Chapter 14Chapter 14

From Bluegrass to Young CountryFrom Bluegrass to Young Country

Bill Monroe (1911-1996)Bill Monroe (1911-1996)

Father of bluegrassFather of bluegrass Born in KentuckyBorn in Kentucky Began performing with his brothers in the Began performing with his brothers in the

early 1930searly 1930s Name comes from Bill Monroe and the Blue Name comes from Bill Monroe and the Blue

Grass BoysGrass Boys

Original bluegrass bands were very similar to Original bluegrass bands were very similar to string bandsstring bands

Their function was primarily to accompany Their function was primarily to accompany dancingdancing

Emphasis was placed on instruments playing Emphasis was placed on instruments playing with a strong rhythmwith a strong rhythm

Vocals were almost secondary, alternating Vocals were almost secondary, alternating with instrumental breakdown sectionswith instrumental breakdown sections

Primary instruments:Primary instruments:

FiddleFiddle MandolinMandolin BanjoBanjo GuitarGuitar BassBass

Bill Monroe’s bluegrass style was more Bill Monroe’s bluegrass style was more aggressive and technically demanding than aggressive and technically demanding than existing string band stylesexisting string band styles

Most mandolin players used a gentle Most mandolin players used a gentle strumming rhythm, softly trilling notes and strumming rhythm, softly trilling notes and filling in guitar rhythmsfilling in guitar rhythms

Monroe played much faster, more intricate Monroe played much faster, more intricate partsparts

Bill Monroe’s bluegrass did not include drumsBill Monroe’s bluegrass did not include drums It was up to the string instruments to provide It was up to the string instruments to provide

rhythmrhythm Has a feel of 1-Has a feel of 1-andand-2--2-andand Quicker sixteenth notes provided a rhythmic Quicker sixteenth notes provided a rhythmic

feelfeel It's Mighty Dark To Travel It's Mighty Dark To Travel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jQMIhIP2uM

Lester Flatt and Earl ScruggsLester Flatt and Earl Scruggs

Originally in Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass BoysOriginally in Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys At the height of their success they left and formed At the height of their success they left and formed

their own bandtheir own band Composed the theme to The Beverly Hillbillies, Composed the theme to The Beverly Hillbillies,

bringing bluegrass to national attentionbringing bluegrass to national attention Earl Scruggs perfected the technique of tuning the Earl Scruggs perfected the technique of tuning the

banjo as it was playedbanjo as it was played Earl's Breakdown Earl's Breakdown

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drHCosJWH0Q

The experimentation of youthful new The experimentation of youthful new bluegrass artists in the 1960s led to the bluegrass artists in the 1960s led to the adoption of the term newgrassadoption of the term newgrass

Some musicians experimented with combining Some musicians experimented with combining it with elements of jazz and rockit with elements of jazz and rock

Nickel Creek blends country and pop music Nickel Creek blends country and pop music featuring the mandolin strongly featuring the mandolin strongly http://youtu.be/ng5-VUDcjJ8

In 2001 O Brother Where Art Thou brought In 2001 O Brother Where Art Thou brought some popularity to bluegrass and older country some popularity to bluegrass and older country music in general music in general http://youtu.be/I1C2gCXo4Gs

The soundtrack swept the 2001 CMA awards The soundtrack swept the 2001 CMA awards http://youtu.be/TIKz1phnuCc

MODERN COUNTRY MODERN COUNTRY MUSIC MUSIC

http://youtu.be/cy9gp8943zM

Garth BrooksGarth Brooks Born in OklahomaBorn in Oklahoma The most successful country/pop crossover artistThe most successful country/pop crossover artist One of the best-selling music artists in the US – 128 million recordsOne of the best-selling music artists in the US – 128 million records Whereas most of his immediate predecessors just stood on stage and Whereas most of his immediate predecessors just stood on stage and

sang, Brooks brought dramatic stadium rock aspects into his show sang, Brooks brought dramatic stadium rock aspects into his show (fireworks, mosh pit jumping, flying over the audience on cables (fireworks, mosh pit jumping, flying over the audience on cables and wearing a cordless head mounted microphone usually found on and wearing a cordless head mounted microphone usually found on dancing pop acts)dancing pop acts)

Released Released Ropin’ the WindRopin’ the Wind in 1991 – first country album to debut at in 1991 – first country album to debut at the top of the pop chartsthe top of the pop charts

In 2000 Brooks starred in a movie as dark rocker Chris GainesIn 2000 Brooks starred in a movie as dark rocker Chris Gaines To promote this new character, he began performing as him and To promote this new character, he began performing as him and

released an album in character (wasn’t successful)released an album in character (wasn’t successful) Went on hiatus from 2005 – 2008 but has since returned to Went on hiatus from 2005 – 2008 but has since returned to

performingperforming

Alan JacksonAlan Jackson

Born in Georgia in 1958Born in Georgia in 1958 Has preserved honky tonk traditionsHas preserved honky tonk traditions Sarcastic lyrics about trendy Nashville activitySarcastic lyrics about trendy Nashville activity ““Don’t Rock the Jukebox” – don’t dial up rock Don’t Rock the Jukebox” – don’t dial up rock

music. music. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMDq-MnpbTo

Musical tributes to working-class and struggling Musical tributes to working-class and struggling familiesfamilies

Johnny CashJohnny Cash While staying true to himself musically, he managed to stay While staying true to himself musically, he managed to stay

commercially and artistically viable for four generationscommercially and artistically viable for four generations Deeply spiritual and a devout Christian, yet was plagued all Deeply spiritual and a devout Christian, yet was plagued all

his life with substance abuse and other personal demonshis life with substance abuse and other personal demons Established himself as a dark loner by wearing all black to the Established himself as a dark loner by wearing all black to the

Grand Ole Opry – this, along with his dark ballads earned him Grand Ole Opry – this, along with his dark ballads earned him the title “the man in black”the title “the man in black”

Played a number of free concerts at prisonsPlayed a number of free concerts at prisons To stay relevant, Cash teamed up with Rick Rubin in the early To stay relevant, Cash teamed up with Rick Rubin in the early

1990s who insisted on him rerecording songs by contemporary 1990s who insisted on him rerecording songs by contemporary artists Nine Inch Nails “Hurt” artists Nine Inch Nails “Hurt” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aF9AJm0RFc

http://youtu.be/k7K4jH7NqUw “I Walk the Line” “I Walk the Line”

Dixie ChicksDixie Chicks

Began as a neo-cowgirl and bluegrass group Began as a neo-cowgirl and bluegrass group but this was abandoned for a more pop sound but this was abandoned for a more pop sound and look.and look.

Anti-war statements made them a little less Anti-war statements made them a little less popularpopular

http://youtu.be/Gw7gNf_9njs “Goodbye Earl” “Goodbye Earl”

Carrie UnderwoodCarrie Underwood

Winner of the fourth season of American IdolWinner of the fourth season of American Idol Won the Grammy for Best New Artist – the Won the Grammy for Best New Artist – the

second of only three people to do this along second of only three people to do this along with Leann Rimes and Zac Brown Bandwith Leann Rimes and Zac Brown Band

http://youtu.be/WaSy8yy-mr8 “Before He “Before He Cheats”Cheats”

Taylor SwiftTaylor Swift Her album Fearless has spent more time at no. 1 than Her album Fearless has spent more time at no. 1 than

any other since 2000any other since 2000 Ranked the 38th Best Artist of the 2000–10 decade by Ranked the 38th Best Artist of the 2000–10 decade by

Billboard – her first album debuted in 2006Billboard – her first album debuted in 2006 Has been extremely influential in bringing country Has been extremely influential in bringing country

music to a younger audiencemusic to a younger audience http://youtu.be/8xg3vE8Ie_E “Love Story” “Love Story” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLI4EuDckgM

“Trouble”“Trouble”

September 11, 2001September 11, 2001 World Trade Center and Pentagon are attacked World Trade Center and Pentagon are attacked

by terroristsby terrorists In the wake of these attacks a number of In the wake of these attacks a number of

patriotic songs surfaced patriotic songs surfaced http://youtu.be/fvj6zdWLUuk

Can be seen as a way to boost morale through Can be seen as a way to boost morale through times of wartimes of war

At the same time songs came out either At the same time songs came out either justifying the war(s) or supporting the troops justifying the war(s) or supporting the troops http://youtu.be/JZaPfNZvSZM

Many of these songs contained mild to strong religious undertones – this stems from the traditionally strong religious beliefs in the South

Shortly after the attacks Clear Channel Communications, which owns more than 1200 radio stations, published a list of 166 songs with “questionable lyrics” that should probably be avoided – this list included “all songs” by Rage Against the Machine

COUNTRY and ROCKCOUNTRY and ROCK

Lynyrd SkynyrdLynyrd Skynyrd

Formed in 1964Formed in 1964 Had numerous hits, including Had numerous hits, including FreebirdFreebird,, which which

frequently appears on “Best song” listsfrequently appears on “Best song” lists In 1977 the band was involved in a plane crash In 1977 the band was involved in a plane crash

– the lead singer and guitarist died– the lead singer and guitarist died Known for incorporating extended solo Known for incorporating extended solo

sections into their live shows – sections into their live shows – FreebirdFreebird is an is an excellent example of this excellent example of this http://youtu.be/np0solnL1XY

Allman BrothersAllman Brothers

Frequently combined blues and jazz into Frequently combined blues and jazz into their mix of country and rocktheir mix of country and rock

Also known for performing extended Also known for performing extended solo sections live solo sections live

http://youtu.be/0WGVW7byRCA “Ramblin’ “Ramblin’ Man”Man”

In the past decade a number of hard/modern In the past decade a number of hard/modern rock bands have performed patriotic songs rock bands have performed patriotic songs with some type of country influence including with some type of country influence including “Citizen Soldier” by 3 Doors Down “Citizen Soldier” by 3 Doors Down http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcjwSTcFsNY and Five Finger Death Punchand Five Finger Death Punch

Changing Face of Country MusicChanging Face of Country Music

After Iraq War – young, good-looking, new After Iraq War – young, good-looking, new talenttalent

Brad Paisley born 1972 in West Virginia – Brad Paisley born 1972 in West Virginia – music business major, worked on demo music business major, worked on demo sessions, signed with Arista label. Debut sessions, signed with Arista label. Debut album went platinum (Who Needs Pictures album went platinum (Who Needs Pictures 1999)1999)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWM5P2GgT_E “Who Needs Pictures”v=zWM5P2GgT_E “Who Needs Pictures”

More New FacesMore New Faces

Keith Urban – born in New Zealand in Keith Urban – born in New Zealand in 1967,moved to Australia 1967,moved to Australia http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dtfBxUTXRY v=7dtfBxUTXRY

Tim McGraw http://www.youtube.com/watch?Tim McGraw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf7GfUORHtw v=rf7GfUORHtw

Faith Hill http://www.youtube.com/watch?Faith Hill http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7Qob5zr2Bk v=s7Qob5zr2Bk

Sinister Minister, Bela Fleck and the FlecktonesSinister Minister, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drHCosJWH0Qhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drHCosJWH0Q    When You come back down, nickel creekWhen You come back down, nickel creek http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ng5-VUDcjJ8http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ng5-VUDcjJ8    Mark O'Connor and the New Nashville CatsMark O'Connor and the New Nashville Cats http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyR99JCXJMwhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyR99JCXJMw    Mumford and Sons – “I Will Wait” Mumford and Sons – “I Will Wait” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5t7B-ia8Y0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5t7B-ia8Y0