Killing Country Music: The Demise of Original Country Music
Original Country Music (OCM) is a type of music that has a unique sound and style with a blend of musical forms originally found in the Southern United States. It evolved from folk music, gospel music and old-time or hillbilly music in the 1920s. The term country music began to surface in the 1940s when the earlier term hillbilly music was considered degrading. Currently it is referred to as original country music (coined by Ray Price), thereby distinguishing it from the current pop oriented sound.
Traditional artists had a distinctive sound, a sort of brand that made them easily identifiable from their peers. Hank Williams, Ray Price, Merle Haggard, Conway Twitty, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, Kitty Wells and Patsy Cline all had distinguishable voices as did their peers. The music was presented in a heartfelt and professional manner. The industry fostered respect and it was exemplified by the method the artists presented themselves on and off stage. There were no faded or torn jeans, unmatched apparel or exposed cleavage.
The Grand Ole Opry had stringent rules that not only governed the aforementioned, but also the type of musical instruments allowed on stage. Until the mid-1950s, the Opry didnt allow drums on stage and initially drums were placed back stage behind curtains. By the early-1990s, Opry executives loosened the rules regarding onstage presentations and today it appears they have little involvement in that aspect of the business.
Country music began to drift away from its traditional roots and transition toward a soft pop sound (commonly referred to as alternative country) in the Eighties. By the early-1990s, a flurry of new artists such as The Judds, Garth Brooks, Billy Ray Cyrus, Sawyer Brown and Clint Black were among several who helped transform country music beyond its original identity. Some of those singers as wells as many who have since broke into the business have indistinguishable voices.
Garth Brooks played a key role in reshaping country music by setting records for both sales and concert attendance throughout the decade. He also had a role in altering the untainted image of country music when he began swinging from ropes and busting up expensive guitars during his act.
Alternative country evolved from a diverse group of musicians, songwriters and singers operating outside the traditions of OCM. Today, most lyrics are sort of a cookie cutter type, often bland, dull and weak on substance. During the emergence of alternative country music, the Nashville establishment got caught between greed for generating huge revenue and exercising sound judgment and in the process, they decided to cast aside the established artists and the traditional sound and promote new artists and the outlandish sound they then and now pass as country music.
While its understandable that the music industry is in business to make a profit, they chose to commit all resources to the new trend and bury the past. Their decision to change course was evidently driven by what they thought would generate the highest revenue and with budget constraints, they probably lacked resources to promote new artist as well as the established. However, during that time, there was a huge demand for traditional artists, such as, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, George Jones, Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn, Barbara Mandrel and Dolly Parton.
Established artists were drawing substantial concert crowds and sales of their music remained steadfast. Accordingly, there seemed to be an opportunity for the industry to make reasonable profits by promoting established artists.
Without the support of the music industry, the traditional artists had no chance of survival and their careers diminished. Despite objection from many sectors of the music and entertainment arena and country music fans, the Nashville establishment stayed the course.
The real country sound, so common back then, is rarely duplicated today. That sound is forever lost in a maze of over produced, assembly-line music that passes for country music. While theres still significant interest in OCM, its becoming increasingly difficult to locate on all media types. Most of what is available is only a sparse selection of the artist bigger hits. Some radio stations across America devote a few hours each week for airing OCM. However, the broadcasting of the music is usually done during non-peak time, such as late night or weekends.
OCM is aired on satellite radio, but the biggest outlet for the music at present is YouTube. Young people are discovering the music on YouTube and surprisingly, many are amazed it exists. YouTube is also the source for fans to stay connected with a musical genre that has an exclusive identity. Thanks to YouTube original country music may never fade into oblivion and become a footnote in history books.
Written by: Richard Bell, Country Music Historian - Roots of Country Music, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
