Country Music Genres Sub Genres Folk Music primarily from Britain and Ireland comes from the word folklore Dance Music Unifying Music music of Southern blacks religious and sacred music all are types of music for the working class people these were popular songs that were often danced to and played in bars Instruments Fiddle Guitar from Britain from Spain Mandolin from Italy Banjo from West Africa Characteristics much of this music was purely instrumental vocals not widely used until the 1940 s singing delivered clearly and with sincerity in order to deliver the message or story Musicians almost all musicians were self taught not virtuosic but capable Alexander Eck Robertson musical career spanned 8 decades legendary American folk fiddle player Sally Goodin first commercial country song recorded in 1923 Jimmie Rodgers Father Of Country Music blend of blues appalachian ballads spirituals and yodels became famous through the use of radio later renamed them recorded Blue Yodels 1 13 Blue Yodel 1 renamed it to T For Texas Cajun Zydeco music of Louisiana Creoles merged country and bluegrass music Man of Constant Sorrow Bluegrass faster musical style Bill Monroe Blue Moon of Kentucky starts slow for clear vocal delivery becomes faster during the instrumental section Lester Flatt Earl Scruggs Ballad of Jed Clampett 1 hit in 1963 became the theme song for Beverly Hillbillies Honky Tonk embraces the spirit of dancing drinking loving and then losing it all heavily influenced Little Richard and Fats Domino the original song was created and recorded in 1941 by Gene Autry Fats Domino recorded a cover in 1950 Blueberry Hill Western Hank Williams embraces the Hollywood Cowboy persona Happy Trails created and recorded by Dale Evans and Roy Rodgers Dale Evans was his 3rd wife Roy Rodgers was a singer and cowboy actor considered to be the most influential country artist inspired by southern gospel music Hey good Lookin drew heavily on black music to develop his style created and recorded in 1951 died from alcoholism at 29 Nashville Sound most popular country music in late 1950s this style was created to capture the affection of young audiences that were turning to rock roll featured crooning lead vocals tight reigns on their artist to fit a mold there was absolutely no straying from that mold Crazy Outlaw Country created by Willie Nelson performed by Patsy Cline this style was a reaction to the Nashville Sound The Highwaymen artists thought the music was boring and limiting consisted of Johnny Cash Waylon Jennings Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson they were all pioneers in outlaw country created and recorded by Waylon Jennings became the theme song for Dukes Of Hazard rock roll esque drum beat Good Ol Boys Willie Waylon And Me Straight to Hell Satan Is Real created and recorded by Hank III created and recorded by David Allan Coe