Country Music

Presented by:Katie, Jessica, and Zach

ALL ABOUT COUNTRY MUSIC

Country music is one of the best selling

genres after rock/pop.

The most commonly used instruments are a

fiddle, banjo, steel/electric guitars,

harmonica, washboards, and drums.

Country music was said to be a way for

isolated town-folk to hear about the

happenings of the rest of the world.

The Beginning (1920’s)•Country found it’s permanent home in Nashville

Tennessee in 1925 when the Nashville Barn Dance

opened, which later became the Grand Ole Opry.

•The first commercial recording of “country music”

was by Sallie Gooden in 1922 by Victor Records.

•The first singer to have a nationwide hit was Vernon

Dalhart in 1924.

•The two most influential groups of this time was the

Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers. They built the

foundation for the genre.

•Jimmie Rodgers was considered the “Father of

Country Music” and the Carter Family was the first

family of country music.

COWBOY MUSIC (1940-1960)

The western style of country music was brought to the American Public through cowboy films.

The main singers were Roy Rogers (“King of the Cowboys”), Gene Autry, and The Sons of the Pioneers.

Honky Tonk (1950)•The Honky Tonk style of country music

embodied the spirit of drinking , dancing, and

loving then losing the one you love.

•Steel guitar and drums was very popular.

•One of the biggest figures of this time was

Hank Williams. He had one of the best knows

songs from this era “Your Cheatin’ Heart”.

•This type of music was common in roadside

pubs throughout Texas and Oklahoma.

•(Play song)

Rockabilly Country

•This was a mix of southern hills music and the

blues.

•It included famous artists such as, Jerry Lee

Lewis, Conway Twitty, and Elvis Presley.

•It was a faster paced sound and had a

constant rhythm. The people were living a

faster paced life and wanted music that could

keep up.

OUTLAW COUNTRY (1970)

A more traditional sound emerged to break the mold of Nashville sound.

The main singers were Conway Twitty, David Allan Coe, and The Charlie Daniels Band.

Urban Country (1980)

•This style of country attempted to lead

country from its roots and crossover to an

easy-listening pop audience.

•The heroes of this time were Willie, Waylon,

Johnny, and Merle.

Today’s music is accompanied by orchestras and uses

synthesizer and studio effects to give it a rich sound.

Today, country music is at its highest peak of popularity.

Some of today’s well known artists include Taylor Swift,

Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flats, Rodney Atkins and Brooks

and Dunn.

(play song)

MODERN COUNTRY

HOW TO USE COUNTRY MUSIC IN THE CLASSROOM

1.) You could use country music when studying the old west and cowboys in history. Cowboy style music would fit perfectly.

2.)You could also use country music to teach the students different style of dance. This could be square dancing, line dancing, or the Cotton Eye Joe dance.

Activity One:Country Genre CrosswordsThis will be a handout to help you

remember the history of country music.

Activity Two:Cotton Eye Joe DanceWe will be teaching you the

movements to the dance and then we will dance to the music!

RESOURCES:

http://www.roughstock.comhttp://www.essortment.com/all/histor

ycountry rfjs.htmhttp://www.countrymusicplanet.com/

history/