USA
Tune into the Sounds of the South with Country Music
One of the many charms of the Southern states is music. Music is everywhere, it’s part of their culture, identity, and history. Country music is one of the most popular types of music in the world, and this special type of music is originated in the United States of America.
If you’re a (country) music lover, then it’s time to travel South and enjoy their many musical offerings!
West Virginia
Mountain Stage is a live radio show broadcasted over 150 public radio stations nationwide. Produced by West Virginia Public Broadcasting and distributed by NPR Music, this show is considered to be the state’s musical crown jewel. Its mix of excellent music and world class talent continues to bring international attention to the Mountain State. The show can also be attended in person and is most often broadcast from its home base in Charleston but has traveled to venues all around the world. Many legends have been among guest artists over the years, including John Prine, Cassandra Wilson, Steve Earle, Norah Jones, and Rosanne Cash.
Mississippi
Country music is one of America’s most well-known exports and it has many roots in Mississippi. This quintessential American art form encompasses folk lyrics, dance tunes and ballads about love and heartbreak. It’s a blend of styles and cultural traditions that first took form over 100 years ago. One of country music’s first pioneers was Mississippi’s own Jimmie Rogers, known as “the Father of Country Music.” His performance, lyrical style and “Singing Brakeman” image set the standard for the performers that followed and laid the foundation for country music’s explosion into the mainstream.
Today, Mississippi visitors can learn about legends like Rogers, Tammy Wynette, Elvis Presley and dozens more artists produced in the Magnolia State by following the Mississippi Country Music Trail. With a map of markers posted all over the state, fans can seek out their favourite artists and learn about their contributions to the genre or just travel the highways and byways of Mississippi to learn about the people and performance venues that have shaped country music. The Country Music Trail website provides location information and the stories behind the markers, so fans can enjoy seeking out and standing on the ground where their favourite performers first played.
Alabama
Alabamian Hiram “Hank” Williams, born on September 17, 1923, was one of the most influential singer songwriters and gave a voice to the “everyman.” He was the first country music superstar with hits such as “Hey Good Lookin’,” “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” and “Your Cheatin’ Heart.”
Visit Montgomery’s Hank Williams Museum to see his stage costumes, guitars, and the 1952 blue Cadillac in which he died, aged 29. You can pay your respects at his grave, in nearby Oakwood Cemetery, marked by a marble cowboy hat.
Need a little more music in your life? There are even more musical experiences to be discovered in Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
