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Home , Academy of Country Music, Bob Wills, Don Felder, History of the Eagles, Kenny Rogers Roasters, Long Road Out of Eden

Cultural and Historic Background Information Country music, also called country and western, is a style of that originated in rural areas of the South and West in the early 20th century. The term country and western music (later shortened to country music) was adopted by the recording industry in 1949 to replace the offensive label hillbilly music. Ultimately, country music’s origins lie in the ballads, folk songs, and popular songs of the English, Scots, and Irish settlers of the Appalachians and other parts of the South. In the early 1920s the traditional string-band music of the Southern mountain regions began to be commercially recorded, with Fiddlin’ John Carson garnering the genre’s first hit record in 1923. The vigour and realism of the rural songs, many lyrics of which were rather impersonal narratives of tragedies pointing to a stern Calvinist moral, stood in marked contrast to the often-mawkish sentimentality of much of the popular music of the day. More important than recordings for the growth of country music was broadcast radio. Small radio stations appeared in the larger Southern and Midwestern cities in the 1920s, and many devoted parts of their airtime to live or recorded music suited to white rural audiences. Two regular programs of great influence were the “National Barn Dance” from , begun in 1924, and the “” from Nashville, begun in 1925. The immediate popularity of such programs encouraged more recordings and the appearance of talented musicians from the hills at radio and record studios. Among these were the and Jimmie Rodgers, whose performances strongly influenced later musicians. These early recordings were of ballads and country dance tunes and featured the fiddle and guitar as lead instruments over a foundation of guitar or . Other instruments occasionally used included Appalachian dulcimer, harmonica, and mandolin; vocals were done either by a single voice or in high close harmony. Drums were despised by early country musicians as being "too loud" and "not pure", but by 1935 big band leader had added drums to the Playboys. In the mid- , the Grand Ole Opry did not want the Playboys' drummer to appear on stage. Although drums were commonly used by groups by 1955, the less-conservative-than-the-Grand- Ole-Opry kept its infrequently used drummer backstage as late as 1956. By the early 1960s, however, it was rare for a country band not to have a drummer. Bob Wills was one of the first country musicians known to have added an electric guitar to his band, in 1938. A decade later (1948) Arthur Smith achieved top 10 US country chart success with his MGM Records recording of "Guitar Boogie", which crossed over to the US pop chart, introducing many people to the potential of the electric guitar. For several decades Nashville session players preferred the warm tones of the and Gretsch archtop electrics, but a "hot" Fender style, using guitars which became available beginning in the early , eventually prevailed as the signature guitar sound of country music.

Country Music Artists Chris Stapleton Christopher Alvin Stapleton (born April 15, 1978) is an American -, guitarist, and . He was born in Lexington, Kentucky, and grew up in Staffordsville, Kentucky, until moving to Nashville, , in 2001 to pursue a career in music writing songs. Subsequently, Stapleton signed a contract with Sea Gayle Music to write and publish his music. As of 2018, Stapleton has amassed credits writing and co-writing over 170 songs. He has co-written six number-one country songs including 's five-week number-one "Never Wanted Nothing More", Josh Turner's "Your Man", 's "Love's Gonna Make It Alright", and 's "Drink a Beer". His songs have appeared on many artists including , , and Dierks Bentley. He has co-written with several artists as well including , , and Ed Sheeran. Stapleton has been recognized with several awards including five Grammy Awards, seven Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards, and ten Country Music Association (CMA) Awards. As a vocalist, Stapleton sang lead in two bands before he started recording as a solo artist including a bluegrass ensemble from 2008 to 2010 called The Steel Drivers and The Jompson Brothers. After that, he released his solo debut: the critically acclaimed studio titled Traveller (2015), which reached number one on the US and was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). His second studio album From A Room: Volume 1 was released in May 2017 and earned him a second CMA Award for Album of the Year and a Grammy Award for Best Country Album. From A Room: Volume 2 was released in December 2017. Chris Stapleton is one of the best melismatic singers in country music today. Melismatic singing is the style of singing several notes to one syllable/word of text.

John Denver Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. (December 31, 1943 – October 12, 1997), known professionally as , was an American country music singer-songwriter, record producer, actor, activist, and humanitarian, whose greatest commercial success was as a solo singer. After traveling and living in numerous locations while growing up in his military family, Denver began his music career with folk music groups during the late 1960s. Starting in the 1970s, he was one of the most popular acoustic artists of the decade and one of its best-selling artists. By 1974, he was one of America's best-selling performers, and AllMusic has described Denver as "among the most beloved entertainers of his era". Denver recorded and released approximately 300 songs, about 200 of which he composed, with total sales of over 33 million records worldwide. He recorded and performed primarily with an acoustic guitar and sang about his joy in nature, his disdain for city life, his enthusiasm for music, and his relationship trials. Denver's music appeared on a variety of charts, including country music, the , and adult contemporary, in all earning 12 gold and four platinum albums with his signature songs "Take Me Home, Country Roads", "Annie's Song", "Rocky Mountain High", "Calypso", "Thank God I'm a Country Boy", and "Sunshine on My Shoulders". Denver appeared in several films and television specials during the 1970s and 1980s. He continued to record in the 1990s, also focusing on environmental issues by lending vocal support to space exploration and testifying in front of Congress in protest against censorship in music. He lived in Aspen for much of his life where he was known for his love of Colorado. In 1974, Denver was named poet laureate of the state. The Colorado state legislature also adopted "Rocky Mountain High" as one of its two state songs in 2007. An avid pilot, Denver died at the age of 53 in a single-fatality crash while piloting his recently purchased light plane.

Dolly Parton Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer, songwriter, multi- instrumentalist, record producer, actress, author, businesswoman, and humanitarian, known primarily for her work in country music. After achieving success as a songwriter for others, Parton made her album debut in 1967 with Hello, I'm Dolly. With steady success during the remainder of the 1960s (both as a solo artist and with a series of duet albums with Porter Wagoner), her sales and chart peak came during the 1970s and continued into the 1980s. Parton's albums in the 1990s did not sell as well, but she achieved commercial success again in the new millennium and has released albums on various independent labels since 2000, including her own label, Dolly Records. Parton's music includes 25 Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)-certified gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards. She has had 25 songs reach No. 1 on the Billboard country music charts, a record for a female artist (tied with Reba McEntire). She has 41 career top-10 country albums, a record for any artist, and she has 110 career charted singles over the past 40 years. She has garnered ten Grammy Awards, two Academy Award nominations, ten Country Music Association Awards, seven Academy of Country Music Awards, three American Music Awards, and is one of only seven female artists to win the Country Music Association's Entertainer of the Year Award. Parton has received 47 Grammy nominations. In 1999, Parton was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. She has composed over 3,000 songs, including "" (a two-time U.S. country chart-topper, as well as an international pop hit for ), "Jolene", "", and "". She is also one of the few to have received at least one nomination from the Academy Awards, Grammy Awards, Tony Awards, and Emmy Awards. As an actress, she has starred in films such as 9 to 5 (1980) and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982), for which she earned Golden Globe nominations for Best Actress, as well as Rhinestone (1984), Steel Magnolias (1989), Straight Talk (1992) and Joyful Noise (2012).

Allan Jackson Alan Eugene Jackson (born October 17, 1958) is an American country music singer and songwriter. He is known for honouring a “neotraditional country” musical style, and for penning many of his own songs. Jackson has recorded 16 studio albums, three greatest hits albums, two Christmas albums, and two gospel albums. Jackson is one of the best-selling music artists of all-time, having sold over 75 million records worldwide, with 44 million sold in the United States alone. He has had 66 songs appear on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart; of the 66 titles, and six featured singles, 38 have reached the top five and 35 have claimed the number one spot. Out of 15 titles to reach the Billboard chart, nine have been certified multi-platinum. He is the recipient of two Grammy Awards, 16 CMA Awards, 17 ACM Awards and nominee of multiple other awards. He is a member of the Grand Ole Opry, and was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 2001. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2017 by and into the Nashville Hall of Fame in 2018. At the 2003 Academy of Country Music Awards, Jackson won Album of the Year for Drive and Video of the Year for the video to "Drive (For Daddy Gene)." In 2004, a five-mile (8 km) stretch of Interstate 85 through Jackson's hometown of Newnan was renamed the " Highway" in the singer's honour. After learning of the honour, he stated "[Newnan] was a great place to grow up. I'm not sure I'm quite qualified for the main highway. Maybe they should've picked a dirt road or something."

Johnny Cash John R. Cash (born J. R. Cash; February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American singer, songwriter, musician, actor, and author. He is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, having sold more than 90 million records worldwide. His genre-spanning songs and sound embraced country, , rockabilly, , folk, and gospel. This crossover appeal won Cash the rare honour of being inducted into the Country Music, Rock and Roll, and Gospel Music Halls of Fame. Born in to poor cotton farmers, Cash rose to fame in the prominent country music scene in Memphis, Tennessee, after four years in the United States Air Force. Cash was known for his deep, calm bass-baritone voice, the distinctive sound of his Tennessee Three backing band characterized by train-like chugging guitar rhythms, a rebelliousness coupled with an increasingly sombre and humble demeanour, free prison concerts, and a trademark all-black stage wardrobe, which earned him the nickname "The Man in Black". He traditionally began his concerts by simply introducing himself, "Hello, I'm ," followed by his signature song "". Much of Cash's music contained themes of sorrow, moral tribulation, and redemption, especially in the later stages of his career. His other signature songs include "I ", "", "", and "Man in Black". He also recorded humorous numbers like "", "", a duet with his future wife June Carter called "Jackson" (followed by many further duets after their wedding); and railroad songs including "Hey, Porter", "Orange Blossom Special", and "". During the last stage of his career, Cash covered songs by several late-20th-century rock artists, notably "Hurt" by Nine Inch Nails, "Rusty Cage" by and "Rowboat" by Beck. Charlie Pride Charley Frank Pride (born March 18, 1934) is an American singer, musician, guitarist, business owner, and former professional baseball player. His greatest musical success came in the early to mid-1970s, when he became the best-selling performer for RCA Records since . During the peak years of his recording career (1966–87), he garnered 52 top-10 hits on the Billboard chart, 30 of which made it to number one.

Pride is one of the few (along with DeFord Bailey and Darius Rucker) to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry. The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly American country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, founded on November 28, 1925, by George D. Hay as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM. Currently owned and operated by Opry Entertainment (a division of Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc.), it is the longest-running radio broadcast in US history.[1][2] Dedicated to honoring country music and its history, the Opry showcases a mix of famous singers and contemporary chart-toppers performing country, bluegrass, Americana, folk, and gospel music as well as comedic performances and skits.[3] It attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world and millions of radio and internet listeners. Between 1969 and 1971, Pride had eight singles that reached number one on the US Country Hit Parade and also charted on the Billboard Hot 100: "All I Have to Offer You (Is Me)", "(I'm So) Afraid of Losing You Again", "I Can't Believe That You've Stopped Loving Me", "I'd Rather Love You", "Is Anybody Goin' to San Antone", "Wonder Could I Live There Anymore", "I'm Just Me", and "Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'". The pop success of these songs reflected the country/pop crossover sound that was reaching country music in the 1960s and early 1970s, known as "Countrypolitan". In 1969, his compilation album, The Best of , sold more than one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. Ultimately, Elvis Presley was the only artist who sold more records than Pride for the RCA . In 1971, Pride released what would become his biggest hit, "Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'", a million-selling crossover single that helped him land the Country Music Association's prestigious Entertainer of the Year award, as well as Top Male Vocalist. He won CMA's Top Male Vocalist award again in 1972. "Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'" became Pride's signature tune. Besides being a five-week country number one in late 1971 and early 1972, the song was also his only pop top-40 hit, hitting number 21, and reaching the top 10 of the Adult Contemporary charts, as well. Charlie Pride was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2000.

Kenny Rogers Kenneth Ray Rogers (born August 21, 1938) is a retired American singer, songwriter, actor, record producer, and entrepreneur. He is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. In the late 1950s, he started his recording career with jazz-singer Bobby Doyle and joined the folk ensemble The New Christy Minstrels in 1961, playing double bass and bass guitar as well as singing. In 1967, he and several members of The New Christy Minstrels left to found the group The First Edition, with whom he scored his first major hit, "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)", a psychedelic rock song which peaked at number five on the . As Rogers took an increased leadership role in The First Edition, and following the success of 1969's "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town", the band gradually changed styles to a more country feel. The band broke up in 1975–1976, and embarked on a long and successful solo career, which included several successful collaborations, including duets with singers and Sheena Easton, and a song writing partnership with Lionel Richie. His signature song is 1978's "The Gambler", a cross-over hit that won him a Grammy award in 1980 and was selected in 2018 for preservation in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress. He would develop the Gambler persona into a character for a successful series of television films starting with 1980's Emmy-nominated Kenny Rogers as The Gambler. Though he has been most successful with country audiences, Rogers has charted more than 120 hit singles across various music genres, topped the country and pop album charts for more than 200 individual weeks in the United States alone, and has sold over 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. On September 25, 2015, Rogers announced on NBC's Today Show that he was retiring from show business after a final tour to spend more time with his wife and twin sons. Two of his albums, The Gambler and Kenny, are featured in the About.com poll of "The 200 Most Influential Country Albums Ever". He was voted the "Favourite Singer of All Time" in a 1986 joint poll by readers of both USA Today and People. He has received numerous awards such as the AMAs, Grammys, ACMs and CMAs, as well as a lifetime achievement award for a career spanning six decades in 2003. Later success includes the 2006 album release, Water & Bridges, an across the board hit, that hit the Top 5 in the Billboard Country Albums sales charts, also charting in the Top 15 of the Billboard 200. The first single from the album, "I Can't Unlove You", was also a sizable chart hit. Remaining a popular entertainer around the world, he continued to tour regularly until his retirement in 2017. He has acted in a variety of movies and television shows, most notably the title roles in Kenny Rogers as The Gambler and the MacShayne series for The NBC Mystery Movie, and the 1982 feature film Six Pack. He is a co-founder of the restaurant chain Kenny Rogers Roasters in collaboration with former Kentucky Fried Chicken CEO John Y. Brown Jr.

Country Artists Creedence Clearwater revival Creedence Clearwater Revival (often referred to as Creedence or CCR) was an American rock band active in the late 1960s and early 1970s which consisted of lead vocalist, lead guitarist, and primary songwriter John Fogerty, his brother, rhythm guitarist Tom Fogerty, bassist Stu Cook and drummer Doug Clifford. These members had played together since 1959, first as the Blue Velvets and later as the Golliwogs. Their musical style encompassed roots rock, swamp rock, and . They played in a Southern rock style, despite their San Francisco Bay Area origin, with lyrics about bayous, catfish, the River and other popular elements of Southern United States iconography. Their songs rarely dealt with romantic love, concentrating instead on political and socially conscious lyrics about topics such as the Vietnam War. The band performed at the 1969 Woodstock festival in Upstate New York. The group disbanded acrimoniously in late 1972 after four years of chart-topping success. Tom Fogerty had officially left the previous year, and John was at odds with the remaining members over matters of business and artistic control, all of which resulted in subsequent lawsuits among the former bandmates. Fogerty's ongoing disagreements with Fantasy Records owner Saul Zaentz created further protracted court battles, and John Fogerty refused to perform with the two other surviving members at CCR's 1993 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Creedence Clearwater Revival's music is still a staple of U.S. classic rock radio airplay. The band has sold 28 million records in the United States alone. ranked them 82nd on its 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

The The Eagles are an American rock band formed in in 1971. The founding members were (guitars, vocals), (drums, vocals), (guitars, vocals) and (bass guitar, vocals). With five number-one singles, six number-one albums, six Grammy Awards, and five American Music Awards, the Eagles were one of the most successful musical acts of the 1970s. Their albums Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) and Hotel rank first and third, respectively, among the best-selling albums in the United States, with 38 million and 26 million album units in sales. The Eagles are one of the world's best-selling bands, having sold more than 200 million records, including 100 million albums sold in U.S alone. They were ranked number 75 on Rolling Stone's 2004 list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. Their debut album, Eagles (1972), spawned three top 40 singles: "", "", and "". Desperado (1973) was less successful, only reaching number 41 on the charts; neither of its singles reached the top 40. However, its songs "Desperado" and "Tequila Sunrise" became two of the band's most popular tracks. (1974) added guitarist and produced two top 40 singles: "Already Gone" and the Eagles' first number one, "Best of My Love". Their 1975 album included three top 10 singles: "One of These Nights", "Lyin' Eyes", and "Take It to the Limit", the first hitting the top of the charts. Guitarist and vocalist also joined the band in 1975, replacing Leadon. The Eagles continued that success and hit their commercial peak in late 1976 with the release of , which would go on to sell more than 26 million copies in the U.S. alone and more than 42 million copies worldwide. The album yielded two number-one singles, "" and "Hotel California". Meisner left the band in 1977 and was replaced by Timothy B. Schmit. They released their last studio album for nearly 28 years in 1979 with The Long Run, which spawned three top 10 singles: "", "The Long Run", and "I Can't Tell You Why", the lead single being another chart-topping hit. The Eagles broke up in July 1980 but reunited in 1994 for the album , a mix of live and new studio tracks. They toured consistently and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. In 2007, the Eagles released , their first full studio album in 28 years and their sixth number-one album. The next year they launched the Long Road Out of Eden Tour in support of the album. In 2013, they began the extended Tour in conjunction with the band's documentary release, History of the Eagles. Following Frey's death in January 2016 and a one-year hiatus, the Eagles re-formed in 2017, with Deacon Frey and Vince Gill sharing lead vocals for Frey's songs.

Outlaws Outlaws are an American southern rock/country rock band best known for their 1975 hit "There Goes Another Love Song" and extended guitar jam "Green Grass and High Tides" from their 1975 debut album, plus their 1980 cover of the Stan Jones classic "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky". While the Outlaws are generally considered to be a part of the Southern rock genre, there are distinct differences in their approach and their influences. Their primary similarity to other Southern rock bands is the dual lead guitar interplay, a defining characteristic of many Southern rock bands. However, the Outlaws’ mix of country and rock elements displays the vocal harmony influences of groups like Buffalo Springfield, the Byrds, Eagles, New Riders of the Purple Sage, and . Their use of three- and four-part harmonies set them apart from their contemporaries who usually relied on a single lead vocalist.

Music – General Year 11 Name:______Assessment Task 3 – Unit 1 Assessment Type: Cultural Investigation and Historic Analysis Test Formal test including analysis and short answer questions based on general cultural and historic features, development of country /era, key composers/artists and musical characteristics. Conditions When: Semester 1 Week 11 Time for the task: 100 minutes Task Weighting 10% of the total school mark for this pair of units

1) Describe country music.

______

/ 5 marks

2) Where do country music’s origins lie?

______

/5 marks

3) What were the two regular radio broadcast programs that helped popularise early country music and what did they do to help promote it?

______/4 marks 4) List the instruments commonly used in a country music band. ______

/5 marks

5) Why were the drums despised by early country musicians? ______

/2 marks

6) What are the three primary chords (I, IV & V) in G major? ______/3 marks

7) Chris Stapleton is one of the best melismatic singers in country music today. Describe Melismatic singing. ______/2 marks

8) What two chords are used in the song Tennessee Whiskey? ______

/2 marks

9) Why did John Denver testify in front of Congress?

______/2 marks

10) Whitney Houston had an international pop hit for which Dolly Parton song?

______/2 marks 11) What year did they name a highway in honour of Allan Jackson and what was it called? ______

/2 marks

12) Who was “The Man in Black” and why was he called this? ______

/2 marks

13) What is the time signature for the song “Drive” by Allan Jackson and how many beats should there be in every bar? ______

/2 marks

14) What were the names of the four members of Creedence Clearwater Revival? ______

/4 marks

15) What was Charlie Pride’s biggest hit and what year was it released? ______

/2 marks

16) Which two special achievements did Kenny Roger’s song “The Gambler” receive? ______

/2 marks

17) Which two Eagle’s albums rank first and third, respectively, among the best-selling albums in the United States and how many copies did each album sell? ______/4 marks

Total marks /50