Chapter 3: Country Music

Question 1

Country Music

Answer 1

• “hillbilly”
• European practices
• Texas Western swing
• blues influences: 12-bar blues
• jazz influences: syncopation, instruments, improvisation, drums
• honky-tonk saloons: amplified instruments influenced Rockabilly movement
• musical traits
• steady beat
• even subdivision in 4/4 time
• triadic (do-mi-sol)
• bass plays the root of the chord (occasionally plays the 5th as well on beat 3)
• vocals: nasal, dead pan, emotional

Question 2

Bob Wills

Answer 2

• 1905-1975
• Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys
• “The King of Western Swing”
• “Rock and roll? Why man, that’s the same kind of music we’ve been playing since 1928.” -Bob Wills
• inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1968

Question 3

Jimmie Rodgers

Answer 3

• 1897-1933
• “Father of Country Music”
• “blue” yodeling
• sang new music

Question 4

Hank Williams Sr

Answer 4

• 1923-1953
• “The King of Country Music”
• born in Alabama
• took guitar lessons from African American blues musician Rufus “Tee Tot” Payne (1883-1939)
• died age 29 from alcoholism

Question 5

Johnny Cash

Answer 5

• 1932-2003
• signed to Sun Records by Sam Philips
• huge crossover influence
• huge revival making albums for Rick Rubin, founder of Def Jam Records