Wednesday, September 22, 2004

 

A brief history of country

From Echo Online (Eastern Michigan University)
There are quite a few people who will not listen to country music. Surely many of the students here at Eastern Michigan fall into that category. But really, why is that?

Country, rap and rock ‘n’ roll all have their roots in the blues. Blues artists from the 1930s and ‘40s have paved the way for almost all of the music that you hear today. Blues men Robert Johnson and Rufus “tee-top” Payne were influences of the “father” of country music, Hank Williams.

“Lovesick Blues” was the first hit to put Hank on the map. “Honky-Tonk Blues,” “Long-gone Lonesome Blues” and “Ramblin’ Man” would follow, as his success turned Nashville upside-down. “No doubt about it. Hank Williams had the blues,” said Robert Palmer, author of “Deep Blues.”

Artists through the ‘60s and ‘70s such as Johnny Cash, Charlie Daniels, Merle Haggard, Loretta Lynn, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson kept true to the mold that Hank Williams made of “classic country.”

“I really enjoy the older stuff,” said Amanda Reynolds, a student at EMU. “It focused on love. It is not materialistic or poetic.”

Without a doubt, country music has evolved over the years. It is nothing like all the naysayers remember it. It is so different now, I cannot see how someone could listen to it for a week and not have a couple new favorite songs.

Years from now, there will still be country music. I don’t know how it will be played, but I am sure that it will include fiddles and steel guitars. It will be about everyday people with poetry that comes from the blue-collar democratic way of life.

Read the article
Echo Online


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