Do you Know the Birthplace of Country Music

Quick country music fans. What’s the significance of Bristol, Tennessee? If you’re really a country music buff, you should know that in 1998, the United Stated Congress named this small, sleepy southern town the birthplace of country music. It all began in the 1700s when the region’s southern Appalachian settlers brought with them—in old world ballads and songs, the music of their native Scottish Highlands. During the 1800’s and early 1900s, the region was separated from outside influences by geography. But around the time of the Civil War it was opened up to the outside world by the advent of railroads. During this time, there were touring vaudeville, minstrel and medicine-show troupes in the community that introduced new forms of music. In addition, the railroad workers themselves brought rapid changes to the settlers’ original music by introducing a variety of work songs reflecting their African heritage. The native fiddle of the English, Scotch, and Irish settlers was joined by the banjo of African origin. After WWI, the guitar, autoharp, and dulcimer were introduced into the mix.

The music that was coming out of Bristol, Tennessee took another giant leap forward with Edison’s invention of the phonograph in the 1920s. A man named Ralph Peer realized that there was an untapped market for rural mountain music and set out to discover area talent. During this time period most musicians traveled to New York to record there music, but when remote recordings became a possibility, Bristol became the hub of Peer’s musical enterprise because of its proximity to such local talent as Ernest and Hattie Stoneman, the Johnson Brothers, and Henry Whitter. Soon talent from other southern states, including West Virginia, Virginia (the Carter Family) and North Carolina (Jimmie Rodgers) was recorded by Peer. These early recording sessions which took place in 1927 were known as the “Bristol Sessions” and signified the birth of country music.

The sound that came out of the “Bristol Sessions” influenced the bluegrass of musicians such as Bill Monroe and Flatt and Scruggs, as well as the song-writing of Hank Williams and Woody Guthrie. This influence could also be seen in the guitar-playing of Roy Acuff and Chet Atkins, in the sound of Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan, and in the song-stylings of Hank Snow, Ernest Tubb, Merle Travis, Merle Haggard, Dwight Yoakum and Dolly Parton. This country music sound became extremely popular during the “barn dance” shows of the radio era and bluegrass festivals of the 1960s and 70s. In the mid-1990s, the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance (BCMA) was founded in Bristol to call attention to and support the musical traditions of the area.

Today, nestled between quiet mountains, Bristol is thriving community with the unique quality of being located in two states–half in Tennessee and half in Virginia. However, there is no question that Bristol stands at the heart of all country music fans hold near and dear.

Listen to free Country Music MP3′s at EZ-tracks.com

Where does your favorite top country songs rank? Visit EZ-tracks to check out top country music charts.

Download legal Rascal Flatts MP3s for free. Visit EZ-tracks over 30,000 free MP3s.

About the Author

I have written for newspapers and magazines nationwide, including The New York Times and Newsweek.

Saber Rider Metal Theme – High Quality

ION IT28 Quick Play Flash Conversion Turntable with USB Flash Drive $89.99 Use ION Audio Quick Play Flash conversion turntable with USB flash drive to turn your records into high-quality .WAV files. Convert your analog music for today’s digital devices with Quick Play Flash. This cutting-edge turntable allows you to simultaneously listen to your vinyl LPs and convert them to uncompressed .WAV files to retain every sonic detail of the original recording. Quickly convert a…

Monster MP PRO 2500 10-Outlet Power Center with Stage 2 Clean Power $199.00 PRO 2500 with Clean Power(TM) Stage 2, Surge Protection, and 10 Outlets: Pro 2500 Rack Power Center. Monster Clean Power(TM) Stage 2 v2.0 filtering for high quality sound.. Dual-Mode Plus protection provides audible and visual alarm for maximum protection and performance.. Two-stage sequenced AC power turn-on and turn-off for equipment and overload protection.. 8 switched outlets for power hungry …

Guitars – Electric Mouse Pad $11.95 Our mouse pads add a special personal touch to any room in your home that has a computer mouse. We turned the boring, plain mouse pad into a work of art. Measures 9 1/4 x 7 3/4 x 1/4 thick. Non-slip rubber backing. Works with any type of mouse (optical or ball type). FREE SHIPPING on every order!…

IK Multimedia AmpliTube iRig $39.99 AmpliTube iRig is a combination of an easy-to-use instrument interface adapter for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad mobile devices, and the new AmpliTube for iPhone software for guitar & bass. Simply plug the iRig interface into your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad, plug your instrument into the appropriate input jack, plug in your headphones, amp or powered speakers, download AmpliTube FREE for iPhone, and…

Klipsch Image S4A In-ear Headphones for Android with Inline Microphone $55.00 Introducing the first-ever Klipsch headphones designed specifically for AndroidTM. The Image S4A headphones successfully merge the functionality of your Android mobile device with the sonic fidelity of Klipsch. It’s a perfect fit, just like the included patented oval ear tips. Compatible with devices running Android 2.1 or later, you can keep the world under your thumb with push-button contro…

FiiO E10 USB DAC Headphone Amplifier $69.88 The New Updated FiiO E10 Is The Upgraded And Newest Version Of The World Class Line Of FiiO Headphone Amplifiers. Amazing Reviews By World Famous Audiophiles Announce That This Is The Ultimate Audio Device You Have Been Waiting For All Your Life. Easy, User Friendly And Affordable….

Lynyrd Skynyrd Distressed Logo OSFA Hat Cap[ Lynyrd Skynyrd is the great example of southern rock n roll. Their songs such as Free Bird and Sweet Home Alabama still dominate the play on classic rock radio. This hat and its logo have a distressed appearance. This will be a great addition to your collection….

Pink Music Pop Star Singalong Microphone: Musical Party Stage Microphone Stand for the Little Idol $43.99 Early Learning Centre Singalong Mic And the crowd goes wild! This adjustable microphone stand features flashing lights, special sound effects (cheering!) and backup music. The durable mic works like the real deal, amplifying your child’s rockin’ voice across the room. Controls on the microphone and stand base add oomph to the big show. Includes volume control and on/off switch. Kids b…

Celebrity iDea by: Ovation – Acoustic-Electric Guitar with Built-in MP3 Recorder and Player Also includes FREE TKL Nylon Carry Case (PLATINUM SATIN FINISH) The guitar that teaches! OVATION AUTHORIZED DISTRIBUTOR CC54i, -PLYour Digital Creative PartnerThe Ovation iDea is the first and only guitar to feature digital MP3 recorder/player. Integrated into the onboard Ovation preamp, the device provides a fast and easy way to record musical phrases, vocals, and commentary?even entire songs?using your guitar. A spruce top and modified bracing gives the CC54i iDea ample projection and solid tone. Ovation?s classi…

C. Crane FMT Digital FM Transmitter with AC Adapter $34.95 The FM Transmitter is a way to listen to streaming or MP3 audio. Just plug it into the headphone jack of your computer’s speakers or sound card and listen on any FM radio anywhere in the house. It does this by taking the audio and turning it into an FM radio broadcast. Use it to send a satellite radio signal, MP3 audio, and more, to nearby radios around your home or workplace, even in your car….

---

Comments are closed