MUSC 309 Lecture 5: Country Music, Gospel, Folk, and the Latin Tinge
I. Country music
A. Least acknowledged (and perhaps least noticeable) influence on rock music
B. Anglo-American folk music essentially imported from British isles
1. Preserved, with little outside influence, in Appalachian region of country
2. Does change over time
a. Certain instruments favored - fiddle, banjo, guitar
b. High, nasal singing style
c. Called old-time music
C. Commercial version = country music
D. Two types
1. Adheres closely to mountain traditions = Carter family
2. Hillbilly music
a. Heavily influenced by popular music, African-American folk music,
jazz and blues
b. = Jimmie Rodgers
E. Mountain tradition
1. Carter family - Ex. Wildwood Flower
a. Strophic form: each verse AABA
b. Guitar style of Maybelline Carter - "thumb-brush" style
i. Melody played on lower strings
ii. Chords played on upper strings
iii. Adopted by many country, later folk musicians
iv. Already used by some blues musicians
2. White gospel
a. Religious songs in mountain style
b. Vocal harmonies influenced by Sacred Harp or shape note singing
i. Popular method of vocal instruction in rural areas
ii. Taught harmonizing melodies at 3rd above the melody
c. Called tight vocal harmonies
d. Ex. Bales Brothers, You Can't Go Halfway (and Get In)
F. Jimmie Rodgers - Ex. Waiting for a Train
1. Definite influences from popular music, jazz, and blues
2. Especially the latter
3. blue yodel - very similar to some regional blues hollers; blues in form and
style - Ex. Blue Yodel #11
4. Same mixture of influences found in nearly all early rock and roll singers
a. Elvis, for example, known first as a "hillbilly" singer
b. And country influence on Chuck Berry undeniable
G. At about same time, in West, another country hybrid taking shape
1. By way of cowboy music
2. Cowboy songs collected as early as 1910
3. First big singing cowboy "star" Gene Autry
4. Eventually, cowboy songs fused with dance music, jazz, blues in Western
