The Growth of Country Music
Country music originated from the old folk music that the pioneers sang and played as they performance tled across the country. They used wagon trains. That’s where a group of individuals drive their wagons across the country is a single file trying to go further west. At night they would event and the ones that might play fiddles, banjo, and guitars, would play and make up tunes about their experiences on the trail.
Then came along individuals like the Carter family and Jimmy Rodgers (the singing brakeman) and they came up with a newer style of country tunes. Nonetheless everything was acoustical, no electrical instruments. When wannabe singers heard Jimmy Rodgers, they all wanted to sing like him. His singing had confidence and you might hear it.
The Grand ole Opry started expansive casting in 1925. This let millions of individuals hear folk and country music all across the country. The Louisiana Hayride started in 1948 and many singers got their start there. The radio shows made many young kids want to sing, and many them did come on and make stars, each bringing a new style to country music. Recording organizations then didn’t want you to sound like somebody else, they want your sound. If the y like d it you got a contract.
When Hank Williams was on the hayride, I had a wonderful friend playing for the hayride. He was playing when Hank had seven encores for lovesick blues. Then everybody wanted to sound like Hank Williams. Hank was top dog, then came Elvis to knock him off the mountain. Of course Hank had died before Elvis made it. Nonetheless Hank was on top after his death.
Every year country progresses to something new. Nonetheless there’s many individuals that don’t progress with it. A lot still like the old traditional kind of country. That’s what makes the world go around.