The History of Country Music

Many people today are fans of country music, but few could tell you where the music actually originated, or got its stylistic tendencies from.


As it turns out, country music started with the settlers in the Southern Appalachian Mountain region in the United States, and the Maritime Provinces in Canada. This original form of music, known as hillbilly or old-time music, formed from the combination of string instruments brought in by the settlers who made their homes in these areas. From Ireland and Scotland, the fiddle, from Germany, the dulcimer, from Italy, the mandolin, from Spain, the guitar, and from West Africa, the banjo; these became the instruments that made up the defining sound of this new genre. A mixture of the musical styles of these different ethnic groups coming together and having "jamming" sessions led to the development of their own musical style that eventually became what we know today as country music. Throughout the 19th century there was also an influx of immigrants from Ireland, Germany, Italy, and Spain into the communities being established in Texas. These people interacted with the nearby Mexicans and the Native American populations, forming another version of music that contributed to today's country music.


In the 1920’s, country music really started its transformation into what it is today. During that decade, many performers from Texas and the Southern Appalachian states started to have their music played on radio stations; this led to the eventual interest of record companies and deals to produce records. It was also in the 1920’s that the Grand Ole Opry barn-dance radio show started, which still airs to this day. During the 1930’s and 40’s the musical style got a large boon in popularity from the appearance of singing cowboys, such as Gene Autry and the Sons of the Pioneers, singing old country songs in Hollywood films. This exposed many more people around the United States to country music. Also in the 30's and 40's, the door was opened for female artists to have the chance at a solo career when the first female solo country song was recorded. In 1935 the drums were added to the ensemble of the country music band, but this was greatly scorned by the earlier country musicians. In fact, it wasn't until the 1960's that the drums became a widely used or accepted instrument in the genre. Similarly, in 1938 the electric guitar was introduced into country music, but did not see widespread use until after the recording and release of Arthur Smith's "Guitar Boogie" in 1948. In the 1950's another shift in the musical styling of country took place, with the advent of rockabilly musicians, such as Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash.


Since the 1950's, many changes have taken place from the original country and many new sounds and subgenres have shaped the music.