 Country Music in the 1920's
The first commercial recording of what can be considered
country music was "Sallie Gooden" by fiddlist A.C. (Eck)
Robertson in 1922 for Victor Records. A year later in 1923
Fiddlin' John Carson recorded "Little Log Cabin in the Lane"
for Okeh Records. Columbia Records began issuing more records
with "hillbilly" music as early as 1924.
Vernon Dalhart was the first country singer to have a
nationwide hit in May of 1924 with "Wreck of the Old '97". Many
"hillbilly" musicians recorded blues songs throughout this
decade. Other important early recording artists were Riley
Puckett, Don Richardson, Fiddlin' John Carson, Al Hopkins,
Ernest V. Stoneman, Charlie Poole and the North Carolina
Ramblers and The Skillet Lickers. The steel guitar entered
country music around 1922, when Jimmie Tarlton met famed
Hawaiian guitarist Frank Ferera on the West Coast.
Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family are widely considered
to be important early country musicians. Their songs were first
captured at a historic recording session in Bristol on August
1, 1927, where Ralph Peer was the talent scout and sound
recordist.
Rodgers fused hillbilly country, gospel, jazz, blues, pop,
cowboy, and folk; and many of his best songs were his own
compositions, including "Blue Yodel" which sold over a million
records and established Rodgers as the premier singer of early
country music.
Beginning in 1927, and for the next 17 years the Carters
recorded some 300 old-time ballads, traditional tunes, country
songs, and Gospel hymns, all representative of America's
southeastern folklore and heritage.
One effect of the Great Depression was to reduce the number
of records sold. Radio, and broadcasting, became a popular
source of entertainment, and "barn dance" shows featuring
country music were started all over the South. One of the most
important of these shows was the Grand Ole Opry from 650 WSM in
Nashville, TN. Some of the early stars on the Opry were Uncle
Dave Macon, Roy Acuff, and African American harmonica player
DeFord Bailey.
History of Country Music
1930 - 1940
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