Background on Country Music
Country music's earliest origins started out in the early folk culture of the South, where it drew on European and African influences. (Malone, 48) Early entertainers of this music were from rural areas, but performers came from multiple professions, they were far more than just farmers. This early type of music was considered to be working class music, where most of the entertainers were only musicians part time, as they also held down jobs as miners, farmers, and so on. (Malone, 49) As more and more people began to be exposed to this music, it was named hillbilly music because of the dialects, performance styles, and speech that was used. This term was used as a higher class reference to the citizens of the rural South. (Malone, 49. Grundy, 1600)
As time went on, hillbilly music became commercialized, which not only introduced the style to a larger audience, but also decreased the authenticity of the idea that this was a working class music. (Malone, 50. Grundy, 1595) Many performers after this time did not only perform hillbilly music. These artists moved on to also cover other popular styles of the time, such as ragtime music. (Malone, 50) Yet the 19th century hillbilly songs had shifted from the authenticity that they had once had, as they were now parlour songs, that were written by professional writers, who were less likely to have been part of the working class living in a lower class part of the rural South. The people who considered themselves to be country singers were faced with the dilemma of tradition versus modernity. These people were loyal to their audiences, but were seeking a larger fanbase, while being unsure about how to promote themselves. And if they chose to turn to someone else to help them in their promotion, they were usually forced into wearing cowboy outfits in order to encourage the country stereotype, rather than wearing what truly made them comfortable. (Malone, 50)
One of the earliest pioneer acts of country music closer to what we know it as today was the Carter Family. The Carters were an early representation of the country church music style that is still seen in country music today. If someone were to listen to the Carter Family sing their hit Wildwood Flower, they would hear many similarities to country music as we hear it today. Through the growing popularity of early country music, by the 1930s country music was being listened to nationwide. (Malone, 51) Because of this increasing popularity, but also feeding into it, the introduction of country based variety tv shows were a hit. Two such shows were National Barn Dance (out of Chicago) and the infamous Grand Ole Opry (out of Nashville). Although the Grand Ole Opry premiered in 1925, the popularity reached a national level when, in 1939, it gained network affiliation with NBC. (Malone, 51)
World War II was a major turning point for country music. Because of multiple rations, the number of albums, musicians and personal appearances were all restricted. Yet the jukebox kept country music alive, and also further expanded audiences, playing country albums in cities like Los Angeles, Detroit, and Chicago (Malone, 53). As time went on, it became clear that newer styles of music were beginning to push older styles out of the spotlight. This is the time where brother duets were becoming popular as well as the introduction of the "Romantic movie-cowboy songs" (which would lose popularity by the end of WWII). (Malone, 52) Western swing was also becoming popular, as it was a "jazz influenced string band music." (Malone, 52) Developing hand in hand with Western Swing was Honkytonk music (also called roadhouse music). In this style, the move from rural to urban industrial environments was documented. (Malone, 52) This music was commonly seen speaking of the common honkytonk pleasures while preaching for the need to gain religious redemption. (Fontenot)
In the 1940s the Grand Ole Opry became known as the place to be in order to experience the downhome country performances while the world was stricken by war time stresses. (Malone, 53) Yet during and after the war, economic and demographic changes altered country music once again. Between 1945 and 1955 country music was seen flourishing with post WWII prosperity. The style was not only gaining even more commercial success, but unfortunately the traditional style of country music began to suffer as the rockabilly style of a young Elvis Presley caused many agents to be looking for the next Elvis, in order to capture the attention of the youth audience. (Malone, 52-53) But by the late 1950s country music had rebounded being called an American pop culture success. Younger performers were also showing more interest in the roots of country music, bringing forward key aspects that had begun to fade away, including the relationship with the church in the lyrics. (Malone, 54. Price, 9)
In the 1980s it began to be noted that country music was being moved to a suburban sound, reflecting the new demographic of the South. Overall, country music remains to this day a style that is resistant to definition.(Malone, 55) It seems to take on a more conservative view of things that are going on and people seem to accept that without letting overly political tones affect the way that they enjoy the music because few country music singers actively push political arguments into their music. (Cusic, 160) Obviously the popularity has not lost momentum because of politics. With Nashville still being the commercial hub for country music, it is still seen today that people from working class backgrounds travel there looking for their chance to break into the business. (Malone, 55)
As time went on, hillbilly music became commercialized, which not only introduced the style to a larger audience, but also decreased the authenticity of the idea that this was a working class music. (Malone, 50. Grundy, 1595) Many performers after this time did not only perform hillbilly music. These artists moved on to also cover other popular styles of the time, such as ragtime music. (Malone, 50) Yet the 19th century hillbilly songs had shifted from the authenticity that they had once had, as they were now parlour songs, that were written by professional writers, who were less likely to have been part of the working class living in a lower class part of the rural South. The people who considered themselves to be country singers were faced with the dilemma of tradition versus modernity. These people were loyal to their audiences, but were seeking a larger fanbase, while being unsure about how to promote themselves. And if they chose to turn to someone else to help them in their promotion, they were usually forced into wearing cowboy outfits in order to encourage the country stereotype, rather than wearing what truly made them comfortable. (Malone, 50)
One of the earliest pioneer acts of country music closer to what we know it as today was the Carter Family. The Carters were an early representation of the country church music style that is still seen in country music today. If someone were to listen to the Carter Family sing their hit Wildwood Flower, they would hear many similarities to country music as we hear it today. Through the growing popularity of early country music, by the 1930s country music was being listened to nationwide. (Malone, 51) Because of this increasing popularity, but also feeding into it, the introduction of country based variety tv shows were a hit. Two such shows were National Barn Dance (out of Chicago) and the infamous Grand Ole Opry (out of Nashville). Although the Grand Ole Opry premiered in 1925, the popularity reached a national level when, in 1939, it gained network affiliation with NBC. (Malone, 51)
World War II was a major turning point for country music. Because of multiple rations, the number of albums, musicians and personal appearances were all restricted. Yet the jukebox kept country music alive, and also further expanded audiences, playing country albums in cities like Los Angeles, Detroit, and Chicago (Malone, 53). As time went on, it became clear that newer styles of music were beginning to push older styles out of the spotlight. This is the time where brother duets were becoming popular as well as the introduction of the "Romantic movie-cowboy songs" (which would lose popularity by the end of WWII). (Malone, 52) Western swing was also becoming popular, as it was a "jazz influenced string band music." (Malone, 52) Developing hand in hand with Western Swing was Honkytonk music (also called roadhouse music). In this style, the move from rural to urban industrial environments was documented. (Malone, 52) This music was commonly seen speaking of the common honkytonk pleasures while preaching for the need to gain religious redemption. (Fontenot)
In the 1940s the Grand Ole Opry became known as the place to be in order to experience the downhome country performances while the world was stricken by war time stresses. (Malone, 53) Yet during and after the war, economic and demographic changes altered country music once again. Between 1945 and 1955 country music was seen flourishing with post WWII prosperity. The style was not only gaining even more commercial success, but unfortunately the traditional style of country music began to suffer as the rockabilly style of a young Elvis Presley caused many agents to be looking for the next Elvis, in order to capture the attention of the youth audience. (Malone, 52-53) But by the late 1950s country music had rebounded being called an American pop culture success. Younger performers were also showing more interest in the roots of country music, bringing forward key aspects that had begun to fade away, including the relationship with the church in the lyrics. (Malone, 54. Price, 9)
In the 1980s it began to be noted that country music was being moved to a suburban sound, reflecting the new demographic of the South. Overall, country music remains to this day a style that is resistant to definition.(Malone, 55) It seems to take on a more conservative view of things that are going on and people seem to accept that without letting overly political tones affect the way that they enjoy the music because few country music singers actively push political arguments into their music. (Cusic, 160) Obviously the popularity has not lost momentum because of politics. With Nashville still being the commercial hub for country music, it is still seen today that people from working class backgrounds travel there looking for their chance to break into the business. (Malone, 55)