Country Music History

In the 20s and 30s radio was getting popular. If folks couldn’t afford a radio, they went to a friend or relative who had a radio. The innovative folks could make a crystal radio; these were simple and inexpensive.

Most folks had a radio. That’s what everyone did in the evenings, gathering around the radio listening to the news and country music.

A retired riverboat captain bought a church in Nashville and turned it into a country music auditorium. The Grand Ole Opry was born. It was broadcast over clear channel 650 WSM in Nashville.

Country music greats like the Carter family, Jimmy Rogers, Roy Acuff were some of the early performers. WWII was going on. A lot of performers were serving our country as did a lot of movie stars.

After the war, new performers came into the Grand Ole Opry – Tex Ritter, Hank Williams Sr. It was a man’s world. The Carters were about the only female performers at the time.

Kitty Wells, Patsy Cline, Jeannie Seely, Jean Shepard and many more followed. These ladies put female performers into the spotlight.

I’ve kinda skipped over some parts of country music history. I’ve kinda hit some of the high spots. I’ll try to bring it up to date next time.

God bless America.

Jon Cochran Sr.