Early Country MusicEarly Country Music

Hillbilly RecordsHillbilly Records

Hillbilly or Country Music Hillbilly or Country Music

Commercially produced music Commercially produced music associated with the rural white associated with the rural white South and Southwest. South and Southwest.

Country music reflects the values Country music reflects the values and traditions of the performers, and traditions of the performers, who were rural, mostly poor, who were rural, mostly poor, southern whites. southern whites.

It is a regional music with an It is a regional music with an international following. international following.

Musical ElementsMusical Elements

Clear, honest vocal styleClear, honest vocal style Southern dialect (accent) Southern dialect (accent) Nasal vocal timbre; no vibratoNasal vocal timbre; no vibrato Most other elements of country music Most other elements of country music

come form other sources: European folk come form other sources: European folk music, parlor songs, jazz, and blues.music, parlor songs, jazz, and blues.

The balance between traditional and The balance between traditional and outside elements has defined the outside elements has defined the fundamental tension in country music fundamental tension in country music (tradition versus change, old country (tradition versus change, old country versus new country).versus new country).

Hillbilly RecordsHillbilly Records

The designation for recordings of early The designation for recordings of early country music. country music.

The first commercially successful hillbilly The first commercially successful hillbilly record featured a North Georgia musician record featured a North Georgia musician named Fiddlin’ John Carson.named Fiddlin’ John Carson.

The recording was made by Okeh records The recording was made by Okeh records in 1923 during an expedition to Atlanta.in 1923 during an expedition to Atlanta.

This expedition was led by Ralph Peer, a This expedition was led by Ralph Peer, a talent scout/record producer.talent scout/record producer.

RadioRadio Important in the rapid growth of the Important in the rapid growth of the

hillbilly markethillbilly market Made the music accessible to a larger Made the music accessible to a larger

audienceaudience Early radio played a large role in Early radio played a large role in

popularizing hillbilly music but had a popularizing hillbilly music but had a lesser role in popularizing race music. lesser role in popularizing race music.

– Most radios and all radio stations were owned Most radios and all radio stations were owned by whites. by whites.

The first station to feature country artists The first station to feature country artists regularly was WSB in Atlanta, which regularly was WSB in Atlanta, which began broadcasting in 1922. began broadcasting in 1922.

Grand Ole OpryGrand Ole Opry

Nashville, home of the Nashville, home of the Grand Ole Grand Ole Opry,Opry, is the center of country is the center of country music. music.

The The Grand Ole OpryGrand Ole Opry was a radio was a radio show broadcast from Nashville on show broadcast from Nashville on WSM. WSM.

Vernon Dalhart (1883–1948)Vernon Dalhart (1883–1948)

Texas-born light-opera singer who Texas-born light-opera singer who recorded the first big country music hitrecorded the first big country music hit

Began his recording career in 1916 Began his recording career in 1916 singing light opera but convinced Victor singing light opera but convinced Victor records to let him record a hillbilly record records to let him record a hillbilly record to cash in on the new genre’s popularity to cash in on the new genre’s popularity

He recorded two songs in 1924: He recorded two songs in 1924: – ““Wreck of the Old 97,” a ballad about a train Wreck of the Old 97,” a ballad about a train

crash in Virginiacrash in Virginia– “ “The Prisoner’s Song,” an amalgam of The Prisoner’s Song,” an amalgam of

preexisting song fragmentspreexisting song fragments

Pioneers of Country Music: The Pioneers of Country Music: The Carter Family and Jimmie Carter Family and Jimmie

RodgersRodgers The Carter Family and Jimmie The Carter Family and Jimmie

Rodgers were both discovered at a Rodgers were both discovered at a recording session in Bristol, recording session in Bristol, Tennessee, in August 1927. Tennessee, in August 1927.

Their fame was boosted by hit Their fame was boosted by hit records and radio appearances.records and radio appearances.

They had a profound impact on They had a profound impact on generations of country and generations of country and western musicians. western musicians.

The Carter FamilyThe Carter Family

Regarded as one of the most important Regarded as one of the most important groups in the history of country musicgroups in the history of country music

The Carter Family presented more The Carter Family presented more conservative elements of country musicconservative elements of country music——God and home, high moral values. God and home, high moral values.

They were from the isolated foothills of They were from the isolated foothills of the Clinch Mountains of Virginia. the Clinch Mountains of Virginia.

The Carters were not professional The Carters were not professional musicians when their recording career musicians when their recording career started in 1927. started in 1927.

The Carter FamilyThe Carter Family

The leader of the group was A. P. The leader of the group was A. P. “Doc” Carter (1891–1960).“Doc” Carter (1891–1960).

– Collected and arranged the folk songs Collected and arranged the folk songs that formed the inspiration for much of that formed the inspiration for much of the group’s repertoire; also sang bass the group’s repertoire; also sang bass

• His wife, Sara Carter (1899–1979), His wife, Sara Carter (1899–1979), sang most of the lead vocal parts and sang most of the lead vocal parts and played autoharp or guitar. played autoharp or guitar.

• She had a classic Appalachian singing She had a classic Appalachian singing style rooted in early English ballad style rooted in early English ballad singing.singing.

The Carter FamilyThe Carter Family

Maybelle Carter (1909–1978) Maybelle Carter (1909–1978) – Sang harmonySang harmony– Played steel guitar and autoharpPlayed steel guitar and autoharp– Developed an influential guitar style, Developed an influential guitar style,

which involved playing the melody on which involved playing the melody on the bass strings while brushing the the bass strings while brushing the upper strings on the offbeats for upper strings on the offbeats for rhythm rhythm

The Carter FamilyThe Carter Family The Carter Family preserved the traditional The Carter Family preserved the traditional

music of their native Appalachian Mountain music of their native Appalachian Mountain home by arranging and adapting old songs home by arranging and adapting old songs from the Anglo-American folk music from the Anglo-American folk music tradition. tradition.

Their repertoire also included old hymns Their repertoire also included old hymns and sentimental songs reminiscent of the and sentimental songs reminiscent of the Tin Pan Alley tradition at the turn of the Tin Pan Alley tradition at the turn of the century. century.

Between 1927 and 1941, they made over Between 1927 and 1941, they made over three hundred recordings for a half-dozen three hundred recordings for a half-dozen companies. companies.

““Gospel Ship” The Carter Gospel Ship” The Carter Family (1935)Family (1935)

An example of a gospel recording by An example of a gospel recording by the Carter familythe Carter family

Features a straightforward, unadorned Features a straightforward, unadorned performance styleperformance style

Dark vocal timbre of Sara CarterDark vocal timbre of Sara Carter Clean guitar style of Maybelle Carter Clean guitar style of Maybelle Carter

(melody in lower strings with (melody in lower strings with strumming higher-pitched chords strumming higher-pitched chords above)above)

““Gospel Ship” The Carter Gospel Ship” The Carter Family (1935)Family (1935)

I'm going to take a trip in that old gospel shipI'm going to take a trip in that old gospel shipI'm a-going far beyond the skyI'm a-going far beyond the skyI'm gonna shout and sing ‘til heaven ringsI'm gonna shout and sing ‘til heaven ringsWhen I hid this world goodbyeWhen I hid this world goodbye

I have good news to bring, and that is why I singI have good news to bring, and that is why I singAll my joys with you I'll shareAll my joys with you I'll shareI'm going to take a trip in that old gospel shipI'm going to take a trip in that old gospel shipAnd go sailing through the airAnd go sailing through the air

I can scarcely wait, I know I won't be lateI can scarcely wait, I know I won't be lateI'll spend my time in prayerI'll spend my time in prayerAnd when the ship comes in, I'll leave this world of sinAnd when the ship comes in, I'll leave this world of sinAnd go sailing through the airAnd go sailing through the air

Jimmie Rodgers (1897–Jimmie Rodgers (1897–1933)1933)

First inductee to Country Music First inductee to Country Music Hall of FameHall of Fame

The most versatile, progressive, The most versatile, progressive, and widely influential of all the and widely influential of all the early country recording artistsearly country recording artists

Known for his blue yodel and Known for his blue yodel and railroad imagerailroad image

Listening: “Blue Yodel No 11”Listening: “Blue Yodel No 11”

Written and performed by Jimmie Rodgers, recorded in Written and performed by Jimmie Rodgers, recorded in 19291929

Particularly close to rural black modelsParticularly close to rural black models Typical blues song—text, melodic style, formTypical blues song—text, melodic style, form Highly personal toneHighly personal tone Singing style rooted in blues: Singing style rooted in blues:

– Rhythmically free and unstilted deliveryRhythmically free and unstilted delivery– Highly inflected phrasingHighly inflected phrasing– Vocal style more expressive than prettyVocal style more expressive than pretty

Yodels between stanzasYodels between stanzas Rodgers uses the guitar strictly as accompaniment, Rodgers uses the guitar strictly as accompaniment,

making no attempt to set up any kind of melodic making no attempt to set up any kind of melodic response (as with Blind Lemon Jefferson) or rhythmic response (as with Blind Lemon Jefferson) or rhythmic counterpoint (as with Robert Johnson) to his vocal.counterpoint (as with Robert Johnson) to his vocal.

Listening: “Waiting for a Train”Listening: “Waiting for a Train”

Written and performed by Jimmie Written and performed by Jimmie Rodgers, recorded in 1928Rodgers, recorded in 1928

A hobo song with a dark mood, A hobo song with a dark mood, reinforced by Rodgers’s lonesome reinforced by Rodgers’s lonesome yodelyodel

The song is based on a strophic form, The song is based on a strophic form, but Rodgers employs a number of but Rodgers employs a number of strategies to avoid monotony.strategies to avoid monotony.

He freely varies the basic melody as He freely varies the basic melody as he goes along.he goes along.

Listening: “Waiting for a Train” Listening: “Waiting for a Train”

StructureStructure– Rodgers achieves a large-scale Rodgers achieves a large-scale

structural shaping by varying the close structural shaping by varying the close of every third strophe to produce a of every third strophe to produce a firm cadence, while allowing the other firm cadence, while allowing the other strophes to end inconclusively. strophes to end inconclusively.

Listening: “Dreaming with Tears in My Listening: “Dreaming with Tears in My Eyes” Eyes”

Written by Jimmie Rodgers and Waldo L. O’Neal, Written by Jimmie Rodgers and Waldo L. O’Neal, performed by Jimmie Rodgers, recorded in 1933performed by Jimmie Rodgers, recorded in 1933

Lyrics Lyrics – Provide a wonderful example of humble, virtually Provide a wonderful example of humble, virtually

invisible artistryinvisible artistry– Abundant open vowel sounds that “sing” beautifullyAbundant open vowel sounds that “sing” beautifully– Triple meter of the music already explicit in the Triple meter of the music already explicit in the

natural rhythms of the wordsnatural rhythms of the words Its prominent triple meter clearly recalls the Its prominent triple meter clearly recalls the

waltz songs of the late nineteenth century.waltz songs of the late nineteenth century. Jimmie Rodgers died in 1933 of tuberculosis, Jimmie Rodgers died in 1933 of tuberculosis,

eight days after recording “Dreaming with Tears eight days after recording “Dreaming with Tears in My Eyes.”in My Eyes.”

Popular Music and the Great Popular Music and the Great DepressionDepression

The Great Depression (1929–ca. 1939)The Great Depression (1929–ca. 1939)– Threw millions of Americans out of workThrew millions of Americans out of work– Had a major impact on the music industryHad a major impact on the music industry

The race record market was crushed by the The race record market was crushed by the economic downturn.economic downturn.

Hillbilly record sales were also affected by the Hillbilly record sales were also affected by the depression, although not as severely as race depression, although not as severely as race records. records.

– Hillbilly and blues singers injected a note of Hillbilly and blues singers injected a note of social realism into popular music.social realism into popular music.

Woodrow Wilson “Woody” Woodrow Wilson “Woody” Guthrie Guthrie

One of the musicians most closely One of the musicians most closely associated with the plight of associated with the plight of American workers during the Great American workers during the Great DepressionDepression

– Born in Oklahoma in 1912Born in Oklahoma in 1912– Began his career as a hillbilly singer, Began his career as a hillbilly singer,

performing the songs of the Carter performing the songs of the Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers. Family and Jimmie Rodgers.

Woodrow Wilson “Woody” Woodrow Wilson “Woody” GuthrieGuthrie

In the late 1930s, he migrated to California as part In the late 1930s, he migrated to California as part of the stream of impoverished “Okies” described of the stream of impoverished “Okies” described in John Steinbeck’s novel in John Steinbeck’s novel The Grapes ofThe Grapes of Wrath. Wrath.

Wrote songs that were overtly political in nature, Wrote songs that were overtly political in nature, including “This Land Is Your Land,” “Talking Dust including “This Land Is Your Land,” “Talking Dust Bowl Blues,” and “Ludlow Massacre.” Bowl Blues,” and “Ludlow Massacre.”

After 1940, he was known primarily as a protest After 1940, he was known primarily as a protest singer.singer.

– His political orientation was summarized by a sign on his His political orientation was summarized by a sign on his guitar that read, “This Machine Kills Fascists.”guitar that read, “This Machine Kills Fascists.”

He had a direct influence on later urban folk He had a direct influence on later urban folk musicians such as the Weavers and Bob Dylan.musicians such as the Weavers and Bob Dylan.