Even if the musicians had been recording fiddle tunes (known as Old Time Music at that time) in the southern Appalachiansfor several years, country music was truly his foot in early 1920. The first commercial recording of “Country Songs” was “Sallie Gooden” by fiddlist AC (Eck) Robertson in 1922 for Victor Records. In 1923, Fiddlin ‘John Carson recorded “log cabin in the lane” for Okeh Records. Columbia Records followed in 1924 with a series of publications, and Vernon Dalhart was the first country singer to a successful nationwide in May 1924 with “Wreck Of The Old ’97″. In 1925, The Skillet Lickers were formed, and “The Dying Cowboy” by Carl T. Sprague was the first country record.
The most important date in the creation of country music for the first time in August 1927, at Bristol, Tennessee, record executive Ralph Peer signed Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family on Victor Records. These two recordings, Rodgers with his unique singing style and the Carters with their range of musical recordings from the old days, formed the basis for the genre.
James Charles Rodgers, the “Father of Country Songs”, was in Meridian, Mississippi, Born on 8 September 1897. An amateur artist for many years, had become a real actor in 1925 after the train left for health reasons. In 1926 he joined Rodgers and Carrie, his wife of six years, of Asheville, North Carolina, and organized the Jimmie Rodgers Entertainers, a hillbilly band consisting of Jack Pierce (guitar), Jack Grant (mandolin / banjo), Claude Grant ( banjo), and Rodgers himself (banjo).
End of July 1927, said Rodgers’ bandmates that Ralph Peer, a representative of the Victor Talking Machine Company would audition local musicians in Bristol. Rodgers and the group of plays and impressed with their sound, they decided to record the next day. That night, as the band discussed how they would be charged on the plate, followed by an argument, the band broke up and Rodgers arrived at the recording session itself.
Rodgers chose a sentimental ballad, “The Soldiers Sweetheart” (Listen here) and a lullaby “Sleep, Baby, Sleep” (Listen here) as his songs for the session. The record met with instant success, and Victor Rodgers asked for more cuts in 1927, including “Wait in ‘For A Train” (see here) and “Blue Yodel # 1″ (better known as “T for Texas” note) records (listen here) has sold over a million copies and established Rodgers as the first singer of early country music. Rodgers, who died in 1933 at the age of 35 years, seemed never to be played at the Grand Ole Opry during his life, but its inclusion in the Country Songs Hall of Fame in 1961 has demonstrated its considerable influence on the kind of a great radio program. His influence was not limited to country, since it has also made an important contribution to the blues and folk music. Rodgers has been elected the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970 and the Hall of Fame Rock & Roll in 1986.
Carter has received richly deserved reward as well. They were also named the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1970, and the Grammy Hall of Fame, and earned the nickname “the first family of Country Music,” a tribute to their innovative sound and a deep work ethic that is guided beginning of popular music for the better part of two decades. The initial group, consisting of Alvin Pleasant “AP” Carter, his wife Sara Carter, and his sister-in-law Maybelle Carter. All three were born and raised in southwest Virginia, where they were confined in the harmonies of gospel music in the mountains surrounded. AP collected hundreds of British / Appalachian Sad Country Songs and arranged them for the reception, his trips to the tireless pursuit of these songs not only ensured for future generations, but the music has become synonymous with the name of Carter.
Their first recording session was also peer, and it came just after Rodgers’ in July 1927, the Carter family completed six songs for the peer, including “Girl, Married Girl.” (Listen here) would soon become the most important bands in the United States with other musical hits like “Keep On The Sunny Side” (Listen here) and “Wildwood Flower” (see here). At that time, the guitar was only rarely as a lead or solo instrument among white musicians used, but Maybelle unmistakable style picking “scratch” (he played the melody on the bass lines with his thumb while rhythmically strumming with your fingers) became a popular technique for Country Love Songs of that time. By the end of 1930 had sold 300,000 records, but the global economic crisis strongly affected their income, the Carters were able to play concerts in cities across the United States due to the general increase in consumption and economic difficulties.
Despite their successes, but the Carters have never experienced the financial success of Jimmie Rodgers and Gene Autry The Singing Cowboy (which debuted in 1929) both argue that the public network radio, Hollywood movies and big-time vaudeville. In 1930, Country Love Songs, or “Western music”, was popularized by films made in Hollywood, sending Autry a star (it was the first country record of ‘years in four cases, claims in 1930).
This fame and fortune eluded the Carters and their personal battles only complicated matters. Sara and AP divorced in 1936, but still common in the group, which now also Anita, June and Helen (three daughters, Maybelle and AP’s brother Ezra) and Janette and Joe (Sara and AP children). Over the years of 1936-39, the family has recorded for Decca, followed by stops at Columbia and Victor. In winter 1938/39 the Carter family went to Texas, where he was twice a day program on radio station at Villa Acuña, Mexico, across the border from Del Rio, Texas. In the 1939-1940 season, entered June Carter (middle daughter of Ezra and Maybelle) group, which is now distributed in San Antonio, where their programs were recorded and the limit has been several radio stations. At the end of 1942, the Carters moved their program in Charlotte, North Carolina. The last recordings of the original Carter Family was held October 14, 1941, Sara married AP’s cousin in 1943, moved to California, and the group disbanded. Maybelle continued with their daughters, Anita, June, and Helen, who performed as “Mother Maybelle Carter and Sisters” in 1970.
Although the artists have a strong decline in sales experienced during the Great Depression, began to flourish more and more popular media. Also a source of transmission of popular entertainment, and “barn dance” shows of country music have been launched throughout the south. The most important of these performances was the Grand Ole Opry, first broadcast in 1925 the newly formed WSM Radio. Stars included soon Uncle Dave Macon, Roy Acuff and harmonica player De Ford Bailey African-American.