Like any genre, country music wouldn’t be what it is today without the trailblazing artists of the past. Modern artists likely wouldn’t be topping the country charts today without a few influential artists who inspired them to chase their dreams and helped them find their sound. The ones from which modern artists took inspiration likely looked up to an older generation of artists, and so on.
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None of the artists below built the genre single handedly. However, they are the artists who have helped inspire generations of other influential country artists. Without these four individuals, America’s favorite genre wouldn’t be the same.
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1. Hank Williams
Hank Williams is, without a doubt, one of the most influential artists country music has ever seen. His blend of blues, rockabilly, and honky tonk set the standard for country music. His songwriting tapped into the highs and lows of the human condition, and he sang every word with an instantly recognizable twang accented with yodels.
While many modern country fans may overlook Williams’ music due to its dated sound, many of their favorite artists’ favorite artists took inspiration directly from the Hillbilly Shakespeare. Elvis, Bob Dylan, George Jones, Tammy Wynette, and countless other country artists took Williams’ lead and, in turn, influenced further generations of artists.
2. Patsy Cline
Patsy Cline had a tragically short career, releasing only three studio albums before her death in 1963. However, she is widely hailed as one of the greatest singers of all times and one of the most influential country artists in the history of the genre. Her voice was a unique combination of emotional, haunting, and beautiful. As a result, many of country music’s most successful women looked to Cline for inspiration.
Those who enjoy the music of Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Trisha Yearwood, or Reba McEntire have Cline to thank. All of those powerful women took inspiration from the “Crazy” singer and continued her legacy.
3. “Mother” Maybelle Carter
“Mother” Maybelle Carter was a member of the original Carter Family lineup. She was there when they recorded one of the first country records during the Bristol Sessions in 1927. To say that she is one of the most influential country artists in the history of the genre would be an understatement. Her musicianship carried her influence far beyond the borders of country music.
Maybelle Carter is widely credited with popularizing a style of guitar playing called the Carter Scratch, in which the guitarist plays both rhythm and melody simultaneously. The style is still widely used in country, folk, and bluegrass music today. At the same time, it helped make the guitar a lead instrument. Before she and a few other inspirational players came along, the guitar was strictly a rhythm instrument with fiddles, autoharps, mandolins, or other traditional instruments playing the melody lines.
4. Buck Owens
Buck Owens is a little more modern than the other country artists on this list, but he’s no less influential. Owens helped pioneer the Bakersfield Sound. Starting in the 1950s, the Bakersfield Sound was a tight blend of rock, honky tonk, and Western swing. The musicians used electric instruments and played stripped-down arrangements, making the California-based style an answer to the Nashville Sound with its slick production and use of string sections.
Owens, along with the likes of Wynn Stewart had a massive impact on Merle Haggard’s sound. Haggard and Owens would be two of the most successful acts to come out of the Bakersfield scene. So, it could be said that without Owens we may not have had Haggard and the countless artists he inspired. Additionally, Jean Shepard, Susan Raye, Rosie Flores, The Beatles, Dwight Yoakam, and many more owe a debt to Owens.
Featured Image by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
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