Rock and Roll vs Country....

[Markk]

Well, I haven't said anything stupid on here in a while so, let me try. We've all heard the adage - those who can, do; those who can't, teach. And, of course everyone knows that the only reason country bands are country is because they flunked out as rockers. Similarly, I've always held the opinion that the only reason that anything besides realism in painting types exists is because some artists lack the skills to do realism.

I could argue that todays country bands are really 70's +- rock bands, but first it would be great to explore Country's influence on rock and how Jazz and early African American blues, blends into both. Today would the Eagles be Rock, or Country? In my opinion flip a coin, while leaning towards country.

Country music's influence in Rock runs deep. Jersey Girl might flip a wig, if she does not know, that Luke the Drifter and The Possum influenced the Stones. An interesting read is on Gram Parsons.

I'll start with Jimmy Rogers, who died in in 1933. He is considered the Father of Country Music, and in the first class of the Country Hall of Fame ....yet was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for his influences to the genre. There are 11 artists in both Hall of Fames, yet maybe only the Everly Brothers might, be considered Rock and Roll by genre; that is a tough call.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmie_Rodgers

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gram_Parsons

[Kishkumen]

Country is an amazing and rich genre. I can do without "top 40" modern pop country (although I know it has its place), but there are so many interesting artists, so many influences running from country to rock and other genres, that popular music would be very poor without country. Long live country music!

[Markk]

I just re-read read my OP and said something stupid. Elvis is Rock and Roll, with country roots. Like "The King of Rock and Roll!" DuH.

Would Elvis be considered Rock today?

[Markk]

Country is an amazing and rich genre. I can do without "top 40" modern pop country (although I know it has its place), but there are so many interesting artists, so many influences running from country to rock and other genres, that popular music would be very poor without country. Long live country music!

My son is top 40 country. I'm with you though, with a few exceptions. There is a great song by Alan Jackson and George Strait that explains how I feel. Even though ironically I could argue they were pioneers for the top 40 "murder."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haNLpJuW0YQ

[Markk]

T-for Texas

Jimmie Rodgers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEIBmGZxAhg

Lynyrd Skynyrd

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVtI_NllBz8

While I am talking about Texas, for me this a great Country song, by one of my favorite artists...and in my opinion a great Rock song at the same time. I can hear and feel both. I like the "boogie woogie" piano, mixed with the fiddle and steel guitar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tw8RCyjFLME

[Jersey Girl]

Amateur.

[dantana]

Well, I haven't said anything stupid on here in a while so, let me try. We've all heard the adage - those who can, do; those who can't, teach. And, of course everyone knows that the only reason country bands are country is because they flunked out as rockers. Similarly, I've always held the opinion that the only reason that anything besides realism in painting types exists is because some artists lack the skills to do realism.

I could argue that todays country bands are really 70's +- rock bands, but first it would be great to explore Country's influence on rock and how Jazz and early African American blues, blends into both. Today would the Eagles be Rock, or Country? In my opinion flip a coin, while leaning towards country.

Country music's influence in Rock runs deep. Jersey Girl might flip a wig, if she does not know, that Luke the Drifter and The Possum influenced the Stones. An interesting read is on Gram Parsons.

I'll start with Jimmy Rogers, who died in in 1933. He is considered the Father of Country Music, and in the first class of the Country Hall of Fame ....yet was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for his influences to the genre. There are 11 artists in both Hall of Fames, yet maybe only the Everly Brothers might, be considered Rock and Roll by genre; that is a tough call.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmie_Rodgers

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gram_Parsons

Great post, Mark!

I yawn along with Kish toward modern pop country, and my original dig was aimed at that. It's not so much the music, it's the presentation. I mean, if your going to wear a cowboy hat can you at least not buy them at the dollar store. Not to mention bands like - Kentucky Headhunters.

[Markk]

I could argue that todays country bands are really 70's +- rock bands, but first it would be great to explore Country's influence on rock and how Jazz and early African American blues, blends into both. Today would the Eagles be Rock, or Country? In my opinion flip a coin, while leaning towards country.

Country music's influence in Rock runs deep. Jersey Girl might flip a wig, if she does not know, that Luke the Drifter and The Possum influenced the Stones. An interesting read is on Gram Parsons.

I'll start with Jimmy Rogers, who died in in 1933. He is considered the Father of Country Music, and in the first class of the Country Hall of Fame ....yet was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for his influences to the genre. There are 11 artists in both Hall of Fames, yet maybe only the Everly Brothers might, be considered Rock and Roll by genre; that is a tough call.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmie_Rodgers

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gram_Parsons

Great post, Mark!

I yawn along with Kish toward modern pop country, and my original dig was aimed at that. It's not so much the music, it's the presentation. I mean, if your going to wear a cowboy hat can you at least not buy them at the dollar store. Not to mention bands like - Kentucky Headhunters.

I agree. in my opinion country music is about life, and it has always had a lot of "hooks" in it's music. And I love that, but to me it seems like the modern pop country invents the hooks, while deep country music lived out their hooks. Hank Jr singing about his falling down Ajax mountain is real, as opposed the made up stuff by writers and assigned to singers by the executives.

Take Wolverton Mountain by Merle Kilgore (Claude King made it famous).....or many of the songs of Dolly or Loretta Lynn, they wrote about life?

I believe one of the deepest songs ever written is "Lost Highway" by Hank Williams. When you read about his life, drugs, infidelities, alcohol, and his hard living, Lost Highway comes alive.

I often look at the tragic lives of Jimmie Hendrix, Jim Morrison, or Janis Joplin as great musicians that accomplished a lot in their short careers, which is true. But, I don't know if I truly appreciate what Hank did in his short life until I read about it....he had something like 30 top ten hits in his short career. He would sell out every show, Lol ....whether he showed up or not. Country music fans literally cried when he died. In comparison Hendrix had 3 (UK only), Joplin had 1, and the Doors 3. Hank even had 5 top ten hits after he was dead.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCgicPdsxxg