Earl Scruggs and the Earl Scruggs Revue

Earl formed a band with his sons

Louise helped them get into colleges and clubs

Played non-traditional bluegrass, leaning towards country rock

“You ain’t goin’ nowhere”--- listening

Byrds album in the 60’s

They were booed off the Opry stage

Blend of country, rock, and many other styles

Parsons is featured on the album, Lloyd Green too

An era of country with big pop choruses, no steel guitar, and no twang

A response to the loss of listeners from the development of rock, the Nashville Sound was a way to help the country music industry survive

Marty Robbins’ “A White Sport Coat and a Pink Carnation” was the beginning of the movement

Jim Reeves (“Four Walls”) was an important artist in the movement, he was produced by Owen Bradley

Chet Atkins was an important producer

The musicians who played on these records were known as the “A Team”

Don Gibson was an important artist

Patsy Cline was produced by Owen Bradley as well

Eddy Arnold was one of the most popular artists in the Nashville Sound

Ray Price also survived through the Nashville Sound- developed a shuffle beat He was important for his discovery of songwriters, and integral in the early career of Willie Nelson

Was in Bakersfield trying to make his way into music

Saw Johnny Cash perform at San Quentin (he was in prison)

Listening= “Tonight the Bottle Let me Down” and “Working man’s blues”

Wrote his own songs

Huge Jimmie Rodgers fan

Influenced Merle Haggard

Challenge to Hank Williams while he was still alive

Way of singing that was influential, good lyricist

Listening= “If you’ve got the money, I’ve got the time”

Backed by a group called the “Jordonairs”

Listening= “Four Walls”

Nashville Sounds

Had fair to middling success

Wanted to record in NY

Brought in the Nashville Sound with “A White Sport Coat and a Pink Carnation”

1970s bluegrass group

Lead singer who was an instrumental virtuoso on the guitar named Tony Rice

Huge influence on Alison Krauss

Listening= “Summer Wages”

Jerry Douglas on the dobro, Ricky Skaggs also in the band

Progressive bluegrass

August 1952 recorded “It wasn’t God who made Honky Tonk Angels”

Country’s top female vocalist- 1952-1965

Known as the Queen of Country Music

One of the first American Superstars

Had an integrated funeral in 1953 in Alabama

Wild, edgy, pre-rock music, honky tonk music

Prolific writer

Mean drunk

In 1952, was fired from the Opry

Had severe physical ailments that he took meds for, the meds ultimately killed him

Country’s best selling artist in 1952

#1 hit in country for 4 months= “Lovesick Blues”

An important writer- wrote for the singing cowboys, wrote “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” for Willie Nelson

formed a publishing company together

Acuff-Rose publishing became affiliated with BMI later

First publishing house in Nashville which began Nashville as Music City

Folk-ish

Acoustic guitar

Sang about people in hard times

Most famous song= “This Land is Your Land”

Meant the song as subversive

Borrowed the tune from the Carter family

Influenced Bob Dylan

Sung from the point of view of a crippled child who wants to fight in the war

Wants to defend against the “mad dictators of corruption”

Written during WWII

Fiddle driven, not much banjo

Pop, blues, jazz and country all mixed in

Bob Wills cofounded Western Swing

Had a drinking problem

Formed Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys

“San Antonio Rose”- most popular hillbilly record of 1939

New version with words= “New San Antonio Rose”

Party music

One of the best male country singers ever

Raised in poverty in TX

Loved Hank Williams

Drank a lot, mean drunk

Had a difficult marriage to Tammy Wynette in the 70s

Eventually married a good woman who calmed him down

Best song in country music= “He stopped loving her today”

Career defining song

Nicknamed the Possum

Music based in folk music

Grew up in TX

Loved Bob Dylan

Tony Brown discovered her

Part of the “Great Credibility Scare”

Great acoustic guitar player “Love at the 5 and dime”

No hits in country that she sang herself

Played piano in Emmylou’s band, played for Crowell and Cash in a band

Thought country could be broader, ushered in the “Great Credibility Scare” and was the major producer of the movement

Married to Rodney Crowell, he also produced her

Johnny Cash’s daughter

Wrote a song about Rodney and being mad at him “Seven Year Ache”

Mary Chapin Carpenter

Travis Tritt

Alan Jackson

Clint Black

Garth Brooks

Didn’t go by the mold

Beginnings of Outlaw movement in Dripping Springs, TX

Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson were major players

Took command of their own records

Lost fingers in a sawmill accident

Singer/songwriter at Dripping Springs

Tried to get Waylon Jennings to record his songs by threatening to beat him up,

Waylon recorded a whole album of his songs called Honky Tonk Heroes

Willie Nelson record from the Outlaw movement

All the songs tell a story together as well as separately, concept album

Record executives hated it but had to release it

Huge hit

Sought to extend Gram Parsons cosmic American music

Similar sound to Gram Parsons

Godmother of Americana with the album “Wrecking Ball”

Wrote a song for Parson’s death- “Boulder to Birmingham”

Did a bluegrass album that featured Tony Rice and Ricky Skaggs

Her biggest selling record to date Called “Roses in the Snow”

Inspired women to start bluegrass bands

After their second record, made a sort of bluegrass-y record “Home”

Radio had no choice but to play the songs

“Travelin Soldier”= #1 hit

All acoustic songs

Played a show in London, said they were embarrassed to be from the same state as Bush

Two major owners of radio stations banned the Dixie Chicks

Next album won album of the year

Used Nashville Sound arrangements

One of only two artists that did well before and after the Nashville Sound

Bought all of realty of current Brentwood

Was ideally suited for Nashville Sound b/c he had a ‘big’ voice

Had 28 #1 country singles, was a t.v. personality and real estate man

Other guy who survived before and after Nashville Sound

In the beginning he was very different from the Nashville Sound

He and his drummer developed the ‘shuffle beat’

Important in his discovery of songwriters such as: Bill Anderson, Roger Miller, Harlan Howard, Willie Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson

Contained many artists from the past and present including: Roy Acuff –Acuff whistle, Earl Scruggs --banjo, Maybelle Carter –Carter scratch, and Jimmie Martin

became country’s anthem

Influenced by Scruggs Review

Born in Sledge, Mississippi

First African-American superstar and first prominently on the charts

Came to Nashville in mid-‘60s and met Cowboy Jack Clement—who produced him

Could yodel

had 29 #1 country singles

First to win two straight male vocalist of the year awards

Sang “Is Anybody Going to San Antone” – had uptown string sound that was a little tougher than Nashville Sound

Impressed by Nashville records/musicians

Nicknamed “Genius of Soul” 

great singer and piano player

Decided to record some country songs in his blues style

Remade Hank Williams and Don Gibson songs such as : “I Can’t Stop Loving You”.

It gave country music exposure to other audiences

Group of Nashville musicians who were critically acclaimed.

Were fantastic and were featured on many albums both country and rock.

Played on the records of Jim Reeves to Elvis.

Band who gave birth to bluegrass on the Ryman Auditorium Stage in 1945

Bluegrass artists—even today—want to sound just like Bill Monroe

established the template for everything in bluegrass that came afterwards

Band contained Earl Scruggs –Scruggs style banjo--and Lester Flatt

Lots of improvisation in the music, but not the words

Ken Nelson – had the first leadoff single for Nashville Sound

Chet Adkins- was sometimes saddened because he was changing country music of how he was a true fan of tradition country

Owen Bradley – has his statue on Owen Bradley circle of Nashville

Great rockabilly singer

wore form fitting dresses

In ’55 toured with Elvis - known as female Elvis

Blended country and rock

Sang “Let’s Have A Party”

Sings from nose

Wore sparkly suits with rhinestones

the suit would match the song

Had an outlandish car with guns for handles

Only recently inducted into the CM.

Hall of Fame Most successful c.m. hitmaker of the 1950s

Sang “There Stand the Glass”

Tried to make rock n’roll after Elvis, song called “Teenage Boogie” but it was a flop

Grew up wanting to sing like Jimmie Rodgers and could until he has his tonsils removed

Figured people would sing with him in a party situation to cover up his voice

First to introduce the electric guitar to c.m.

He made hard charging party music

His signature hit was “Walking The Floor Over You” – big jump for c.m.

First African-American star of c.m.

harmonica player

Was fired from the Opry for racial prejudice

Refused to play for wages less than the top artist would be paid so he shined shoes for a living

Sang “Ice Water Blues”

Singing cowgirl from Hope, Arkansas

First historical woman who wrote her own songs

Was missing her husband and wrote “I Want To Be A Cowboy’s Sweetheart” which was the first million seller written by a woman

She could yodel (influenced by Jimmie Rodgers).

Music portrayed the ideal West.

PROs – performance rights organization -the songwriters were supposed to get paid when their songs were played

ASCAP is one of these companies. Radio/t.v. stations ad to pay money to these PROs which allowed them to play the music that was in their catalogs

Another company was BMI (in 1940) started and paid for network or non-network music.

Acuff Rose hooked up with BMI This was very important because it was how country music began to make their money and Acuff made millions.

Randy Travis, George Strait, Ricky Skaggs, The Judds

Begin in 1981 and didn’t use synthesizers

Went back to old country music with the intent of sounding timeless

Artists dressed westernize ; gave fans something to latch on to

Started by George Strait and Ricky Skaggs

bluegrass

performed with J.D. Crowe and the New South in a classic lineup that also featured Jerry Douglas and Tony Rice

Appealed to the upper white suburban ppl.

Was from Oklahoma and could ride a horse

Had strong country voice with wholesome image and very smart businesswoman

Has acrobatic/athletic voice and 

Almost every one of her songs ends with her hitting a really big/high note

Part of the Outlaw Movement and was present in Dripping Springs,TX

Was a successful military man and gold gloves boxer , published author,etc. successful in all he attempted

First night in Nashville met Cowboy Jack Clement

Landed a helicopter in Johnny Cash’s front yard to get him to listen to his songs which Cash liked

Changed the language of c.m

Song “To Beat The Devil” about a struggling singer/songwriter and answers ‘why write if nobody is going to listen?’

First to convince record company to let him produce his own album

First Outlaw album “Lullabies, Legends, and Lies”

Had the largest impact on country music

Before there had been limitations on how many t.v./radio stations a company could own but after this act there was no limitation

It meant that only a few companies owned all the radio stations and all these stations were being programmed by the same people.

So essentially the audience is only getting to hear what the radio station decides they want you to hear and if you are unliked then your music will not be played on the radio

Programming became completely the same and developed casual listeners

Now the country radio #1 hits are very mediocre because the stations will play something that everyone can tolerate just so they will not turn the station.

Part of the Great Credibility Scare

Was raised in Kentucky but then went to CA where he met guitar player Pete Anderson

Super twangy music ; L.A. thought it was so twangy that it might be punk

Was a big rival with Steve Earle

Now considered Americana

Super hit for him was “Guitars Cadillacs”

1st major female singer/songwriter

Songs like autobiographies --> “Coal Miner’s Daughter” **listening**

Became too old for country music, but revived career by recording with Jack White

Husband thought she sounded like Kitty Wells, so he bought her a guitar.

She learned to play, then started writing her own songs.

Born in Webb Holler, KY, but song says Butcher Holler

Married to George Jones – difficult marriage!

Born in MS

Dirt poor mother of three --> difficult route to fame

Maintained cosmetology license all her life

Throbbing voice Performed many duets with husband

Music produced by Billy Sheryl (spelling?)

Post Nashville Sound

Countrypolitan

“Stand by Your Man” **listening**

Tended to write about her own experiences

Not afraid to pursue pop success

“Jolene” **listening**

Influenced Emmylou Harris

From east TN

Came from poverty

Gives back to community

First country music female to have 2 consecutive #1 pop singles

First country music female to have 50 #1 country music singles

Appeared on Porter Waggoner’s show

“Coat of Many Colors” **listening** - about a poor kid getting made fun of

Blonde on Blonde,

John Wesley Harding,

Nashville Skyline

Tougher music

Buck Owens

British Invasion and the Beatles --> “Act Naturally” **listening**

Savvy businessman

Developed own sound

Opposite of Nashville Sound

Merle Haggard named his band “The Buckaroos” --> went to San Quentin penitentiary

Truck driver in 1954

Kept going to Sun Records and eventually recorded demo – noticed by Sam Phillips

Mentored, but still didn’t sound good singing country

Eventually jokingly recorded pop song – “That’s Alright Mama” **listening**

“Blue Moon Kentucky”

Instant hit!

Kids stopped listening to country music

Opry attendance declined

“Young Love” **listening**

Feb 1957

#1

From Alabama

Younger guy

Apprehensive about possible pop sound

Not traditional country music

Evidence of country stations beginning to go pop

Parallel story to Berlin Husky and “Gone”

Ryman Auditorium show by Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys, featuring Scruggs and Flatt in the band

In 1945, Bill Monroe added the banjo to his band (Earl Scruggs)

3 finger style

“Heavy Traffic Ahead”

Group formed after leaving Blue Grass Boys

3 part harmonies

Added in banjo, fiddle, and bass

Louise Scruggs

Elevated harmonies in bluegrass music

Sonny Osborne --> Banjo – very aggressive sound

Bobby Osborne -->high pitched voice

“Rocky Top”

Occasionally used drums

From Sneadville, TN

Idolized Jimmie Rodgers and Roy Acuff

“Mr. Good and Country”

Eventually led in country music

High voice

Greatest bluegrass front band of all time

Never got to join Opry

“20/20 Vision” **listening**

“BUS ruined bluegrass!”

Called “King of Bluegrass”

“Oh! Susanna.”

Stephen Foster

Theme song for Gold Rush

Very prolific – wrote 186 songs

Victor Talking Machine Company - 1922

From Texas

Fiddle player

“Sally Gooden” **listening**

Introduced “Country Fiddle”

Helped bring country music to a new era

AP

Sara

Mother Maybelle

Harmonies = standard

From Poor Valley, VA

“Bury Me Underneath the Willow” **listening**

People worried because a woman led vocals

Discovered at Bristol Sessions

From a prosperous family until stock market crash

Comedian because she didn’t have a great voice

Did comedy with Rod Brassfield (Bocefus puppet)

Hat with pricetag

“HOWDY!”

Very corny comedy

“grand lady”

Good friend to Hank Williams

Mentor to many female performers

Led by Ralph Peer

Cattle call for musicians

1927

Discovered Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers

Not where hits were made

Classically trained tenor

Great diction

“The Prisoner’s Song”

Class of ’89  late leader

Now biggest selling solo artist ever

Knew how to work sales numbers – box sets, lower prices, deals with Walmart

SoundScan came about in this time

Rope in the Wind album – first country music album to debut at #1 on billboard charts

“Garthmania”

Now mediocre artists have no chance

“The Dance” **listening**

Billboard magazine used to change chart system

Scanned at checkout

Realized country music was selling more than they thought

Debut album was similar to other country

Very indistinct at the beginning of her career

First album Mediocre Mutt Lange saw videos and contacted her = rock influence

Very similar sound to other Lange productions

Autotune controversy

Attitude fiddle

T stands for nothing

Well established songwriter

Difficult childhood

Dad was a preacher/mother died

Known as “The Storyteller”

Went back to childhood for stories

“Turn it On, Turn it On, Turn it On”

Named the “Great Credibility Scare”

From Texas

Rebellious kid

“rockabilly”

Debut album Guitar Town with Tony Brown

“Guitar Town” – 1986 (not a ton of records)

Rivalry with Dwight Yoakam