Tunes for Twangers
Music 305 A
A History of Country Music
Module II
Innovations Bring Change
Recording – Early Giants
Ernest Van “Pop” Stoneman [VA] – Guitar
[1896-1968, major figure in country from 1925-28, native of the Blue Ridge
Mountains, recorded for Okeh Records, recorded on the
famous Bristol Sessions with the Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers, later years
formed the Stoneman Family Band]
Mamie Smith [OH – NYC] – Country Blues
Eck Robertson [TX] and Henry Gilliland [VA] – Fiddle
[1887-1975, considered by many to be the first musician to record what would
later be called country music, grew up in the Texas panhandle, father was a
preacher, joined a travel medicine show, showman, 1922 he and Henry Gilliland
dressed in western garb, went to New York City, and recorded for the Victor
Talking Machine Company]
Fiddlin’ John Carson [GA] – Fiddle
[1868-1949, Georgia, pioneer country performer, first folk based artist to sell
a large number of records, early age distinguished himself as a fiddler, performed
in many political campaigns, 1900 moved to Atlanta, participated in a series of
Georgia fiddling contests, featured performer on WSB, record for Ralph Peer and
the OKeh label, first commercially recorded country
artist]
Vernon Dalhart [TX]
[1883-1948, actual name is Marion Try Slaughter, studied at the Dallas
Conservatory of Music, moved to New York in 1910, performed roles in opera and
operetta productions, recorded for Edison, in 1924 he recorded The Wreck of the
Old 97 for Victor which became the first country music song to sell one million
copies]
Pictures
Stoneman, Smith, Robertson & Gilliland and Carson
The Labels
Okeh
Victor
Brunswick
Columbia
Mr. Ralph S. Peer
Columbia – Okeh – Victor
- before the Bristol Sessions
- after the Bristol Sessions
- influence, business sense and the Southern Music Company
Dates of Significance ~ Timeline [about which there seems to be general
agreement]
1877 – December 4: T. A. Edison – first sound recording
1914: E. Stoneman – wax home recordings, on a
borrowed Edison phonograph
1920: Mamie Smith recordings for Okeh and R. Peer
1920’s: Okeh “field sites” established in Asheville,
Bristol, Johnson City, Dallas, St. Louis & Atlanta
1922 – June 30: E. Robertson & H. Gilliland record two “fiddle” tunes for
Victor [early country records]
1923 – June 14: Fiddlin’ John Carson records for Okeh and R. Peer [early country “hit”]
1924 – August 13: Vernon Dalhart [pseudonym] records “The Wreck of the Old 97”
[first million seller]
1927 – August 1: Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers record for Victor and R. Peer
[Bristol Sessions]
1928 – September 28: Victor field recording of “string” bands from the Opry – reportedly first in Nashville
Radio
As with most innovations, radio began with a series of incremental
scientific discoveries and technical refinements, which eventually led to the
development of commercial applications. But profits were slow in coming, and
for many years the largest
Stations of Note
- WSB [Atlanta, GA]
- WBAP [Fort Worth, TX]
- WLS [Chicago, IL]
- WSM [Nashville, TN]
AM Radio Stations
WSB: 750 on your AM radio dial
WBAP: 820 on your AM radio dial
WLS: 890 on your AM radio dial
WSM: 650 on your AM radio dial
History of WLS [quite fascinating]
http://www.wlshistory.com/
WSB, 1922: Fiddlin’ John Carson
WBAP, 1923: Square-Dance Music – 90 minutes – first “barn dance”
WLS, 1924: Chicago Barn Dance ~ National Barn Dance [George Hay]
WSM, 1925: Uncle Jimmy Thompson – “Old-Time Music” – Barn Dance – Grand Ole Opry [George Hay]
Grand Ole Opry
Far and away the most venerated institution in all of country music, the
WSM Grand Ole Opry is not only a cultural treasure,
but a vital part of America's rich musical tapestry. In fact, recounting the
story of the Grand Ole Opry is almost like telling
the history of country music itself.
While the Opry may not have been the first show to
bring live country music to the radio, it soon established itself as the
standard against which all other such shows were compared. Indeed, were it not
for WSM Radio's Opry staff and performers, Nashville
might never have become "Music City USA" and the center of what is
now a multi-million dollar industry. Today, after more than 73 years, the Opry stands as the longest-running, continuously aired
radio program in
George Hay – “Solemn Old Judge”
Radio Pioneer: Pioneer, Announcer and Showman
The principle appeal of the Opry
is a homey one. It sends forth the aroma of bacon and eggs frying on the
kitchen stove on a bright spring morning. That aroma is welcomed all the way
from
Grand Ole Opry – A Brief History
[extracted from “A Good-Natured Riot” – Charles K. Wolfe]
- National Life and Accident Insurance Company
- WSM – We Shield Millions [began transmitting October 5, 1925]
- working man – working class [tickets “given away”
- first program: Governor of Tennessee, Mayor of Nashville
- musical entertainment: light classical offerings, quartet singing, quintet
from Fisk, soloists and a saxophone
Locations
- WSM Studio A on the 5th floor of the National Life Building
- WSM builds Studio C [auditorium studio – seats 500]
- Hillsboro Theater [near Vanderbilt]
- Dixie Tabernacle [East Nashville]
- War Memorial Auditorium [seats 2200 – tickets sold for first time]
- Ryman Auditorium in 1943 [until 1974 – when moved to new Opry
House]
Conflict
Nashville Gentry ~ Common Folk [Nashville – Athens of the South]
Early Stars
Uncle Jimmy Thompson [TN]
[1848-1931, career last from 1925-1931, short but potent, played informal
programs of fiddle tunes on the newly opened Nashville radio station WSM,
started chain of events that led to the founding of the Grand Ole Opry, cantankerous – hard drinking – white bearded and
loquacious, he was a press agent’s dream, background – family moved to Texas
shortly before Civil War, learned longbow technique, in 1907 he won a national
championship fiddling contest, later became involved in Henry Ford’s national
fiddling contests, as the Opry developed and became
more structured Uncle Jimmy spent less and less time on it, reasons given –
unreliability and drinking, claimed to have known 1,000 tunes]
Doctor Humphrey Bate [TN]
[1875-1936, called by George Hay the dean on the Grand Ole Opry,
Dr. Bate and his band – the Possum Hunters – served as the early anchor for the
Opry, became a close friend of George Hay,
responsible for other pioneer performers including DeFord
Bailey, Dr. Bate was a genuine doctor – graduate of Vanderbilt, Dr. Bate on his
harmonica made only 12 recordings, considered to be the finest and most complex
of old time music]
Uncle Dave Macon [TN]
[1870-1952, nicknamed the Dixie Dewdrop by George Hay, with his Gibson banjo
first substantial star of the Grand Ole Opry, bridged
gap between folk and vaudeville music, also skilled song writer and outrageous
comedian, farmed, ran a freight line, yet was consistently drawn to music,
traveled extensively on the vaudeville circuit, 1924 he recorded in New York
“Keep My Skillet Good and Greasy,” “Chewing Gum,” and “Hill Billie Blues,”
joined the cast of the WSM barn dance {precursor to the Grand Ole Opry) in 1925, performed often with Sam and Kirk McGee, the
Delmore Brothers as well as a very young Roy Acuff and Bill Monroe, performed on the Grand Ole Opry until he was well over 80 years old]
DeFord Bailey [TN]
[1899-1982, pioneer member of the Grand Ole Opry,
program’s first black star, dubbed by George Hay as the harmonica wizard,
recorded for Columbia, Brunswick, and Victor, also played guitar and banjo
(left handed upside down), was encouraged by Dr. Humphrey Bate to come to WSM,
and remained an Opry regular for 15 years, as an
African American touring in the south and Midwest was problematic, fired by WSM
in 1941 due to a performance licensing conflict, rarely played the last 40
years of his life]
Listening
Lynchburg: Uncle Jimmy Thompson
I'll Keep My Skillet Good and Greasy: Uncle Dave Macon
Billy in the Low Ground: Dr. Humphrey Bate and his Possom
Tamers
Red Apple Rag: Fiddlin' Arthur Smith and his Dixieliners
Pan American Blues: DeFord Bailey
Uncle Dave's Beloved Solo: Uncle Dave Macon
Goin' Up Town: Dr. Humphrey Bate and his Possum
Tamers
Prohibition Blues: Clayton McMichen
Ice Water Blues: DeFord Bailey
Southern Moon: Delmore Brothers
The Tramp: McGee Brothers
Mule Skinner Blues: Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys