Country music is one of the oldest genres in the United States and has consistently been one of the most popular. It’s a genre with a rich history packed with larger-than-life characters, nearly unbelievable stories, and plenty of unsung heroes. As a result, it is almost impossible to know everything about the format. However, it is possible to put a few fun facts in your back pocket that will make you sound like a country music expert.
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These four facts will teach you about the beginnings of country music and the backstories behind legendary artists and songs. At the very least, the nuggets of knowledge below are great starting points for research rabbit holes.
[RELATED: 4 Classic Songs from the 1970s for New Fans of Country Music]
1. Country Music Began in Bristol, Tennessee
Let’s go back to the origins of country music for the first fun fact. “Country music” was–and still is–a marketing term. Before record companies settled on that name, they called it “hillbilly music” because it was the music made and enjoyed by the people of the Appalachian region.
Commercial country music began in 1927 when Ralph Peer, a representative of the Victor Talking Machine Company, brought a recording device to the Taylor-Christian Hat and Glove Company in Bristol, Tennessee, and offered to record local musicians. Artists came from miles around to have their music pressed on records. Two of the most important acts to attend the Bristol Sessions were the Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers. These recording sessions are widely known as the “Big Bang” of country music.
2. Merle Haggard Watched Johnny Cash Perform While in Prison
This story about country music legend Merle Haggard contains a bonus fact. Outlaw Country isn’t music about committing crimes or being a fugitive. It was a term to identify those who were going against the grain of the music business in the 1970s. While Haggard often gets lumped in with the Outlaw Country movement, he is more accurately placed among those who adhered to the Bakersfield Sound. However, he is one of the only major country artists to spend time in prison.
On New Year’s Day 1958, Haggard was doing time in San Quentin when Cash came to play a concert for the inmates. That concert inspired him to turn his life around and get serious about music. Four years later, he released his debut single “Singing My Heart Out” in 1962.
3. Dolly Parton Wrote Two Classics in One Day
Dolly Parton is one of the most prolific songwriters in country music. Classic songs have been flowing from her pen for decades. One of the most impressive facts about her, though, is that she wrote two timeless country hits–“Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You” on the same day.
4. What Is Country Music?
Ask 100 people what country music is and you’ll likely get 100 answers. If you compare early recordings like Jimmy Rodgers’ “Sleep Baby Sleep” to something modern like “I Never Lie” by Zach Top, you’ll see a huge difference. Some will say that lyrical content sets country music apart. Others will say fiddle and steel guitar make songs country. There are some who will say that it’s just pop with a southern accent.
The final fun fact on this list will help you definitively define country music. Legendary songwriter Harlan Howard coined the phrase “Three chords and the truth” to describe the genre in the 1950s. That’s not to say that every song has to have exactly three chords and be autobiographical or completely factual. Instead, Howard was pointing out the simplicity and authenticity at the heart of the music.
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