The Origins of Country Music
The origins of country music lie in its most important instrument, the banjo. It originated in Western Africa in the 17th century under a different name the Akonting. They were made of gourds, bamboo, wood and leather, and had three strings. When enslavement began, the instruments also came along. This instrument was used to create all kinds of music — hymns, spirituals and field songs. The banjo became associated with enslaved people, and the white man wouldn’t dare touch something like that.
In addition, the violin, also known as the fiddle, was adopted by enslaved people in the 1690s when white masters made the enslaved learn and play the violin for entertainment. But over time, they would create new patterns and sounds with the violin, particularly in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Using the traditional American music they learned—along with African patterns and with the help of the banjo—the music eventually turned into the creation of folk and bluegrass. This music style was very prominent in the South, especially in New Orleans. Unfortunately, the style also leads to the creation of minstrel shows.
Appropriation
Popular in the 1850s, minstrel shows were racial and satirical performances that mocked Black people and their culture through music and dance. The banjo was one of the show’s primary instruments. Minstrel shows introduced banjos to a white audience in a “palatable” way. White artists quickly adopted the banjo, laying the foundation for hillbilly music, referred to today as country music.
Hillbilly music got its name as it was made in the South and marketed towards rural white Southerners. It was influenced by folk, bluegrass and fiddle music, and became synonymous with white American culture despite Black artists being the inspiration.
The genre originally took off in the early 20th century. White artists like Jimmie Rodgers, The Carter Family, and Roy Acuff were very popular during this time.
Whether it was the banjo, field songs, or even hymns, Black influences were embedded into country music. In the 1920s and 1930s, there were almost 50 collaborations between Black and white country artists, with some Black artists not even receiving credit for their work.
Country music’s landscape grew after World War I due to big record labels wanting to sell country music. The divide between Black and white artists and audiences grew exponentially as a result.
Record companies made “Race records” to market to Black people, assuming that people bought and listened to music based on race while hiding the fact that recording sessions were integrated. They were made to separate Black and white artists. There was an emphasis on associating genres like jazz and the blues with Black people while making country palatable to white audiences.
This change effectively erased Black people from country music’s landscape, branding the country genre as white music. White country artists would continue their dominance over the genre, spawning hit after hit while ignoring the Black artists—who made the genre—credits and influence.
Black people have earned a spotlight so here is a highlight of several foundational Black country stars that you should know.