Music History | Contemporary Christian Music | Country Music | Rock Music | Scientific Studies | Music Artist Quotes
Country Music
Country music is a blend of popular musical forms originally developed in the Southern United States and the Appalachian Mountains. It was formed from a blending of traditional folk music, Celtic music, blues, gospel music, hokum, and old-time music, and evolved rapidly in the 1920s (see Creating Country Music: Fabricating Authenticity, p. 9, by Richard Peterson, 1999). In the beginning it was commonly known as “Hillbilly music”. But when the name Hillbilly fell out of popularity in the 1940's, its name was changed to “Country” music.
In the Western States of the US, both “Cowboy” songs and “Western music” were popular, especially after being put out on vinyl records in the 1920s. The primary traditional difference between the two styles is that Country music is simpler and uses fewer instruments, relying on Spanish guitar, Irish fiddle, Italian mandolin, African banjo, and harmonica; whereas Western music tended toward steel guitars and big bands whose style verged on swing (e.g., the songs from The Light Crust Doughboys).
Country and Western music found itself starting to decline in popularity in the late 1960's, especially as the younger generation became hooked on the beat of Rock ‘n’ Roll. In order to remain trending, Country producers began separating their musical style from Western producers and combined their music with the beat of Rock to make it more popular with the younger generation.
Country artists Hank Williams Jr., Johnny Cash, and especially Gram Parsons - who is known as the "king of country rock," - helped to bridge the gap between traditional country and 1960s rock. In the 1970s The Marshall Tucker Band, The Eagles, Zac Brown Band, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, as well as Bob Dylan and Dolly Parton all had a great influence in combining Country with Rock (see https://www.google.com/search?q=country+music+artists+about+rock+and+roll&sca_esv=3879cc3584fdf07d&rlz=1C1AJCO_enUS1201US1201&ei=fOMDatODIeq50PEPyoizkQs&ved=0ahUKEwjTsayvnbWUAxXqHDQIHUrELLIQ4dUDCBI&uact=5&oq=country+music+artists+about+rock+and+roll&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiKWNvdW50cnkgbXVzaWMgYXJ0aXN0cyBhYm91dCByb2NrIGFuZCByb2xsMgUQABjvBTIIEAAYgAQYogQyCBAAGIAEGKIESPgsUMENWKglcAF4AJABAJgBXqABpwaqAQIxMrgBA8gBAPgBAZgCC6ACqQXCAgoQABhHGNYEGLADwgIOEAAY5AIY1gQYsAPYAQHCAhcQLhjcBhi4BhjaBhjYAhjIAxiwA9gBAcICChAhGAoYoAEYwwTCAggQABiJBRiiBJgDAIgGAZAGDboGBggBEAEYCZIHAjExoAexN7IHAjEwuAeiBcIHBTQuNi4xyAcPgAgB&sclient=gws-wiz-serp, accessed 5-12-26 and https://sites.dwrl.utexas.edu/countrymusic/the-history/country-rock/ accessed 5-12-26). Since then this combining of Country and Rock continued on until a great numbers of Country songs you hear today contain the same paganized beat of Rock ‘n’ Roll (see Wikipedia Online Encyclopedia, under Country Music, at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Country_music, accessed 2-5-23). In fact, Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler, who turned to Country in his solo career, has said: “Country is the new rock ’n’ roll” (see Rolling Stone Country Magazine, June 12, 2015, article titled "Steven Tyler On Going Country, 'Idol' and the Future of Aerosmith", by Andy Greene, at https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/steven-tyler-on-going-country-idol-and-the-future-of-aerosmith-55324/2/, accessed 5-12-26). This becomes evident when you understand that famous Country artists like Chet Atkins, Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, Willie Nelson, Everly Brothers, Brenda Lee, Jerry Lee Lewis, Dolly Parton, Bill Monore, Jimmie Rodgers, Elvis Presley, Bob Wills, James Burton, Floyd Cramer, Johnny Gimble, Sam Phillips and Hank Willams have all been inducted into both the Country Music Hall of Fame as well as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame! (see https://www.billboard.com/lists/rock-roll-hall-of-fame-country-hall-of-fame-dual-inductees/chet-atkins/, accessed 5-13-26, and IMDB website, article titled Singers and Musicians in the Country and Rock & Roll Halls of Fame, at https://www.imdb.com/list/ls565037751/, accessed 5-12-26).