Country music originated from the old folk music that the pioneers sang and played as they session tled across the country. They used wagon trains. That’s where a group of individuals drive their wagons across the country is a single file trying to go further west. At night they would get together and the ones that could performance fiddles, banjo, and guitars, would performance and make up tunes about their experiences on the trail.

Then came along individuals like the Carter family members and Jimmy Rodgers (the singing brakeman) and they came up with a newer style of country songs. Still everything was acoustical, no electrical instruments. When wannabe singers heard Jimmy Rodgers, they all wanted to sing like him. His singing had confidence and you might hear it.

The Grand ole Opry started wide casting in 1925. This let millions of individuals hear folk and country music all across the country. The Louisiana Hayride started in 1948 and many singers got their start there. The radio shows made many young kids want to sing, and many them did come on and make stars, each bringing a new style to country music. Recording organizations then didn’t want you to sound prefer somebody else, they want your sound. If they prefer d it you got a contract.

When Hank Williams has been on the hayride, I had a wonderful friend playing for the hayride. He has been playing when Hank had seven encores for lovesick blues. Then everybody wanted to sound like Hank Williams. Hank has been top dog, then came Elvis to knock him off the mountain. Of course Hank had died before Elvis made it. Nonetheless Hank has been on top following his death.

Every year country progresses to something new. Still there’s a lot of people that do not progress with it. A lot still like the old traditional type of country. That’s what makes the world go around.