This country music thing just won't stop.
Country music as we know it began in the 1920’s in the South, and took its roots from folk and western music. At the time, it was referred to as hillbilly music. In the 1940’s the term country music came to being.
The Louisiana Hayride got its start in Shreveport in 1948, and was second only to The Grand Ole Opry in presenting country singers to the world.
There have been so many country singers and songs over the years, but I will give you a taste of the first two ‘hillbilly’ stars: Jimmie Rodgers and The Carter Family.
Jimmie Rodgers, The Singing Brakeman, recorded his first songs, "The Soldier's Sweetheart" and "Sleep, Baby, Sleep" for Victor. He received $100 for his efforts. Rodgers died in 1933 from TB at the age of 35.
Country music as we know it began in the 1920’s in the South, and took its roots from folk and western music. At the time, it was referred to as hillbilly music. In the 1940’s the term country music came to being.
The Louisiana Hayride got its start in Shreveport in 1948, and was second only to The Grand Ole Opry in presenting country singers to the world.
There have been so many country singers and songs over the years, but I will give you a taste of the first two ‘hillbilly’ stars: Jimmie Rodgers and The Carter Family.
Jimmie Rodgers, The Singing Brakeman, recorded his first songs, "The Soldier's Sweetheart" and "Sleep, Baby, Sleep" for Victor. He received $100 for his efforts. Rodgers died in 1933 from TB at the age of 35.
The original Carter Family consisted of A. P. Carter (1891–1960), his wife Sara (1898–1979), and his sister-in-law Maybelle Carter (1909–1978). Maybelle was the mother of June Carter Cash. They made their first recordings in 1927, receiving $50 for each song.
The original group disbanded after A. P. and Sara divorced in 1944, but Maybelle kept performing with her daughters, June, Anita and Helen.
And to wrap it up, a song that I think represents the genre perfectly, from Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty.
Jim,
ReplyDeleteI was very young in the sixties, but I remember a lot of country stars from that era. Wasn't there sort of a resurgance of country music in the sixties? Or do you think it was caused by a lot of the old Rock-a-billy singers like Conway, Johnny Cash, and the Killer himself crossing over?
There was a lot of rockabilly, and a lot of the songs in the 60's crossed the charts, going both rock and country.
ReplyDeleteI think the 50's was the zenith of the true old country music, some hung on, but they were carryovers (Ernest Tubb etc)
The old country was the best.. Setting the woods on fire, etc.
ReplyDeleteI have a 1935 Wurlitzer Simplex Juke Box in my den. 12 play. 78 records. 9 records early country..3 early rock. "Lefty" and "Hank" get the most attention. Always liked country. When Nat Stuckey quit KWKH..I had the opportunity to take the job. Turned it down..Still sort of sorry I did.
Alex
Wow Alex. Nat Stuckey was one of the most popular announcers ever at KWKH. For those who don't remember, he went on to record several songs, the biggest I think was 'Has anybody here seen my sweet thing'.
ReplyDeleteI remember in the 1964 election Barry Goldwater made a stop in Shreveport for a speech at the airport. It was September, I was a senior in High School; they let us out of school to go to the airport if we desired. Nat Stuckey was there warming up the crowd. I remember his rendition of 'Home on the Range'. "Where seldom is heard a disouraging word, and Lady Bird's back on her broom'.
Memories, glad we have them. They seem to be crowding out the ambitions these days.
Jim, I grew up in a house with a true country lovin' Father, and the radio was always on KWKH.
ReplyDeleteBut, I've gotta admit that I've never heard that Conway & Loretta tune. If I have, I've forgotten it...which is VERY possible.
Got a kick out of it, too. "Every time we get ahead, it's got another mouth to feed." I'm using that one several times today...
One of my very favorite country songs. And Andy's right about that being the best line. Well, except for the rest of the song!
ReplyDelete