Country Music

Country Music, or Country and Western, refers to the genre of music which originated in the rural Southern and Western United States. It is typified by the heavy use of guitars, steel guitars, and fiddles, and, like its root style blues, an accented 2nd and 4th beat in the drums. Since the mid-60's, Nashville has been the dominant city involved in this form of music and is even nicknamed Music City. However, other cities such as Branson, New Orleans, Jackson, Austin, Stillwater and Albuquerque have also played important roles in its progression. Although it was born and gained huge success in America, it is also popular in Australia and Canada and has moderate prominence in Germany, the United Kingdom, and Ireland.

Several organizations present awards to outstanding country performers including the Academy of Country Music and American Country Music Awards.

## Contents

* 1 Foundations of country
* 2 History
* 3 Country sub-genres
* 4 Artists
* 5 Bands
* 6 Famous Families of Country Music

## Foundations of country[edit]

Many Country songs have to do with love. More often than not these love songs are about getting over and moving on when a good thing has been lost. However, there are quite a few that deal with being in love and the happiness it brings to ones life. God and the Christian religion are frequently found in this music. Alcohol, whether the joys of or the downfall involved, is also widely heard in Country Music. Patriotism, along with the support of the military and its veterans, can also be found in every generation of this style. Of all the forms of popular American music, Country is the most active in supporting and promoting the love and defense of America and its values. Other themes include but are not limited to hunting, fishing, farming, rural lifestyles, family, and the struggles of the common man.

In self-referential humor, the 1975 song "You Never Even Called Me By My Name" by David Allen Coe, written by Steve Goodman and John Prin, stated "Well a friend of mine named Steve Goodman wrote that song / And he told me it was the perfect country and western song / I wrote him back a letter and I told him it was not the / Perfect country and western song because he hadn't said / Anything at all about momma or trains or trucks or prison or gettin' drunk".

## History[edit]

Country and Western's finds its origins in the traditional folk musics of the United States. The majority of country and western music comes from the two mountainous regions "hillbilly music" of the United States, Country music is attributed to the Appalachia Mountains with the Scots-Irish immigrants to that region who brought much of their music and culture with them, and Western music is attributed to the Rocky Mountains and the expansion of the Scots-Irish music into the formerly French and Spanish territories and blending with French, Spanish, and Mexican music traditions. Music that leans towards the Appalachia roots usually is classified under Bluegrass, whereas music that leans towards Western music can be classified under numerous regional genres, such as; Cajun and Creole musics, Texas country and Tejano music, and New Mexico music.

Modern country music (in the later half of the 20th century and beyond) evolved from or (which itself has roots in the folk music of the Appalachian hills), as well as early blues from the deep south.

In 1922 A.C 'Eck' Anderson recorded Sallie Gooden. This song is widely accepted to be the first recorded country song. In 1976, The compilation album, Wanted! The Outlaws was released. The album featured Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Jessie Colter, and Tompall Glaser. The release was the first country album ever to sell one million copies which earned it a platinum record.

## Country sub-genres[edit]

The most widely recognized sub-genres of Country music include:

* American folk music
* Americana
* Bluegrass
* Country Rock
* Creole music
* Cajun music
* Cajun music
* Honky tonk
* New Mexico music
* New Mexicana music
* Outlaw country
* Rockabilly
* Texas country
* Tejano music

## Artists[edit]

Some famous country musicians include:

* Roy Acuff
* John Anderson
* Trace Adkins
* Eddy Arnold
* Chet Atkins
* Moe Bandy
* Clint Black
* Jon Bon Jovi
* Garth Brooks
* Ed Bruce
* Tracy Byrd
* June Carter Cash
* Johnny Cash
* Kid Rock
* Glen Campbell
* Deana Carter
* Kenny Chesney
* Mark Chesnut
* Patsy Cline
* David Allan Coe
* Jessie Colter
* Billy Ray Cyrus
* Jimmy Dean
* John Denver
* Steve Earle
* Red Foley
* Kevin Fowler
* Janie Frickie
* Lefty Frizzell
* Brantley Gilbert
* Vince Gill
* Mickey Gilley
* Tompall Glaser
* Pat Green
* Lee Greenwood
* Merle Haggard
* Faith Hill
* Al Hurricane
* Alan Jackson
* Shooter Jennings
* Waylon Jennings
* Jamey Johnson
* George Jones
* Toby Keith
* Aaron Lewis
* Loretta Lynn
* Barbara Mandrell
* Tim McGraw
* Reba McEntire
* Lorrie Morgan
* Michael Martin Murphey
* Kacey Musgraves
* Willie Nelson
* Buck Owens
* Dolly Parton
* Charlie Pride
* Jerry Reed
* LeAnn Rimes
* Marty Robbins
* Johnny Rodriguez
* Dan Seals
* Troy Seals
* Billy Joe Shaver
* Ricky Van Shelton
* Gary Stewart
* George Strait
* Doug Stone
* Mel Tillis
* Pam Tillis
* Randy Travis
* Travis Tritt
* Ernest Tubb
* Tanya Tucker
* Shania Twain
* Conway Twitty
* Carrie Underwood
* Keith Urban
* Kitty Wells
* Keith Whitley
* Don Williams
* Hank Williams
* Hank Williams, Jr
* Hank Williams III
* Holly Williams
* Bob Wills
* Gretchen Wilson
* Lee Ann Womack
* Tammy Wynnette
* Trisha Yearwood

## Bands[edit]

Although Country is mainly a solo artist dominated field, there are quite a few bands that have enjoyed success. Some of these include:

* Alabama
* Asleep at the Wheel
* The Band Perry
* The Bellamy Brothers
* Big & Rich
* Brooks and Dunn
* The Charlie Daniels Band
* Confederate Railroad
* Cross Canadian Ragweed
* Diamond Rio
* Dixie Chicks
* Eli Young Band
* The Everly Brothers
* The Forster Sisters
* The Gatlin Brothers
* The Great Divide
* Highway 101
* The Judds
* The Kentucky Headhunters
* Lady Antebellum
* Little Big Town
* Little Texas
* Lonestar
* Montgomery Gentry
* Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
* Oak Ridge Boys
* Pirates of the Mississippi
* Pistol Annies
* Rascal Flatts
* Restless Heart
* Randy Rogers Band
* Sawyer Brown
* SHeDAISEY
* Statler Brothers
* Sugarland
* The Tractors
* Zac Brown Band

## Famous Families of Country Music[edit]

* The Carter Family \- A. P. Carter, Sara Carter, Maybelle Carter, Helen Carter, Anita Carter, June Carter Cash, Janette Carter, and Joe Carter.
* The Cash Family \- Johnny Cash, Rosanne Cash, Tommy Cash, and John Carter Cash.
* The Jennings Family \- Waylon Jennings, Jessie Colter, and Shooter Jennings.
* The Seals Family
* The Williams Family \- Hank Williams, Sr., Hank Williams, Jr., Hank Williams III, and Holly Williams.