50 Years of Country Rock: Bluegrass and Folk Music

In celebration of our 50th anniversary, we’re taking a look back at how country rock has evolved over the years. From bluegrass to folk, country rock has always had a place in American music.

Introducing Country Rock: A Brief History

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, a new wave of American musicians began to combine elements of traditional country music with the energetic sounds of rock and roll. This new genre, which came to be known as country rock, blended the two styles in a way that was both exciting and accessible to a wide range of listeners.

Country rock laid the foundation for subsequent alt-country movements, including the highly successful subgenre known as Americana. Americana is a blend of traditional folk music, country, rock, and blues that emerged in the 1990s and has continued to grow in popularity in the years since.

Thanks to its roots in traditional American music, country rock has had a lasting impact on popular culture. The sound of country rock has been influential on everything from subsequent alt-country movements to contemporary pop music. In addition, many of the genre’s most popular artists have gone on to have highly successful careers in other genres, including Bruce Springsteen (who began his career as a member of The E Street Band) and John Mellencamp (whose hits include ” Jack & Diane” and “Pink Houses”).

The Pioneers of Country Rock: The Byrds & Gram Parsons

The Byrds and Gram Parsons are often credited as the pioneers of country rock. The two groups took the sounds of traditional bluegrass and folk music and infused them with a more contemporary rock sound. This fusion was a major influence on the sound of country music in the 1970s and is still evident in the music of today.

The Outlaw Movement: Willie Nelson & Waylon Jennings

In the early 1970s, a new sound was emerging in country music. Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings were at the forefront of this so-called Outlaw Movement, which rejected the polished, Nashville sound in favor of a more raw, twangy sound. This new style of country music was championed by artists like Nelson and Jennings, who often pushed the boundaries with their redneck image and anti-authoritarian lyrics.

Despite their rebel status, Nelson and Jennings found huge success in the 1970s and 1980s with a string of hit songs and albums. Their outlaw country sound influenced a generation of country artists, who continue to carry on the tradition today.

The New Traditionalists: George Strait & Randy Travis

The New Traditionalists were a movement in country music that arose in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The New Traditionalists were a rejection of the overt commercialization and pop music influences that had permeated country music in the previous decade. The New Traditionalists were marked by their return to more traditional country sounds and styles, as well as a return to more traditional themes and subject matter in their lyrics. George Strait and Randy Travis were two of the most prominent figures in the New Traditionalist movement.

The Modern Era: Brad Paisley & Keith Urban

Since the early 2000s, Country music has seen a resurgence in popularity, thanks in part to the success of artists like Brad Paisley and Keith Urban. These artists have helped to bring Country music back to its roots, with a focus on traditional instrumentation and songwriting.

In recent years, we’ve also seen a rise in so-called ” Americana” or “alternative country” music, which takes influence from a wide range of genres including folk, blues, rock, and even rap. This new wave of Country music has been led by artists such as Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson, and Margo Price.

The Women of Country Rock: Dolly Parton & Emmylou Harris

When we think of country rock music, we often think of the men who made it famous – Gram Parsons, The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers. But there are also scores of women who have played an important role in the genre, including Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris.

Dolly Parton is one of the most influential country singers of all time. She has been writing and performing for more than 50 years, and her songs have been covered by everyone from June Carter Cash to Whitney Houston. She is also one of the few country artists to achieve crossover success with pop audiences.

Emmylou Harris is another titan of country music. She got her start singing with Gram Parsons in the early 1970s, and went on to have a hugely successful solo career. Her work with Linda Ronstadt and Willie Nelson led to some of the most iconic country duets of all time.

The Legacy of Country Rock: The Allman Brothers & The Eagles

In the early 1970s, two of the biggest bands in country rock emerged: The Allman Brothers and The Eagles. These bands would go on to have a major impact on the genre, helping to solidify its place in the musical landscape.

The Allman Brothers were formed in 1969 by brothers Duane and Gregg Allman. They quickly established themselves as one of the leading forces in country rock, with their debut album features such classics as “Whipping Post” and “Midnight Rider.” Throughout their career, The Allman Brothers would continue to produce groundbreaking music, including the classic album “Brothers and Sisters,” which featured the hit single “Ramblin’ Man.”

The Eagles were formed in 1971 by singer-songwriter Glenn Frey and drummer Don Henley. They had immediate success with their debut album, which featured the hits “Take It Easy” and “Witchy Woman.” The Eagles continued to rack up hits throughout the 1970s, including such classics as “Hotel California” and “Desperado.” In 1980, The Eagles released their greatest hits album, which became one of the best-selling albums of all time.

The Allman Brothers and The Eagles remain two of the most popular and influential country rock bands of all time. They helped to define the sound of country rock and their Legacy continues to inspire musicians today.

Country Rock Around the World: Australia & Canada

Country rock is a genre of popular music that originated in the Southern United States in the early 1960s. It takes its roots from genres such as folk music and blues.

The genre grew out of the backwoods honky-tonk and Western swing music of the 1930s and 1940s, and it was inspired by the “border music” of the 1940s, which crossed racial divides to appeal to a shared white and black audience in border states such as Texas and Oklahoma.

In its earliest forms, country rock combined elements of honky-tonk, Western swing, and folk; later it came to incorporate elements of rockabilly, focusing more on electric instrumentation and a sharper rhythm section sound.

The style began to fragment in the 1970s, with some artists making a return to traditional country sounds and others experimenting with different musical styles altogether.

Today, there are many different subgenres of country rock, each with its own unique sound and influences. Here’s a look at two of the most popular subgenres: bluegrass and folk.

Country Rock in the 21st Century: Zac Brown Band & The Avett Brothers

Over the past few years, two country rock bands have been making a name for themselves and putting their own spin on the genre: Zac Brown Band and The Avett Brothers.

Zac Brown Band is a country rock band formed in 2002 in Atlanta, Georgia. The band believes in keeping their music “rootsy” and accessible to all fans, regardless of whether they’re country music fans or not. The band has won three Grammy Awards and eight Academy of Country Music Awards.

The Avett Brothers are a folk rock band from Concord, North Carolina, that was formed in 2000. The band consists of two brothers, Scott and Seth Avett, who alternate between lead and harmony vocals. The Avett Brothers have released eight studio albums, four of which have gone gold or platinum. In 2013, the band won a Grammy Award for Best Americana Album for their album The Carpenter.

Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Present: 50 Years of Country Rock

For half a century, country rock has been thrilling audiences with its mix of traditional folk and bluegrass sounds and more modern rock influences. This hybrid genre has produced some of the most iconic and enduring songs in American music history, and its popularity shows no signs of waning.

In honor of this momentous anniversary, we’ve put together a guide to the best country rock songs of the last 50 years. From classic hits like The Byrds’ “Sweetheart of the Rodeo” to modern favorites like The Avett Brothers’ “I and Love and You,” these are the tracks that have defined a generation (or two) of music fans.