October marks the Country Music Month. During this month country music fans come together to honour the genre, its artists, and significant historical moments. Also known as Country and Western, country music has humble origins back in 1920’s America. Early country music combined old English ballads, Irish fiddle songs and the jazz and blues from African Americans and took off in the southern states among the working classes. Film stars such as Roy Rogers and Gene Autry helped increase the popularity of what was then known as “Hillbilly music” in the decades to follow before the Country Music Hall of Fame was created in 1975.
“There is no better time to honour the diverse history of the country music genre than Country Music Month” says Simon Bennett, Managing Director of musicGuard.
To celebrate Country Music Month, leading music insurer musicGuard has spoken about their favourite moments in the history of country music:
“With a popularity that stretches decades, it’s hard to pick one standout moment in the history of country music” adds Bennett.
Birth of The Country Music Hall of Fame
Hank Williams and Jimmie Rodgers were the first inductees to the original Country Music Hall of Fame back in 1961. Based in the home of country music itself – Nashville Tennessee – the Country Music Hall of Fame is one of the largest museums dedicated to American music anywhere in the world. Recent inductees include Ray Charles, Pete Drake and The Judds.
Johnny Cash and the prison tour
The Man in Black, Johnny Cash recorded the famous At Folsom Prison album back in 1968. In what became the first ever live recording of a prison performance, Cash cemented his outlaw status with a series of gigs during the 1960’s in California prisons.
Elvis and his TV debut
Elvis Presley shot into prominence in the US with six appearances on Stage Show back in 1956. The man who would be King gave the awaiting audience a first rendition of the would-be-classic, Hound Dog.
Bennett continues “These are just some of the most iconic moments in the history of country music.” Discover more about country music on:
