The singer/songwriter tradition established by folk-rock artists like Bob Dylan can be traced back to country folk artists who write their material, focusing on lyrical complexity and thoughtfulness. Many people also appreciate country-folk performers because of their songwriting ability however, the only way that full-fledged country singers are willing to cover their compositions is when they perform them themselves. For the most part, country-folk artists write and perform most of their material, closely resembling folk artists. In Country-Folk, as in most other hybrid genres, the proportions of each side vary, primarily due to the performer’s preferences. The gradual addition of new instruments and vocal harmonies, according to music enthusiasts, has led to its “dilution”. Strong rhythms, twangy vocals, and regular use of the tape echo were hallmarks of the rockabilly sound. These include boogie-woogie, jump blues, and electric blues, as well as western swing. The result is known as “classic” rock and roll, which combines the sound of Western musical styles like country with rhythm and blues.Ĭountry music played an essential role in shaping the style. In the United States, especially in the South, it dates back to the early 1950s. Rockabilly is what defined early rock and roll music. Blood Oranges, Blue Mountain, and Drive-By-Truckers are just some of the artists who fit this description. Jason and the Scorchers paved the way with their 1980s-inspired sound to make this specific genre popular.ĭue to its “punk rock” aesthetic and high production level, this style got ridiculed by music purists. It is a mix of country and alternative rock. Shania Twain, LeeAnn Rimes, Lee Ann Womack, Taylor Swift, and Rascal Flatts are pop-country artists. You can often find pop-country songs in the mainstream Billboard Top 40.Īmerican Idol has helped tremendously in making this genre popular. Country PopĪ country-pop crossover is when a country artist tries to make it big in the pop world by adopting a more commercial sound. Stringed instruments, mainly the steel guitar, are amplified to produce a distinct sound. A hot string band plays a mix of Dixieland, jazz, cowboy, rural, and blues, infused with a swing. Jazz was a significant influence on the movement. The late 1920s saw the emergence of Western swing music, a different genre of American country music, among many Western swing bands of the West and South.Ī federal wartime nightclub tax in 1944 contributed to the genre’s decline in several states during the 1930s and 1940s when it attracted large crowds to dance halls and clubs.

While popular music was frequently cliched and nostalgic, rural songs possessed a liveliness and authenticity making them substantially different from similar categories. Since hillbilly music had been deemed demeaning by the music business, the phrase country and western music has been used to define this specific sub-category.įolk songs and melodies of the English, Scottish, and Irish inhabitants of the Appalachian Mountains, and a few sections of the Deep South are at the heart of the country genre’s history. In the early 20th century, remote regions of the South and West were home to a genre of American music known as country and western.

The Bakersfield Sound sparked a renaissance in honky-tonk music in the 1960s and influenced later generations of country rock and outlaw country artists. While country music has always been inspired mainly by rock’n’roll, Bakersfield was the first to incorporate electronic instruments and an established backbeat. Bakersfield SoundĪ subgenre of country music, Bakersfield Sound emerged around Bakersfield, California, in the 1950s. Bluegrass artists also play at some of the largest and most prestigious music venues like Red Rocks and The Gorge. To this day, bluegrass continues to be popular worldwide and it’s no wonder: there are renowned festivals like Telluride Bluegrass Festival and RockyGrass. Instead of playing songs from beginning to end, the artists perform the same chords while composing their tunes. Jazz and improvisatory aspects are what make it stand out from initial Appalachian folk music. Bluegrass, which has its roots in Appalachian folk music, has risen to prominence on its own.

Hillbilly rock genre