Traditional Country

Up until the 1940’s ‘country’ music was mostly confined to old time mountain music derived from many strains of folk passed down through immigrants from UK, Europe and Africa. As new generations came along they began changing the styles of the music played, and started to blend and merge the different sounds into a style we now call ‘Traditional Country’.

When we talk of Traditional Country we think of the stars of the day such as Bill Anderson, Don Williams, Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Porter Wagoner and Roy Clark to name just a few.

With their huge following and the Grand Ole Oprey flourishing in Nashville, country music had never been so popular. Up and coming country artists became household names but along with the fame and fortune it was inevitable that not far behind would stalk tragedy too.

Early country/country-rock artist Buddy Holly (who began his recording career in Nashville), along with Richie Valens and JP Richardson (Big Bopper) met an untimely death in a light plane crash in ’59 and it was only by chance (he gave his seat to Richardson) that future country star Waylon Jennings wasn’t on the aircraft.

In 1963 Patsy Cline, who was among the biggest names in country music at the time, also became a victim of a light plane crash along with other Oprey stars of the day Hawkshaw Hawkins and Cowboy Copas. As a measure of her status in country circles, Patsy Cline’s music is still selling today nearly 50 years after her tragic death.

As early country sounds were being established, and the music industry as well as artists themselves were looking to ‘pigeonhole’ the different styles to give them names, a lot of country acts performed in two or three ‘styles’, such as honky tonk, hillbilly, traditional or the Nashville Sound until they found a style they were comfortable with.  

Perhaps one of the best known solo performers of all time, Elvis Presley, began his musical days singing country. Known as the ‘Hillbilly Cat’ Elvis regularly sang on the radio program ‘Louisiana Hayride’ before his rock and roll career took off.

To boost their singing careers many of the more traditional country artists started to record ‘commercial’ or ‘crossover’ songs in an attempt to join the mainstream ‘pop’ world, with varying degrees of success. Tammy Wynette had a huge hit with 'Stand By Your Man' and Loretta Lynn managed it with ‘Coalminers Daughter’. Dolly Parton has had several ‘crossover’ hits such as ‘Jolene’, ‘Here You Come Again’ and ‘9 – 5’, but it was a difficult thing to do for a lot of singers.

To search for all your favourite country stars from Loretta Lynn to Lady Antebellum just go to www.countrysongscountrysingers.com or click on the panel to the right.