The History of Country Music

Where Did Country Music Come From?

By: Lynette Barton

Narrated by: Hairl Hensley

Country music grew up in the mountains of Appalachia, in the cotton fields of Georgia and Mississippi, the car and truck plants in Detroit, and in the coal mines of Pennsylvania. It was - and is - the music of the people. Hairl Hensley tells of Jimmy Rodgers and the Carter Family; of Bob Wills and Ernest Tubb, whose music played in honky tonks...and Roy Acuff , whose music was heard in Madison Square Garden; of the Girls of the Golden West, but also of Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire. It all started on June 14, 1923, when Fiddlin’ John Carson played “The Old Hen Cackled"....

©1997 Readio Theatre, LLC (P)1997 Readio Theatre, LLC

Excellent summary of Country music in the USA

A lot of information in a relatively short presentation. This is a history of many important milestones in the popularization of country music. It's not an academic piece that goes back to the roots music of immigrants. It's more about the show biz and recording aspect that we are familiar with. For an audio book less than two hours long, it's packed with well organized information.

The performance is superb. The narrator is great. The background music makes it even more engaging.

The History of Country Music in Words

Any additional comments?

Maybe not for those in the USA, but I enjoyed The History of Country Music. I like country music and found this history to be entertaining and informative. The background music is generic and therefore it doesn't detract you from the story. If you enjoy country music give it a try but don't expect a block-busting epic.

Incomplete

I learned more from the tour of the Grand 'Ol Opery than from listening to this. I had hoped for a few samples of music, got merely a banjo strum ...
Not recommended

story overshadowed by unnecessary background musjc

Lots of excellent information, detail, and stories of country music stars. Hairl Hensley did an excellent job of narration. However the background music was obnoxious, totally unnecessary, and made me want to stop listening. Just because it was about country music we did not need to have the story overridden with the music. If I wanted to listen to music I would have purchased a CD. Great story great narration lousy production. I'm glad the book was short because the urge to push the stop button with that background music was overwhelming at times .