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Who Were the Pioneers and What Were the Origins of Country Music?

Country music is now one of the most important genres in the music industry, with tons of fans even beyond the United States. Country music artistes are able to live luxurious lifestyles, which just shows the popularity of the genre. But how did it all begin?

The Humble Origins

The origins were pretty humble. They date back to the second decade of the 21st century, to the southern Appalachian region where musicians playing the humble fiddle started making recordings. But it was only in the 1920s that country music became a sustainable genre rather than just a fad. Credit for the first commercially sold record in the country music genre goes to fiddler Eck Robertson back in 1922. That record was released by Victor Records (now RCA). But the first country song to become a national hit was “Wreck of the Old ‘97” by Vernon Dalhart, back in 1924. It sold over a million copies. Despite the tremendous success, some historians don’t consider even that crucial year as the birth of country music. They point to 1927, when The Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers were signed up by Victor Records.  

The First Stars of Country Music

This brings us to the pioneering celebrities of country music. In fact, Jimmie Rodgers is considered the Father of Country Music. That’s probably because his “Blue Yodel #1” was the first ever million-selling single, and it featured his distinctive style of yodeling. He tasted national success instantly, and his songs, all of which were recorded in the period from 1927 to his death in 1933, were successful and solidified his position as country music’s pioneering great. He was also a pioneer in the blues genre. Unfortunately he was prevented from churning out more hits due to tuberculosis that caused his death at just 35 years of age. In 1961, his greatness and contributions to establishing the country music genre as a consistently successful arena were posthumously acknowledged by an induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

But if Jimmie Rodgers is the Father of Country Music, The Carter Family is the “First Family of Country Music.” As you guessed, it was a family that performed country music, making them the genre’s first vocal group to enjoy fame. Songs that are held as the benchmarks for country music, “Wildwood Flower” and “Keep on the Sunny Side,”were hits of The Carter Family who tasted success following the release of their first song collection in 1927. They did perform with Jimmie Rodgers too, and during their decade long existence, performed with the gospel singing group Speer Family as well. The Carter Family consisted of AP Carter, Carter’s wife Sara Dougherty Carter, and sister-in-law Maybelle Addington Carter. Though their songs are classified under country music, their work also impacted gospel music, particularly Southern Gospel, as well as bluegrass, pop and rock music. Their impact was felt in the 1960s too, during the US folk revival. Their music lived on in the 2nd generation as The Carter Sisters.

Western Swing

Mention also has to be made of Bob Wills, considered the “King of Western Swing.” The western swing style hit the peak of popularity in the early 1940s. It was the western swing sub-genre that first brought in drums to country music. There were also pianos, saxophones and the steel guitar.

The influences of these pioneering stars contributed to laying the foundations of country music and eventually giving it worldwide popularity, beyond the shores of the United States.

Country singer Kyle Simak is immensely aware of the history and tradition of country music and the role played by those early pioneers. As he scales up the ladder with an aim to hit the big league, Kyle hopes to make his contributions to enrich this vibrant genre.

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My Favorite Country Singers Who Laid the Seeds of Music

I’m from the millennial generation, but the reason I ventured into country music was because of some old singers with lovely voices, whose songs have an appeal that transcends the borders of the United States to the world at large – I’m talking of John Denver and Anne Murray.

Tape Recorder Memories

I have memories of my dad’s tape recorder and John Denver’s Greatest Hits cassette cover beside it on the couch in our living room. Despite all the Bluetooth players and USB pen-drives you have these days where you can just store so many songs or get them downloaded from the Internet, there’s something about listening to a cassette player that’s missing these days. Those tape recorders were the greatest relaxation tools. You listen to them and just relax on your couch, dreaming of scenes conjured up by the singer, and no one was quite as good as Denver in making you dream.

Nature and Beauty

The most famous Denver song that comes to mind is obviously “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” Sure that brings to mind the beauty of West Virginia, the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah River though I’m sure people anywhere in the world would conjure up images of their homeland and the rivers and mountains they have there. Prominent rocky peaks come to mind when the chorus of “Rocky Mountain High Colorado” rings through the tape recorder’s speakers. The harsh realities of life raise their gloomy heads in “Wild Montana Skies,” for which Denver was accompanied by Emmylou Harris.

Love and Infatuation

But Denver’s songs weren’t about just nature. There was love, tender love. “Annie’s Song” talks of tender affection, and it makes you wish you were there, experiencing everything Denver sang. And then you have plain infatuation depicted in “Fly Away,” made more beautiful by the timeless voice of the 70s and early 80s diva Olivia Newton John. You’re floating in a ton of emotions when you experience the chorus of that song to which Olivia brilliantly renders the background vocals.  

Deep Voice that Evokes Deep Emotions

Canadian Anne Murray’s country hits are more sophisticated, but what’s mesmerizing is her deep voice. And you get to experience that deep voice at its best in the deeply romantic ballad, “I’d Fall in Love Tonight.” “Shadows in the Moonlight” presents how fun love can be. In fact there are so many of Anne Murray’s ballads that I love, that I can’t talk about all of them here.  

Country music has significantly transformed over the years, but these two artists laid the foundation of my love for the genre. Which artiste has been your inspiration?

Kyle Simak has made his base in Nashville, looking to further his music career. He has already released two albums which have been reasonably received though he’s still working to hit the big league.