Country Music Month –Has the Music Changed Over the Years?
Country Music Month –
Has the Music Changed Over the Years?
Mike Tussey
The Ashland Beacon
Many will tell you that the sound of country music has changed over these many years. You can believe it, it has.
To begin with, let’s go back 76 years to the 1950’s. Country music was loaded with sheer talent who in all honesty - really shaped the genre’s sound and legacy.
Legends such as Hank Williams and his Honky – Tonk hits - to the incredible voice of Patsy Cline, listeners loved what they heard.
Throughout the decade, fans came to love such artists as Johnny Cash, Ernest Tubb, Kitty Wells, Marty Robbins, Webb Pierce, Jim Reeves, George Jones and Porter Wagoner. These legends brought country music to mainstream audiences and the smiles were on.
What caught my attention was simple; the lyrics of country music reflected everyday life. The songs told the story of ordinary hard- working, hard drinking and long-suffering people that could relate to the music of the 50’s such as Hank Williams’s hit of 1951 – “Cold Cold Heart”, and Marty Robbin’s legendary hit “El Paso”.
The decade of the 60’s followed up with a new demographic of country music listeners who were infatuated with the tremendous number of country music radio stations across America.
A staple of country music was recorded by Porter Wagoner in 1967 entitled “The Cold hard Facts of Life”. It was written by Bill Anderson and soared to #4 reflecting infidelity and murder.
Sure, the sounds changed somewhat with the rise of Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard,Tammy Wynette, Glen Campbell, Willie Nelson, Conway Twitty, Bobby Goldsboro and many more.
In fact, the mid – 60’s new sounds were now called -THE NASHVILLE SOUND.
So much so, a new and exciting sound was marching down 16thAvenue South - MUSIC ROW in Nashville!
That new sound, a million miles from Hank Williams and Willie Nelson was - Danny Davis and the Nashville Brass!
Davis met with his employer Chet Atkins and passed on his new idea of the “Brass”. He eventually picked up Grady Martin, Floyd Cramer, John Hartford and others and in October of 1968.
Their first album was entitled – “The Nashville Brass Plays the Nashville Sound”.
1970 brought about a second album for the Brass which received the Grammy Award for the Best Instrumental Performance”. The next five years - the Brass dominated the CMA Awards for the Best Instrumental Group.
So, you can readily see, with the addition of a Brass Band to the incredible lists of legendary vocalists, the 60’s brought about a change in country music never heard before. America loved it and could not wait till to see what 1970’s would bring.
The 1970’s and 80’s loaded up with exciting country music sounds provided by Lee Greenwood, Kenny Rogers, Glen Campbell, Lynn Anderson, Don Williams, Donna Fargo and so many more including Jim Glaser.
Country music by the 1990’s was strutting it stuff with solid super stars performers such as Garth Brooks, Shania Twain, George Straight, Alan Jackson, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill.
Each of these and many others found that special niche that caught the ears of their listeners.
Then, of course, the country music performers of here in the 21stcentury, found a key to success that their predecessors used in the preceding century and that was to create new and exciting lyrics.
The music was complimented by steel guitars and fiddles which created a special sound rooted in country music’s heritage. Who was going to get the job done?
Great performers such as - Cody Johnson, Justin Moore, Luke Combs, Ashley McBride, Carly Pearce and the list goes on and on.
So, has Country Music changed over the last 75 years? Sure, it has.
The key to it all - the artists of today have appealed to the younger generation with their country music styles – and it’s working day by day.
Amid the mystic month of October we are well into the Fall of 2026 which brings the high school football playoffs, Bengals’ week 5, and MLB’s 122nd World Series with an accent on Halloween, October 31.
As millions know and enjoy - the month of October is – COUNTRY MUSIC MONTH.
During the next 24 days, America will delve into the exciting world of country music, its talents, legends and deep history that was created 102 years ago in 1924.
Country music history remembers when Vernon Dalhart recorded “Wreck of the Old 97”. It created great interest and entertainment.
A few years later, many say country music was born when Jimmie Rogers became a legend via his hit record of “Blue Yodel No. 1”. It sold more than a half million copies. This is when he was deemed “The Father of Country Music in 1927.
Through the coming decades, country music became prevalent in cowboy movies and the craze was on. This marriage of country music and singing cowboys like Roy Rogers became a huge interest of America’s entertainment needs.
1958 brought about the founding of the Country Music Association or the "CMA".
The focus was on the sheer promotion of the genre which was eventually done through the annual CMA awards.
This is when an American music entrepreneur CONNIE B. GAY co-founded the CMA and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
During that year, he was named the “C&W Man of the Year” in Billboard magazine. There was no doubt, he was quickly becoming one of country music’s “Pillars of Success”.
Earlier in1956, he began broadcasting on television his creation of – “Town and Country Time” which became syndicated nationwide.
Eventually, he became owner of many radio stations including Ashland, Kentucky’s WTCR.
He deemed that the call letters would stand for “Town and Country Radio”.
In 1967, Mr. Gay hired me to become his Program Director of WTCR and as such, I was responsible for the new image and operation of his new 5,000-watt AM station.
In a short time, WTCR became a powerhouse of country music locally and was recognized as a symbol of success by another Connie B. Gay radio station.
Through the years, I worked closely with Mr. Gay at home and in Nashville. We were certainly on the same page of our perceptions of the industry.
Connie B. Gay was inducted into the West Virginia Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2006; I followed him with my induction into the West Virginia Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2010.
It should be noted that the 2026 CMA Awards Show will be held on Wednesday, November 18 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
Any country music fan can tell you all about - THE GRAND OLE OPRY.
It was founded 101 years ago in1925 with the sole purpose of a weekly country music concert to be held in downtown Nashville. broadcast live covering the Midwest. The venue was a former church built in1892 with the name of - The Ryman.
From 1943 to 1974 it was a revered venue for country music performers and was known as “The Home of the Grand Ole Opry”.
WSM radio began broadcasting the Opry on November 28, 1925, and it instantly became the “WSM Barn Dance”.
Subsequently, the Opry became a cornerstone of country music over the coming years, launching careers of artists such as Roy Acuff and Hank Williams.
October brings many venues of interest, one of which is the celebration nationwide of National Country Music Month.
Hopefully, you now have new insights into country music that certainly perks your interest.
Has country music changed over the last century? I think you know the answer!
Comments