Music Collections: Country, Folk, and Bluegrass
Whether you're a fan of the Dixie Chicks, Garth Brooks, or Faith Hill, there's lots of variety in the country music area. However all country songs have some things in common such as shared themes and melodies. Many country artists still use the guitar and fiddle as an integral part of the music.
Contemporary Country. Today's country artists like Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Toby Keith, Clint Black, and Shania Twain are sometimes calls "crossovers" because they appeal to a broad audience.
Traditional Country. When people think of traditional country music, they think about Waylon Jennings, Roger Miller, Conway Twitty, Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Eddie Rabbit, Porter Wagner, Roy Acuff. Women include Patsy Cline, Dolly Patron, Loretta Lynn, and Tammy Wynette.
Others. Alternative, country gospel, cowboy, honky tonk, outlaw, progressive, and western swing are just a few of the many variations of country music. For example, Asleep at the Wheel are known for Texas swing, Willie Nelson for outlaw music, and k.d. lang for alternative. Merle Haggard and Dwight Yoakam play honky-tonk music.
Blue Grass. The success of the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack has renewed interest in bluegrass. Alison Krauss & Union Station, Nickel Creek, Patty Loveless, and other bluegrass artists appeal to a broad audience. Many bluegrass favorites are experiencing renewed popularity like the music of Nitty Gitty Dirt Band, Ralph Stanley, and Bill Monroe.
Folk. Singers such as John Denver, Tracy Chapman, Joan Baez, Harry Belafonte, Harry Chapin, Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, Burl Ives, Gordon Lightfoot, Joni Mitchell, Jack Gladstone, Pete Seeger, and Suzanne Vega are the leaders in folk music. Folk groups include the Chad Mitchell Trio, Kingston Trio, Peter, Paul, and Mary, Simon and Garfunkel, and the Weavers.
International Folk. Jewish, Yiddish, British, and Celtic folk music is popular throughout the world.
Selected Websites for Country, Folk, and Bluegrass Music
- Academy of Country Music
- American Folk Music at Wikipedia
- Bluegrass Music at Wikipedia
- Bluegrass Unlimited
- Bluegrass World
- CMT (Country Music Television, Inc.)
- Country Music at Wikipedia
- Country Music with Shelly Fabian from About.com
- Country Weekly Magazine
- CMAworld - Country Music Association (CMA)
- Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
- Cybergrass - Bluegrass Music News Magazine
- Folk Alley
- Folk Music at Wikipedia
- Folk Music Homepage by Jay Glicksman
- International Bluegrass Music Association
- Mudcat Cafe, The
- RoughStock's History of Country Music
- Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America (SPBGMA)
- WUMB Boston Folk Music Radio
Go to Folk Music from eduScapes 42eXplore. Select a particular person or type of music and learn more about them. Then, listen to some works online.