and televised on Great American Country network. ... The Louvin Brothers were Charlie and Ira Louvin, an American duo best-known as the popularizers of close harmony, a kind of country music. ... Don (born February 1, 1937 in Brownie, a small coal-mining town (now defunct) near Central City, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky) and Phil Everly (born January 18, 1939 in Chicago, Illinois) are country-influenced rock and roll performers who had their greatest success in the 1950s. ... James Cecil Dickens (born December 19, 1920 from Bolt, West Virginia), Hillbilly singers never will come any hillbilly-er than Little Jimmy Dickens. ... Goldie Hill (b. ... 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. ... Jean Shepard (born November 21, 1933 in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma) or Ollie Imogene Shepard was one of the first female vocalists in the country music field to become a major star in the early 1950s. ... Webb Pierce (born August 8, 1921 - died February 24, 1991), was an American country music singer. ... Kitty Wells (born Ellen Muriel Deason on August 30, 1919) is an American Country Music Singer. ... 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 & Country Pop In the 60s, 70s & 80s

Country Pop is a subgenre of country music that first emerged in the 1970s, with roots in both the countrypolitan sound and in soft rock. ... Johnny Cash (born J. R. Cash, February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American, multi Grammy Award-winning influential American country and rock and roll singer and songwriter. ... Ring of Fire can refer to: // Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash, an album by Johnny Cash which, despite its name, was not strictly a best of album as it featured the first ever recording of the famous song of the same name Ring of Fire (song), a... Folsom Prison Blues is an American country music song written by Johnny Cash in the early 1950s and originally recorded with his trio in 1956 for the Sun Records label. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... James William Anderson III (born November 1, 1937 in Columbia, South Carolina) is an American country music singer and songwriter, nicknamed Whisperin Bill. Arguably his biggest hit was the 1963 single Still. He also wrote the country standard Once A Day for Connie Smith. ... Liz Anderson was one of the major country music songwriters of the 1960s who was also one of the eras leading female vocalists. ... It has been suggested that Audrey Williams be merged into this article or section. ... 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. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979. ... Deborah Allen (b. ... 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. ... Moe Bandy (born in 1944 in Meridan, Mississippi) is a country music singer, currently performing primarily in Branson, Missouri at the Moe Bandy Theater. ... Margie Bowes (born March 18, 1941 in Roxboro, North Carolina) is an American Country Music singer. ... Centuries: 1st century BC - 1st century - 2nd century Decades: 0s - 10s - 20s - 30s - 40s - 50s - 60s - 70s - 80s - 90s - 100s 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 Sometimes the 50s is used as shorthand for the 1950s, the 1850s, or other such decades in various centuries Events... The Browns were an American family singing group from Pine Bluff, Arkansas made up of Jim Ed Brown and his sisters, Maxine Brown and Bonnie Brown. ... Patsy Cline (September 8, 1932 – March 5, 1963) was an American country music singer, who enjoyed pop music cross-over success during the era of the Nashville Sound in the early 1960s. ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... David Allan Coe (born David Alan Coe on September 6, 1939 in Akron, Ohio) is an American country music singer who achieved his greatest popularity in the 1970s and 1980s. ... Centuries: 1st century BC - 1st century - 2nd century Decades: 20s - 30s - 40s - 50s - 60s - 70s - 80s - 90s - 100s - 110s - 120s 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 Note: Sometimes the 70s is used as shorthand for the 1970s, the 1870s, or other such decades in other centuries... Jessi Colter was born Mirriam Johnson on May 25, 1943. ... Waylon Jennings in the 1960s. ... Im Not Lisa is a popular 1975 Country and Pop song by Country Music artist Jessi Colter. ... Skeeter Davis Skeeter Davis Skeeter Davis Mary Frances 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. ... Mac Davis (born Scott Davis, January 21, 1942, in Lubbock, Texas) is a country music singer and songwriter, who has enjoyed much pop music crossover success. ... Country Pop is a subgenre of country music that first emerged in the 1970s, with roots in both the countrypolitan sound and in soft rock. ... Centuries: 1st century BC - 1st century - 2nd century Decades: 20s - 30s - 40s - 50s - 60s - 70s - 80s - 90s - 100s - 110s - 120s 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 Note: Sometimes the 70s is used as shorthand for the 1970s, the 1870s, or other such decades in other centuries... Centuries: 1st century BC - 1st century - 2nd century Decades: 30s - 40s - 50s - 60s - 70s - 80s - 90s - 100s - 110s - 120s - 130s 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 Note: Sometimes 80s is used as shorthand for the 1980s, the 1880s, or other such decades in different centuries. ... For the Actor, see James Dean. ... Roy Drusky (June 22, 1930 - September 23, 2004) was a country music singer. ... 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,. Martins high voice mixed with Monroe... Janie Fricke (born December 19, 1947) is an American country music singer-guitarist. ... The Nashville sound in country music arose during the 1950s in the United States. ... Centuries: 1st century BC - 1st century - 2nd century Decades: 30s - 40s - 50s - 60s - 70s - 80s - 90s - 100s - 110s - 120s - 130s 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 Note: Sometimes 80s is used as shorthand for the 1980s, the 1880s, or other such decades in different centuries. ... William Orville Lefty Frizzell (March 31, 1928 – July 19, 1975) was an American country music singer and songwriter of the 1950s; a leading exponent of the Honky Tonk style of country music. ... Crystal Gayle (born Brenda Gail Webb January 9, 1951) is an American Country Music/Pop Music Singer. ... Loretta Lynn (born Loretta Webb April 14, 1934) is an American country singer and was one of the leading country female vocalists during the 1960s and 1970s. ... The Nashville sound in country music arose during the 1950s in the United States. ... Centuries: 1st century BC - 1st century - 2nd century Decades: 20s - 30s - 40s - 50s - 60s - 70s - 80s - 90s - 100s - 110s - 120s 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 Note: Sometimes the 70s is used as shorthand for the 1970s, the 1870s, or other such decades in other centuries... Centuries: 1st century BC - 1st century - 2nd century Decades: 30s - 40s - 50s - 60s - 70s - 80s - 90s - 100s - 110s - 120s - 130s 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 Note: Sometimes 80s is used as shorthand for the 1980s, the 1880s, or other such decades in different centuries. ... Donald Eugene Gibson (April 3, 1928 – November 17, 2003) was an American country musician. ... Country Pop is a subgenre of country music that first emerged in the 1970s, with roots in both the countrypolitan sound and in soft rock. ... Merle Ronald Haggard (born April 6, 1937) 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. ... Connie Hall (b. ... Centuries: 1st century BC - 1st century - 2nd century Decades: 10s - 20s - 30s - 40s - 50s - 60s - 70s - 80s - 90s - 100s - 110s 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 Note: Sometimes the 60s is used as shorthand for the 1960s, the 1860s, or other such decades in various centuries... Tom T. Hall (born May 25, 1936 in Olive Hill, Kentucky) is an American country balladeer and songwriter. ... Charles Hardin Holley (September 7, 1936 – February 3, 1959), better known as Buddy Holly, was an American singer, songwriter, and a pioneer of rock and roll. ... Johnny Horton (April 30, 1925 – November 5, 1960) was an American country music singer. ... 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1960 calendar). ... 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 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 in the 1960s. ... George Glenn Jones (born September 12, 1931), is an American country music artist known for his distinctive voice and phrasing that frequently evoke the raw emotions caused by grief, unhappy love, and emotional hardship. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... A songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics to songs, the musical composition or melody to songs, or both. ... Loretta Lynn (born Loretta Webb April 14, 1934) is an American country singer and was one of the leading country female vocalists during the 1960s and 1970s. ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from January 1, 1960 to December 31, 1969, inclusive. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979. ... A section of the album jacket for Golden Hits Roger Dean Miller (January 2, 1936 – October 25, 1992) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician. ... Ronnie Milsap (born Ronnie Lee Milsap January 16, 1943 in Robbinsville, North Carolina) is an American Country/Pop Singer and Musician. ... Melba Montgomery (born October 14, 1938 in Iron City, Tennessee) is an American Country Music singer, who is best known for her string of her duet hits with George Jones, Charlie Louvin and Gene Pitney. ... Centuries: 1st century BC - 1st century - 2nd century Decades: 10s - 20s - 30s - 40s - 50s - 60s - 70s - 80s - 90s - 100s - 110s 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 Note: Sometimes the 60s is used as shorthand for the 1960s, the 1860s, or other such decades in various centuries... Centuries: 1st century BC - 1st century - 2nd century Decades: 20s - 30s - 40s - 50s - 60s - 70s - 80s - 90s - 100s - 110s - 120s 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 Note: Sometimes the 70s is used as shorthand for the 1970s, the 1870s, or other such decades in other centuries... Willie Nelson (born William Hugh Nelson, 30 April 1933) is an American entertainer and songwriter, born and raised in 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 (and even into the 1980s in some cases), commonly referred to as The Outlaw Movement (both by fans and by people in the music industry) or simply Outlaw music [1]. The focus... 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. ... Marie Osmond (born Olive Marie Osmond October 13, 1959 in Ogden, Utah) is an American actress, singer, and a member of the show business family, The Osmonds. ... The Osmonds are an American family pop group who achieved enormous worldwide success as teenybopper idols in the 1970s. ... 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 Grammy-winning and Academy Award-nominated country singer, songwriter, composer, author, actress and philanthropist. ... 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. ... 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 very few African Americans to have a successful career in modern country music. ... Jeanne Pruett (born 1937) is an American country singer, probably best known for her 1973 hit Satin Sheets. ... Susan Raye (born October 8, 1944 in Eugene, Oregon) was one of the leading female country music vocalist of the 1970s. ... Jim Reeves (August 20, 1923 – July 31, 1964) was an American country singer and pop singer. ... 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 guitarist and record producer. ... Charlie Rich (December 14, 1932 - July 25, 1995) was an American musician, songwriter, and pianist. ... Marty Robbins, (September 26, 1925, Glendale, Arizona - December 8, 1982), was an American Country & Western Hall of Fame musician. ... 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. ... Kenneth Donald Kenny Rogers (born August 21, 1938, in Houston, Texas) is a prolific American country music singer, photographer, producer, songwriter, actor and businessman. ... 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. ... Margie Singleton, (born October 5, 1935 in Coushatta, Louisiana), is an American singer of country music. ... Centuries: 1st century BC - 1st century - 2nd century Decades: 10s - 20s - 30s - 40s - 50s - 60s - 70s - 80s - 90s - 100s - 110s 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 Note: Sometimes the 60s is used as shorthand for the 1960s, the 1860s, or other such decades in various centuries... Connie Smith (born August 14, 1941), born Constance Meador in Elkhart, Indiana, USA, is a country singer, best known for her 1964 hit song Once a Day, and often hailed by music critics as one of the finest voices in Country Music. ... Margo Smith (Born April 9, 1942, Dayton, Ohio) is a country music singer. ... Jewel Sammi Smith (1944 — February 21, 2005) was a country music singer, best known for her ballad, Help Me Make It Through The Night, which reached #1 on the US charts in 1971. ... Help Me Make It Through the Night was a country music ballad composed by Kris Kristofferson and recorded in 1971 by country singer Sammi Smith. ... Sylvia (born Sylvia Jane Kirby December 9, 1956 in Kokomo, Indiana) is an American country music and country pop singer and songwriter, who enjoyed crossover music success with the song Nobody in 1982. ... Centuries: 1st century BC - 1st century - 2nd century Decades: 30s - 40s - 50s - 60s - 70s - 80s - 90s - 100s - 110s - 120s - 130s 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 Note: Sometimes 80s is used as shorthand for the 1980s, the 1880s, or other such decades in different centuries. ... Billie Jo Spears (born Billie Jean Spears January 14, 1937, in Beaumont, Texas) is an American Country Music Singer. ... Ray Stevens was born Harold Ray Ragsdale on January 24, 1939 in Clarkdale, Georgia, now part of Decatur. ... Tanya Denise Tucker (born October 10, 1958) is an American country music singer. ... Twitty redirects here. ... A vintage belt buckle from Gilleys, a large honky tonk featured in the movie Urban Cowboy. ... 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, Tennessee–September 4, 1991 in Nashville, Tennessee) was a United States country music singer. ... The Wilburn Brothers were a popular country music duet from the 1950s to the 1970s. ... “Lady” Marion Worth was an American singer who appeared for many years on the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee, and was one of the first country singers to appear at New York’s Carnegie Hall. ... Tammy Wynette (May 5, 1942 – April 6, 1998) was a 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 Band
• Blackfoot
• The Byrds
• Charlie Daniels Band
• Gene Clark
• Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen
• The Eagles, a very popular country rock band
• The Everly Brothers, predated others in this category but important figures in the transition from rockabilly to country rock
• Firefall
• Flying Burrito Brothers
• Kinky Friedman
• Gram Parsons, critical favorite of the country rock movement
• Grateful Dead, extremely long-lived bluegrass and psychedelic band
• Heartsfield
• Rick Nelson, in the latter stage of his career, particularly on songs such as "Garden Party"
• Marshall Tucker Band
• Michael Nesmith
• New Riders of the Purple Sage
• Juice Newton, the top-selling female country rocker of the 1980s
• Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
• Ozark Mountain Daredevils
• Poco
• Pure Prairie League (Vince Gill was the lead singer of this group on their biggest pop hit, 1980's "Let Me Love You Tonight.")
• John Rich
• Kid Rock, only a part of his music is country rock; most notably, the music on the album Kid Rock
• Linda Ronstadt, in 1978 Country Music Magazine put her on the cover with the title "Queen Of Country Rock".
• KANE
• Neil Young, a diverse artist whose music spans many other genres as well
• Steve Young
• Brad Clark of DoubleDown (Lead Vocalist of DoubleDown, Solo Artist) Mixes southern roots with gospel, rock and blues, most notably w/ "Let The Eagle$ Fly", "The Day"

Straight Shooter Oklahoma Country Band of The Year featuring Bud Kurtz , The Duggins Brothers ( Kin of Conway Twitty ) Mike Munholland and Hotrod Hutson For other uses, see Band. ... Blackfoot are a Southern rock band from Jacksonville, Florida. ... The Byrds (formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1964) were an American rock band. ... Charles Edward Daniels (born October 28, 1936) is a very popular country singer. ... For other uses, see Gene Clark (disambiguation). ... Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen is a rock band formed in 1967 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. ... The Eagles are an American rock music group that originally came together in Los Angeles, California in the early 1970s. ... The Everly Brothers are a pair of brothers who were top-selling country-influenced rock and roll performers, best known for their acoustic guitar playing and close harmony singing, who had their greatest success in the 1950s. ... Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock n’ roll music to emerge during the 1950s. ... Country rock is a musical genre formed from the fusion of rock and roll with country music. ... This article needs cleanup. ... 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 contemplates a question from the audience at a campaign rally in Bastrop, Texas Richard S. Kinky Friedman (born October 31, 1944) is an American singer, songwriter, novelist, humorist, politician and former columnist for Texas Monthly. ... Gram Parsons (November 5, 1946 – 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 Brothers, he is best known for a series of recordings which anticipate the... The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in San Francisco, California. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Eric Hilliard Ricky Nelson, alternately Rick Nelson (May 8, 1940 - December 31, 1985), was one of the first American teen idols. ... The Marshall Tucker Band is a southern rock band, who in 1973 released their first EP, simply titled The Marshall Tucker band. Originally from Spartanburg, South Carolina, the Marshall Tucker Band still play up to 150 shows in a year. ... Robert Michael Nesmith, born December 30, 1942 in Houston, Texas, is an American musician, songwriter, actor, producer, novelist, businessman, and philanthropist. ... New Riders of the Purple Sage New Riders of the Purple Sage was a 1970s country rock band from Marin County, California. ... Juice Newton was born Judy Kay Cohen 18 February 1952 in Lakehurst, New Jersey and grew up in Virginia Beach, Virginia. ... The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is an American country-folk-rock band that has existed in various forms since the original founding in California in 1965. ... The Ozark Mountain Daredevils were a music group from the 1960s and 1970s. ... Poco is an American country rock band. ... 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. ... Robert James Ritchie (born January 17, 1971), best known as Kid Rock, is an American rapper, singer and rock musician most notable for his albums Devil Without a Cause and Cocky and his hit singles Bawitdaba and Picture. ... Linda Marie Ronstadt (born July 15, 1946) is a multi-Grammy-winning, multi-platinum selling, and Emmy Award-winning American singer. ... 24. ... Neil Percival Young[1] OM (born November 12, 1945, Toronto, Ontario) is a Canadian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and film director from Winnipeg, Manitoba. ... Steve Young is a country music singer, songwriter and guitarist. ...

Contemporary country stars 1981-2007

Tracy Darrell Trace Adkins (born January 13, 1962) is an American country singer-songwriter from Sarepta, south of Springhill in northern Webster Parish, Louisiana. ... Rhett Akins (born October 13, 1969 in Valdosta, Georgia) is a country singer and songwriter. ... Jason Aldean (born February 28, 1977) is an American country music artist. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Gary Allan (born Gary Allan Herzberg on December 5, 1967) is a country singer from Long Beach, California. ... John Anderson is a common name shared by a number of individuals: John HD Anderson (1726-1796), a Scottish scientist. ... Keith Anderson (born on January 12, 1968 in Miami, Okla. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Dierks Bentley (born November 20, 1975 in Phoenix, Arizona) is a country music singer. ... Clint Patrick Black (born February 4, 1962 in Long Branch, New Jersey, USA) is a neotraditional country music singer, songwriter and producer. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Brooks & Dunn is an American country music singer-songwriter duo. ... Scott Michael DuBose (born January 31, 1971) is an American country music singer from Chicago Il, He is currently a staple on the Midwest club circuit Contents 1 Early life 2 Debut album 3 Recent work 4 Discography 4. ... Sawyer Brown is an American country music band that gained fame by winning the grand prize on the talent show Star Search in 1983. ... Tracy Byrd may refer to: Tracy Byrd, the female boxer, or Tracy Byrd, the male country music singer. ... Chris Cagle (born November 10, 1968) is a country music singer and songwriter who was born in Louisiana and raised in Texas. ... Jeremy Castle 2002 Jeremy Glen Castle (August 2, 1974) is an American country music singer and songwriter from Oklahoma. ... This article needs additional references or sources to facilitate its verification. ... Mark Chesnutt Mark Chesnutt is an American country music singer. ... Linda Davis from the cover of her second album Linda Davis (1992). ... Diamond Rio performing live This page is about the country band. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Dixie Chicks are a thirteen-time Grammy Award-winning female country music/rock music trio from the United States comprising Emily Robison, Martie Maguire and Natalie Maines. ... Katrina Elam at the Maverick Saloon & Grill, Santa Ynez, California, January 14th, 2005 Katrina Elam (b. ... Emerson Drive on their What If? album Emerson Drive, is a Canadian country music band which started out in Grande Prairie, Alberta in 1995. ... Sara Lynn Evans (born February 5, 1971) is a country music singer. ... Montgomery Gentry is an American country music duo, founded in the 1990s, consisting of Eddie Montgomery (born Gerald Edward Montgomery in Danville, Kentucky on September 30, 1963) and Troy Gentry (born Troy Lee Gentry in Lexington, Kentucky on April 5, 1967). ... Vince Gill Vince Gill (born April 12, 1957) is an American country music musician, songwriter, and singer. ... Heartland is a country music band from Huntsville, Alabama. ... Audrey Faith Perry McGraw, best 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 marriage to country singer Tim McGraw. ... Alan Eugene Jackson (born October 17, 1958) is an American country music singer and songwriter. ... Waylon Albright Shooter Jennings was born in 1979 to country-western singers Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter. ... Carolyn Dawn Johnson Carolyn Dawn Johnson (born April 30th, 1971 in Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada) is a Country music singer and songwriter. ... Toby Keith Covel (born July 8, 1961) is an American country singer and song writer. ... This article needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone and/or spelling. ... Tracy Lawrence (born 27 January 1968) is an American country musician. ... Little Big Town is an American country music vocal group. ... Lonestar is an American country music band consisting of Richie McDonald (lead vocals) (born Richard Vance McDonald, on 6 February 1962, in Mesquite, Texas), Michael Britt (guitar) (born Michael Wayne Britt, on 15 June 1966, in Fort Worth, Texas), Keech Rainwater (drums) (born Randy Keech Rainwater, on 24 January 1963... Patty Loveless signing a shirt Patty Loveless (born Patricia Lee Ramey on January 4, 1957 in Pikeville, Kentucky) is an American country music singer. ... Martina McBride (born Martina Mariea Schiff, July 29, 1966 in Sharon, Kansas) is an American Grammy nominated country music singer. ... Neal McCoy is an American country singer of mixed White and Filipino descent. ... This article needs additional references or sources to facilitate its verification. ... Tim McGraw (born Samuel Timothy Smith on May 1, 1967, in Delhi, Louisiana) is an American country music singer who has achieved many number one hits on the country singles and album charts, with total sales in excess of 25 million units. ... Craig Morgan (born July 17, 1965) is an American country music singer. ... Loretta Lynn Lorrie Morgan (born on June 27, 1959 in Nashville, Tennessee) is an American country music singer. ... Please wikify (format) this article as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ... Montgomery Gentry is an American country music duo, founded in the 1990s, consisting of Eddie Montgomery (born Gerald Edward Montgomery in Danville, Kentucky on September 30, 1963) and Troy Gentry (born Troy Lee Gentry in Lexington, Kentucky on April 5, 1967). ... There are two country musicians named Joe Nichols: // Joe Nichols (Arkansas) Joe Nichols of Rogers, Arkansas is a young country music singer who rose to prominence in 2003 with his hit Brokenheartsville, a classic breakup song which featured lots of fiddles in the traditional country style (and seemed older even... Jake Owen, born Josh Owen, is an American country music singer-songwriter. ... Brad Paisley (born October 28, 1972) is an American country music singer, virtuoso guitarist, and songwriter from Glen Dale, West Virginia. ... Kellie Dawn Pickler (born June 28, 1986) is an American country music singer and songwriter who finished sixth on the fifth season of the Fox television series American Idol. ... For the American actress, see Julia Roberts. ... Kenneth Donald Kenny Rogers (born August 21, 1938, in Houston, Texas) is a prolific American country music singer, photographer, producer, songwriter, actor and businessman. ... George Harvey Strait, (born May 18, 1952), is an American country music singer. ... Doug Stone (born 9 June 1956) is a voice actor who is most noteable for his representation of the Psycho Mantis from the popular video game Metal Gear Solid. ... Blake Shelton (born June 18, 1976) is an American country music singer. ... Sugarland is a country music duo. ... Taylor Swift (born Taylor Alison Swift on December 13, 1989) is an American country music singer-songwriter. ... Pam Tillis Pam Tillis (born July 24, 1957 in Plant City, Florida) is an American country music singer and actress. ... Aaron Tippin(born July 3, 1958) is an American country music singer. ... 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. ... James Travis Tritt (born February 9, 1963) is a successful American country music singer. ... Josh Dumb butt Turner (born November 20, 1977 in Hannah, South Carolina) is an American country music singer. ... Shania Twain, OC (born Eilleen Regina Edwards, August 28, 1965, Windsor, Ontario) is a Canadian singer and songwriter in the country and pop music genres. ... Carrie Marie Underwood (born March 10, 1983) is an American pop country music singer who won the Fourth season of American Idol. ... Keith Lionel Urban (born 26 October 1967, New Zealand), better known simply as Keith Urban, is an Australian country music singer-songwriter and musician. ... Troy Cassar-Daley is an Australian Aboriginal country musician from Grafton, New South Wales. ... Shelton Hank Williams (born December 12, 1972, in Nashville, Tennessee) is an American musician. ... The Wreckers are a country duo formed in 2004 by singer-songwriters Michelle Branch and Jessica Harp. ... Trisha Yearwood Trisha Yearwood (born September 19, 1964) is a country music singer. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Straight Shooter is a 1999 German movie about an ex-member of the French Foreign Legion who makes the German government responsible for the death of his family and goes on a killing spree to stop the service of an atomic plant. ...

Country stars outside North America

• Truck Stop, Germany
• Tom Astor, Germany
• Texas Lightning, Germany
• Slim Dusty, Australia
• Troy Cassar-Daley, Australia

Television and radio shows of note

• The Johnny Cash Show (1969-1971) on ABC Networks
• 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
• The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, 1969 - 1972
• Grand Ole Opry, broadcasting on WSM from Nashville since 1925 now on GAC
• 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
• The Porter Wagoner Show, aired from 1960 to 1979 and featured a young Dolly Parton
• That Good Ole Nashville Music, 1970 - 1985
• Nashville Star country music talent show that has produced such stars as Miranda Lambert, Buddy Jewel, George Canyon, and Chris Young

Johnny Cash (born J. R. Cash, February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American, multi Grammy Award-winning influential American country and rock and roll singer and songwriter. ... The American Broadcasting Company ( oftenly known as ABC) operates television and radio networks in the United States and is also shown on basic cable in Canada. ... Austin City Limits is a music program on American television. ... Not to be confused with Public Broadcasting Services in Malta. ... For the 1993 film, see The Beverly Hillbillies (film) The Beverly Hillbillies was an American television program about a hillbilly family living in Southern California. ... 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 Shelby, 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, and televised on Great American Country network. ... WSM is the callsign of a 50,000 watt AM radio station located in Nashville, Tennessee. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... 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 an English language 1997 psychological thriller directed by David Lynch. ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC, is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GB£4 billion (US$7. ... 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. ... Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American Grammy-winning and Academy Award-nominated country singer, songwriter, composer, author, actress and philanthropist. ... That Nashville Music (aka That Good Ole Nashville Music) was an American television program featuring country music performers singing their biggest hits. ... Nashville Star is a television program broadcast on the USA Network in the United States and CMT in Canada. ...

See also

• 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
• List of country genres
• Country and Western dance
• Tejano: Country music performed in Spanish to a Polka beat
• Western music (North America)

The Academy of Country Music (ACM) was founded in 1964 in Los Angeles, California. ... The Country Music Association (CMA) was founded in 1958 in Nashville, Tennessee. ... Matt Hillyer of Texas-based Eleven Hundred Springs 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. ... This official history of the Country Music Hall of Fame skirts the scandals well-documented by veteran Music Row historian Stacy Harris. ... The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly Saturday night country music radio program broadcast live on WSM radio in Nashville, Tennessee, and televised on Great American Country network. ... Country Music Television, or CMT as it usually called, is an American country music oriented cable television channel. ... Great American Country (or GAC), is a Nashville, Tennessee-based country music cable television network. ... This is a list of music genres derived from and related to country music Alternative country Appalachian Americana Bakersfield sound Bluegrass New traditional bluegrass Old-time bluegrass/Appalachian bluegrass Progressive bluegrass Cajun Close harmony Country gospel Country pop/Cosmopolitan country Cowpunk Country rock/Cosmic American music Country soul Deathcountry Folk... Country/western dance, also called Country and Western dance, encompasses many dance forms or styles, which are typically danced to country-western music, and which are stylistically associated with American country and/or western traditions. ... Tejano[1] (Spanish for Texan) or Tex-Mex[2] music is the name given to various forms of folk and popular music originating among the Hispanic-descended Tejanos of Central and South Texas. ... Street musicians in Prague playing a polka Polka is a type of dance, and also a genre of dance music. ... Poster from the Western Music, directly related to the old English, Scottish, and Irish folk ballads, was originally composed by and about the people settling and working in the American West and western Canada. ...

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 0-14-026108-7
• Roadkill on the Three-Chord Highway,
  Colin Escott, Routledge, 2002, ISBN 0-415-93783-3
• Guitars & Cadillacs,
  Sabine Keevil, Thinking Dog Publishing, 2002, ISBN 0-9689973-0-9
• Country Music USA,
  Bill C. Malone, University of Texas Press, 1985, ISBN 0-292-71096-8, 2nd Rev ed, 2002, ISBN 0-292-75262-8
• Don't Get Above Your Raisin': Country Music and the Southern Working Class (Music in American Life),
  Bill C. Malone, University of Illinois Press, 2002, ISBN 0-252-02678-0

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Peterson, Richard A. (1999). Creating Country Music: Fabricating Authenticity, p.9. ISBN 0-226-66285-3.
2. ^ Cohn, Lawrence: "Nothing But the Blues" chapter titles "A Ligher Shade of Blue - White COuntry Blues" by Charled Wolfe page 247, 1993
3. ^ The Roots of Country Music" Collectors Edition by Life September 1, 1994 page 72
4. ^ The Roots of Country Music" Collectors Edition by Life September 1, 1994

External links

• The beginning to present of Country Music
• country music publishing
• country music hall of fame and museum
• the country music association (america)
• country weekly magazine
• grand ole opry website
• country music television
• country music across america
• twangwire country news
• The Country Music Genome Project
• Birthplace of Country Music
• The Honky Tonk Gap: Country Music, Red State Identity, and the Election of 2004
• Country.de - Online Magazin for German speaking Territory (Deutsch)
• RAM Radio - Internet radio playing the history of country music
• Country music and interviews with country artists
• Real Country Lyrics Classic Country/Cowboy/Western Lyrics