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 is where a group of people drive their wagons across the country is a single file trying to go further west. At night they would event and the ones that could play fiddles, banjo, and guitars, would play and make up tunes about their experiences on the trail.

Then came along people like the Carter family members and Jimmy Rodgers (the singing brakeman) and they came up with a newer style of country songs. Nonetheless everything has been 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 wide casting in 1925. This let millions of people hear folk and country music all across the country. The Louisiana Hayride started in 1948 and many singers got their start there. These 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 businesses then didn’t want you to sound prefer somebody else, they want your sound. If they prefer d it you got a contract.

When Hank Williams has been on the hayride, I had a good friend playing for the hayride. He has been playing when Hank had seven encores for lovesick blues. Then everybody wanted to sound like Hank Williams. Hank has been top dog, then came Elvis to knock him off the mountain. Of course Hank had died before Elvis made it. Nonetheless Hank has been on top following his death.

Every year country progresses to something new. However there’s a lot of individuals that do not progress with it. A lot still prefer the old traditional type of country. That’s what makes the world go around.