Cowboy Troy
Dean
It's not quite as weird as it sounds either. Country music and black music originally came from exactly the same place. Someone recently commented that it was odd that black people had pretty much lost interest in rock music even though black artists like Chuck Berry and Little Richard were so influential early on. But I find it even more interesting that black people lost interest in both blues and country music. There didn't used to be any difference between blues or country to speak of, it was just poor folks' music, and black people were a big part of the scene. Then for some reason (or likely several reasons) the interest just evaporated in the black community (exceptions like Charley Pride and Ray Charles notwithstanding).
Related Posts (on one page):
- Blues & Country
- Cowboy Troy
As to why and when blacks lost interest in their own musics, it was pretty much at the same time they were convinced to become a culture of victims. I think there's a relationship.
Gotta give some props to Big N Rich, they discovered and propped up several of the newer country "mafia".
Recently started listening to Country as main music on the Radio since DFW has no good dance stations, it is either Rock I heard for the last 20 years or Hip Hop gansta Rap.
Nevertheless, simply pick up and listen to the recordings made of southern folk music in the 1920s. It's nearly impossible to tell the two apart.
If I have a little time I'll look for some of the recordings I have from that era and put a couple of them up.
Oh, sorry; I'll clean up the drool.
Regardless, Troy is great, and I'll pick up his album even though I don't normally touch country. Thanks for the tip.
People period have lost interest in the blues. In fact, many of the younger generation have lost interest in the live band. Instead, the slick, over-processed CD is the norm with a heavy dose of live lip syncing. We, as a society, have damn near killed live music as a commercial art.
I strongly advise you to read Hank William's Jr's autobiography. You'll find he makes serious reference to the linkage between black music (blues) and country.