Country music is a genre of prominent music that originated in the rural southern parts of the United States of America. Throughout the years, country music has evolved and broadened its range of viewers. Country music is diverse and ever-changing. Artists can make songs that tell a beautiful story with a fairytale-like ending or songs that make you feel broken and emotional. Most importantly, country music has been a genre of music that shows both patriotism and nationalism here in the States.

The songs can deliver powerful messages in various ways. As I began to conduct my research on country music, I used primary, secondary, and tertiary sources. Through the use of my school’s library database search system and the help of the librarian, I was able to find a majority of reputable sources. For the interview section of my research, I interviewed my uncle’s stepson, who is a free-lance country music artist in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He is a graduate of the University of Wyoming with a music degree.

Use original sources only.
Order your custom essay on

Country Music: A Melodic Tapestry of Nationalism, Diversity, and Resilience

Introduction

Beginning in the early 1920s, country music began to make its debut in the Appalachian Mountains. Regarded as one of the first genres of contemporary American prominent music, county music was a blend of folk, British Isles, and blues music. To keep up with other genre’s popularity, like rock and roll, country music artists have developed new styles that blend authentic country music tunes with the unruly sounds of rock. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, country music is “music derived from or imitating the folk style of the Southern U.S. or of the Western cowboy.” During this time, American people were hit with a lot of changes and struggles. Americans were searching for the spark that would streamline their feelings and take them back to their true roots. Country music was the answer.

Slowly but surely, people started to catch on and become involved. From the beginning of its development and in recent months, country music has been receiving backlash for supporting certain political agendas, associations, and white Southerners. This is not a new dilemma country artists are facing; it is a reoccurring one. Modern-day artists are doing all they can to spread the true words of country music. Race or an individual’s political stance is important in country music. Predominantly found and played in the Southern parts of the United States, country music has greatly influenced American culture through its nationalistic, patriotic, and militaristic roots.

History

Born in the southern parts of the Appalachian Mountains, the area was first occupied by English and Scottish immigrants in the 1700s. These immigrants brought various instruments with them: guitars, fiddles, mandolins, and any other instrument that was easy to carry up the hills. During this time, music established upon remote English/Irish songs and church music was prominent. At the turn of the twentieth century, things began to change. The modern world began to spread its influence on the Appalachian community. New advancements such as railroads, steel, and oil fields were making their presence seen in the community.

Along with the new advancements came new influences on traditional music. The music became more about an individual’s deep internal feelings, struggles, and hardships. Written by Stuart Kallen, The History of Country Music is a novel that describes the origins and introduction to country music. Kallen states, “People began to sing about their common problems, such as longing for the old homestead, suffering from a broken heart, and working for low wages.” The most recent change to country music came upon the introduction of the technology (radio). Country music transformed from English/Scottish roots to incorporating various genres such as blues, gospel, Cajun, western cowboy, and even hints of jazz. Country music was no longer isolated in the Appalachian Mountains; it began to make its way around all of Western and Southern America. Being mocked as “hillbilly music,” country music was, in fact, true American heritage music, influenced by hardworking, patriotic Americans themselves.

Country music has evolved over the years and can be performed differently by various artists. Today, traditional country music is split up into different categories; for instance, bluegrass, the honky-tonk, and western swing are just a few. However, what all country music has alike is the originality in the lyrics and the tribute artists pay to the original forefathers of country music. Kallen also states that “While the top artists in the digital age sell millions of compact discs (CDs), music downloads, and cell phone