American Country, 19th Century

By: Sonya Gonzales
Any kind of music takes interesting developmental turns. For the United States, the rich heritage of music subsides within the thriving cultures that have made up this country for over two centuries. Country music is no exception. From its roots, which consist of Appalachian Folk, gospel, blues and even Celtic music, country music has rooted itself in American soil.

The term country music was not coined until around the 1940s, but the swinging blues that was once said to be the "white man's blues" saw its birth in the late 1800s. Appalachian music, which is based upon Anglo-Celtic folk ballads, began to rise in popularity with the immigration of Europeans to the region of the United States that includes states like Tennessee, West Virginia and Kentucky. The introduction of the banjo, which is from Africa, to the United States during the 1860s helped define the folk songs even more. Also, the mixture of Appalachian music with blues music from the slaves of this time helped further transform the music.

Gospel is one of the most contributing factors to country music. Traditional ballads had religious lyrics and helped form the simple yet defining chords and structures of country music.

The state of Texas was another defining factor for country music. Throughout the nineteenth century, immigrants from Germany and the Czech Republic mixed lifestyles with Spanish, Mexican and Native Americans living within the states' boarders, and musical styles began to blend, incorporating instruments like the Spanish guitar and Irish fiddle to country music. The immigrants, who liked to dance in halls with plenty of traditional music, helped put Texas on the musical map.

It was not until 1927 that country music became official. Two of the most influential artists in country, the Carter family and Jimmie Rodgers, were signed to Victor Records in Bristol, Tennessee. Jimmie Rodgers, who is called the "Father of Country," was never heard on the radio or recorded at the famous Grand Ole Opry during his lifetime. However, he, Hank Williams and Fred Rose were the first artists to be elected into the Country Hall of Fame.

The Carter Family was composed of A.P. and Sarah Carter, along with various cousins and daughters, like the famous June Carter Cash, and sang traditional ballads that helped pave the way for country and established the genre well into the 20th century.

Sources:

http://www.mustrad.org.uk/articles/appalach.htm

http://www.roughstock.com/history

Jazz and Blues, 19th Century

In the 19th century American South, African-American slaves sang songs in the fields to ease mental anguish and communicate to the rhythm of their work without their masters' knowledge. At the time the songs were known as field hollers, and they were really the foundation of the blues known today. The first forms of blues were not recorded or written down but memorized and shared live.

The term “blues” is coined from how the singers and instrumentalists utilize the “blue notes”. They are tonally between two standard notes, blurring the line between the major and minor scales.

The early blues music is known as the Memphis Blues, which began to gain popularity in the early 1900s. W.C. Handy, an educator turned minstrel show leader, is considered the father of blues. He made it popular in 1912 when he published “Memphis Blues”, originally a campaign song called “Mr. Crump.” He then published “St. Louis Blues” in 1914.

In 1920 Mamie Smith recorded the first vocal blues song, “Crazy Blues,” which became the first commercially popular blues album.

Only few years later the blues exploded in popularity and a record race began in the music industry that catered specifically to African-American audiences.

Blues was not the only form of music influenced by the slave songs and field hollers. In the 1920s a mixture of Creole and black music developed in New Orleans. At first jazz was played in small marching bands or by solo players on banjo or piano. Jazz’s popularity traveled up the Mississippi Delta into Chicago. Right around the time of prohibition, jazz music was almost synonymous with speakeasies. It was frowned upon by the older generations and thought of as immoral, but this was the roaring '20s! Decadence was all the rage.

Louis Armstrong recorded his first Hot Five albums, which are considered absolute classics of jazz. Louis Armstrong and his Hot Five and Hot Seven never performed live, but recorded until 1928.

Just like jazz, the blues migrated up the Mississippi Delta to Chicago around the same time Mayor Crump shut down Beale street in Memphis to prevent prostitution, gambling and drug distribution. The juke joints, which housed the blues and helped make Crump popular, left too.

Jazz dominated the 1930s; as they say, “swing is king,” and was mostly performed by big band ensembles. This new era offered more opportunities for soloists who mostly playing improvisation. In many cases the soloist became just as celebrated as the band leader. Bands comprised of ten or more players were broken into three groups: brass, reed and rhythm.

In Chicago the blues transformed once again in the 1940s when artists such as Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker made the switch from acoustic to electric guitars and added percussion and piano. Muddy Waters was one of the biggest blues influences. The guitar riff from “Manish Boy” is commonly associated with blues music, but listeners add their own lyrics. Waters really broke out big when he published “I Can’t be Satisfied.”

Jazz and blues may have dwindled in the late 1940s and '50s, but without their influence we would not have any of the music we have today.

Sources:

http://www.history-of-rock.com/blues.htm

http://academic.uofs.edu/student/PENDRAKS2/page2.html

http://www.muddywaters.com/bio.html

Jazz and Blues 1950's-today

Jazz faced harsh competition from other areas of entertainment in 1950. During this time television was becoming more popular and began introducing new forms of music. Jazz audiences began to diminish and Jazz music almost ended. Jazz not only suffered from the popularity of television at this time, in 1960 Rock and Roll also began to replace Jazz especially in the record industry.

In 1970 the fad of Disco dance did not help Jazz music either. Many Jazz artists crossed over to more popular venues. During these times Jazz was influenced by Cool, Classic, and Hard bop. Cool was developed from the late 40’s and 50’s Bop. Cool is a combination of Bop and Swing with harmonic tones and softened dynamics, creating what is now known as Cool Jazz. Hard bop was influenced by Cool sounds of West Coast Jazz. Hard bop became known as Modal Jazz or Soul Jazz in the mid 1960’s.

During 1980 Jazz continued to be influenced. The main influence on Jazz music at the time was retro surfacing of its own roots and styles. During this time young players revitalized the spirits of Jazz. The US, and Europe also increased the pursuits of Jazz. The styles of Jazz that evolved during this time were Afro-Latin Jazz and Acid Jazz. Acid jazz was the first jazz term to be coined by a disc jockey rather than by a musician. It was inspired initially by listening to records rather than to live musicians. The term Afro-Latin covers a huge variety of music, it includes a combination of elements of African styles with Spanish, Portuguese, and even French cultures.

Modern Jazz is influenced by great improvisational masters of the past and by combining older jazz styles such as bop, free, fusion, with newer comtemporary musical styles such as pop music, funk, and rock. This creates jazz in a new modern style.


Sources:
http://www.ask.com/pictures?qsrc=2058&q=aretha+franklin&o=0&l=dir http://www.raycharles.com/the_man_pictures.html

Country Music, 1920s-today

The changing of its name from “hillybilly music” to “country and western music” was only the beginning of country music’s growth in popularity.

John Carson recorded the first country music hit record in 1923. Music was not his only profession, but by the time he was 54 years old, he had won the Georgia Fiddlin’ Championship seven times. He decided that he wanted to play a song on the radio, and his radio time lead to recordings of him playing “Little Old Log Cabin” and “The Old Hen Cackled and the Rooster’s Going to Crow.” Some doubted the recordings would sell, but they flew out of Carson’s hands.

WSB was the radio station that first broadcast Carson, and it was the first radio station in the South. It was established in Atlanta in 1922. Radio growth during the 1920s was extremely important to the growth of country music, as many stations gave airtime to live and recorded music that appealed to rural white people.

The “National Barn Dance” and the “Grand Ole Opry” were two influential entertainment programs made possible by radio.


The National Barn Dance was hosted by Joe Kelly and sponsored by Alka-Seltzer and Milk of Magnesia. It began in 1924 and was broadcast from Chicago, Illinois and was a country music variety show.

The “Grand Ole Opry” began in 1925. It was broadcast on WSM, which stood for “We Shield Millions,” the motto of the National Life and Accident Insurance Company that created the station. George D. Hay was the WSM’s first program director, and he and Uncle Jimmy Thompson, a fiddle player, began the show. The Opry House was constructed with acoustics in mind and was to hold 500 fans, as the shows’ popularity meant the Ryman Auditorium that first hosted it was overcrowded. The Grand Ole Opry is alive and well today, as it is a great honor to be inducted into the hall of fame, and popular performers still entertain in the Opry House.

During the 1930s and early 1940s, many people from the South moved to other regions of the United States. The country music Southerners took with them then mixed with blues and gospel music, which influenced its development.

Country music’s lyrics added to its popularity during this time. Just as Americans turned to country music for solace after September 11, Americans during the Great Depression and World War II could relate to the tales of hardships.



The emergence of television again changed country music. “Singing cowboys” became popular in films, the most popular of whom was Gene Autry. Autry was in 93 movies and starred in 91 television shows. He represents the American West that is so proudly associated with the United States.


Texas and Oklahoma developed their own distinct style of country music in the 1930s as rural white people heard swing jazz music. Then honky-tonk was spread by Hank Williams, who used fiddles and steel guitars to create a special tone color.

However, others during this time worked to return to the roots of country music. The Blue Grass Boys, lead by Bill Monroe, returned to using traditional country instruments and harmonies, and their particular style that focused on instrumental virtuosity lead to the distinction of bluegrass music, after the group’s name.

Commercialization spread country music across the United States after World War II, and Nashville was established as the hub for country singers during the 1950s and 1960s. A Nashville style evolved, and many singers were accompanied by orchestras. During the 1970s, “outlaw” music grew; Willie Nelson is a prime example of an outlaw musician. However, the differences between country music and pop diminished.

The branching of country music, and the desires of some to return to country’s roots, will not end anytime soon. Today the debate rages on about who should truly be considered a country musician. From its chance first appearance on the radio, country music has come a long way, and names like Dolly Parton are forever entrenched in this truly American music.


by Amanda C.

Sources:
http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9026573/country-music
http://www.southernmusic.net/fiddlinjohn.htm
http://www.southernmusic.net/1920.htm
http://www.lib.umd.edu/LAB/SCRIPTS/natbarndance.html
http://www.ask.com/pictures?imgs=m&l=dir&o=0&q=National%20Barn%20Dance&qsrc=168&qid=F5EC34F5B1439F76790D3136ACF394C7&pstart=16&page=2
http://www.opry.com/MeetTheOpry/History.aspx
http://wm10.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:t2jx7i2jg789~T0
http://www.geneautry.com/home.php
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/database/williams_h.html