The First “Country” Hit
Vernon Dalhart: Classically trained singer who recorded first big country hit, “Wreck of the Old 97”, adopted a southern dialect and performed in a plaintive manner that appealed to country fans.
Vernon Dalhart “Wreck of the Old 97” (1926)
Vernon Dalhart – Wreck Of The Old ’97 (1926).
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Meanwhile, in the south, they had their own musical stars. Ralf Peer described Fiddlin’ John Carson, as “pluperfect awfull”. The locals had awarded him championship fiddling status, and he was a fixture at barn dances.
Fiddlin’ John Carson “The Old Hen Crackled and the Rooster’s Going to Crow” (1923)
Fiddlin’ John Carson The Old Hen Cackled And The Rooster’s Going To Crow OKEH 4890-B
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Pioneer Jimmie Rodgers
James Charles Rodgers (September 8, 1897 – May 26, 1933), known as Jimmie Rodgers, was an American country singer in the early 20th century known most widely for his rhythmic yodeling. Among the first country music superstars and pioneers, Rodgers was also known as The Singing Brakeman, The Blue Yodeler, and The Father of Country Music.
Jimmie Rodgers “Blue Yodel No. 2″ ( 1929)
Blue Yodel No. 2 by Jimmie Rodgers (1928)
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Jimmie Rodgers ” Waiting for a Train” (1928)
Jimmie Rodgers – Waiting for a Train
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Jimmie Rodgers “Dreaming with Tears in My Eyes” (1933)
Dreaming With Tears In My Eyes by Jimmie Rodgers (1933)
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Southern Gospel Music, white and black (page151)
The Carter Family was a traditional American folk music group that recorded between 1927 and 1956. Their music had a profound impact on bluegrass country, Southern Gospel, pop and rock musicians as well as on the U.S. folk revival of the 1960s. They were the first vocal group to become country music stars. Their recordings of such songs as “Wabash Cannonball”, “Can the Circle Be Unbroken”, “Wildwood Flower” and “Keep On the Sunny Side” made them country standards.
The matriach of the family, “Ma” Maybelle Carter, created a unique sound for the group with her innovative ‘scratch’style of guitar playing, where she used her thumb to play melody on the bass and middle strings, and her index finger to fill out the rhythm. Her innovative technique, to this day known as the Carter Scratch, influenced the guitar’s shift from rhythm to lead instrument. She revolutionized the instrument’s role by developing a style in which she played melody lines on the bass strings with her thumb while rhythmically strumming chords with her fingers.
The Carter Family “Gospel Ship” (1935)
Gospel Ship
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The Carter Family “Church in the Wildwood” (1935)
The Carter Family The Church In The WildWood
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Compare to the African American Jubilee singing group the Golden Gate Quartet (mentioned previously). There are many clips of this talented group of men who were featured in film as well.
Golden Gate Quartet “The Sun Didn’t Shine” (1941) .
The Golden Gate Quartet – The Sun Didn’t Shine
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Solo Women’s Voices
Patsy Montana (1908 – 1996) Country’s first women star!
Pastsy Montana “I Want to be a Cowboy’s Sweetheart” (1935)
Patsy Montana – I Wanna Be A Cowboy’s Sweetheart – (ORIGINAL) – (1935).
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Coon Creek Girls, was the first all-female country string band.
Coon Creek Girls “Pretty Polly”(1938)
Coon Creek Girls – Pretty Polly (1938).
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Lulu Belle and Scotty “Remember Me” (1940)
Lulu Belle and Scotty – Remember Me (When The Candlelights Are Gleaming) – (ORIGINAL) – (1940).
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Voices of the Great Depression
Woodrow Wilson “Woody” Guthrie (July 14, 1912 – October 3, 1967) is best known as an American singer-songwriter and folk musician, whose musical legacy includes hundreds of political, traditional and children’s songs, ballads and improvised works. He frequently performed with the slogan This Machine Kills Fascists displayed on his guitar. His best-known song is “This Land Is Your Land”. Many of his recorded songs are archived in the Library of Congress. Such songwriters as Bob Dylan, Phil Ochs, Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp, and Pete Seeger, have acknowledged Guthrie as a major influence.
Woody Guthrie “Do Re Me” ( 1940)
Do Re Mi- Woody Guthrie
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Harry McClintock is crowned “The King of the Hobos”, and sang humorous songs about the Great Depression.
Harry McClintock “The Big Rock Candy Mountains” (1928)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMAPOQedRxA
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This tune for this rather naughty song is a hymn called “Rejoice and Be Glad”!
Harry McClintock “Hallelujiah, I’m a Bum!”
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Just for fun! This is footage from 1965, taken at a private party in the south. Listen to the old time music, and notice the centuries old social dancing still practiced and enjoyed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs2j8f7H2WY
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Assignment!
Add content! Find an article, introduce another artist from this period, additional music from an artist discussed, or share and discuss an article that relates to this topic of “race records”, Blues and Hillbilly music from the 20’s and 30’s. DO NOT USE“Crazy Blues” by Mamie Smith Robinson SOME ONE ALREADY USED IT.
Ideas: You can create an abstract (synopsis) of Ken Burns Documentaries on Jazz or Country and Western Music, but keep the timeline in mind. Watch “Oh Brother Where Art Thou” and discuss the songs/recordings used in the film.
You are to share content (200 words )
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