As a new Twanger, you will quickly come to understand that MUS305A is "MTG" [aka More Than Garth]. I think you will discover with amazement how each artist brings their unique cultural history and social identity to their work. Notable “surprises” that I think you shall see and sense …

- the importance of the Fisk Jubilee Singers regarding the original “transmission” of an important “thread” of country music

- the incredible importance of the contributions of Blind Lemon Jefferson and Leadbelly Leadbetter, both African-American artists representing the history and identity of the “delta” genre

- the fact that one of the early superstars of the G.O.O. [aka Grand Ol Opry] was Deford Bailey, a black harmonica artist [and this was “fine” with the G.O.O. management as long as it was primarily a “radio show” once it moved to also being a significant “live performance venue” the fact that Bailey was an African-American became an “issue”]

- the fact that Hank’s [Hank Williams Sr.] teacher and mentor was Te-Tot [aka Rufus Payne] a largely unknown black artist representing the history and traditions of the delta

- the incredible importance of women to country music – from the beginning – Moonshine Kate, Roba Stanley, Sara Carter, Patsy Montana, Kitty Wells, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette until today … and these artists gave voice to a woman’s perspective unheard of and unknown in any other form of American music

- and then there is what I call the “triple-threat” … Mother Maybelle Carter herself! Maybelle Carter, via her extraordinary artistry, single-handedly made the guitar the “primary instrument” [her famous Gibson L-5]  of country music [until her time in 1927 – the primary instrument was considered to be either the fiddle or the banjo]. Maybelle Carter – representing a woman’s perspective, representing a woman’s perspective from the mountains of Appalachia, representing a woman’s perspective from the mountains of Appalachia who had been uniquely influenced by an itinerant black musician and artist [who found himself most-unexpectedly in the mountains of western Virginia] by the name of Lesley Riddle. What either can or needs to be said about Mother Maybelle?

- and there are many other "surprises" that shall unfold during the course of the semester

Note
... and we also use the phrase "Twanger Surprises" for the two, well let's say "pop quizzes" that shall occur during the course of the semester ... as indicated elsewhere - when these Twanger Surprises occur, they shall always be on material that has been gone over thoroughly and repeatedly ... these Twanger Surprises shall add a bit of "spice" to our time together. Grrr...