A friend asked me to do some writing on the history of country music. I’ll do the best I can.

The banjo is an old instrument, dating back to ancient Egypt. The fiddle. I’m not sure how far back it goes.

A lot of our ancestors played music, guitars, fiddles, some improvised, playing washboards.

I’m sure y’all have seen those makeshift instruments. When our ancestors came to this country, they worked very hard, building homes, clearing land.

Music was the only form of entertainment they had, and it was relaxing. A lot of the songs came from their country of origin. Families would get together and play music.

The Carter family was influential in a lot of songs we know today: “Will the Circle Be Unbroken,””Walk on the Sunny Side,” to name a few. Jimmy Rogers, another influential name in country music.

The black folks were influential in the blues music, passed down from slavery days. Their music had a great influence on country music. I’ll have more later, I could do some research and recalling.

I have a great love for country music,  most of us grew up listening to it. When I was growing up, lots of folks called it hick music. I guess I’m too much country; I love it.

More later.

God bless America!

Jon Cochran Sr.