The Evolution Of Country Music
The Evolution Of Country Music
One of the most popular genres of music, country music has been around since the early 1900’s. The earliest versions of country music came from southern religious music like the Old gospel and new age spirituals, old time country, and southern jazz. These types of music have their own unique sound and are best appreciated when they are performed live. Country music lovers enjoy watching country music shows and have them recorded on DVD. There are many country music artists who have made their performances available in this format.
The most common genre in this category is bluegrass, which has roots in the early American folk music movement. It features songs about life, love and sadness and often tells stories about the people who sing them. Bluegrass songs are often familiar enough to have become the lullaby for lovers of all ages. Bluegrass music has been around since the early twentieth century and is continually gaining fans.
Folk music is a category of country music, which showcases the early blues. Many types of instruments are played during folk songs, including guitar, mandolin, fiddle, sitar, strumming, harmonica, ukulele, whistle, banjo, nylon-stringed guitar, steel guitar, mandolin, banjo, and rhythm guitar. Classic records by the America’s Most Combative Singers like Jack White are popular recordings. Folk music is the oldest genre of country music and the most popular. However, over time other genres have emerged like blues that features a beat with a few hard hitting guitar chords. Other musical styles that have popularized on country albums include country blues that features acoustic guitar.
Jazz is another great genre that is closely related to country music. Jazz was born out of the need for African-American people in the United States to express themselves creatively and meet their needs as plantation workers. Jazz evolved from the hot jazz clubs where white people would come and go and relax after a day of hard work. As jazz evolved, it moved from being strictly a black art to one that incorporated the black experience into its lyrics and music.
Country music has also given birth to many performers who made it big like Merle Travis, Glen Glenn, Buddy Holly, Elvis, and Chuck Berry. The blues have a significant impact on country songs like “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone,” and “I Forgot to Remember to Forget.” Many country songs have taken on new meanings because of their instrumental and harmonies. An example is George Jones’ “Blue Moon of Kentucky.” It wasn’t just about the music; it was about the spirit of the song and its lyrics.
Country music has changed as the years pass. No longer are these genres strictly made up of old white artists. With the help of some producers and engineers, new artists are able to carve out a place for themselves in the country charts. With this success comes more opportunities for new artists to be discovered.