American Roots Music

What is American Roots Music?

•Includes a wide range of genres

•Country, bluegrass, folk, jigs and reels, blues

•Instrumental and vocal music

•Famous examples of artists in this style: Alison Krauss, Pete Seeger, Bill Monroe, The Carter Family

The Ballad

•Storytelling lyrics

•Often features a cappella singing

•Sad tales, religious themes are common—sometimes in the same song

Pete Seeger

Instrumental Music of the Appalachians

•Fiddle, banjo, and guitar

•Instruments came from a variety of locations and cultures.Example: Banjo was brought to the United States by African slaves.

•The music itself also reflected influences from other countries. English, Irish, and Scottish music are especially prevalent.

The Carter Family

•Alvin “A.P.” Carter, Sara Dougherty Carter,Maybelle Addington Carter

•Popularity rose in conjunction with the rise of recorded music.

•Bristol Sessions in 1927

•”The Big Bang” of country music

The Carter Family

The Influence of the Carter Family

Joan Baez

•Bob Dylan-Wayworn Traveller to Paths of Victory

•Joan Baez -Wildwood Flower-Gospel Ship-Engine 143

Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys

•Father of bluegrass

•Creator of the now standard bluegrass instrumentation: fiddle, banjo, mandolin, guitar, bass

•Notable for having multiple virtuosomusicians in the band: Lester Flatt,Earl Scruggs

•Blue Moon of Kentucky

Bill Monroe

Blue Moon of Kentucky

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffhqOy_A8KM

The Folk Revival

Pete Seeger

•1940’s-1960’s

•Renewed interest in American folkmusic

•The Weavers (included Pete Seeger)

•Famous songs performed by The Weavers-Goodnight Irene-On Top of Old Smoky-Sloop John B.

Goodnight Irene

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jj3s8qq3kU4

American Roots Music Today

•The music lives on

•Alison Krauss and Union Station, Gillian Welch, Old Crow Medicine Show

•O Brother Where Art Thou -Grammy awards for album of theyear and soundtrack album of the year (2002)

Alison Krauss