List of country performers by era

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Below is a list of notable country performers alphabetically by period, with each listing followed by a description of the artists' work.

Contents

Early innovators

Performers of the Golden Age in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s

Country rock performers

Early 1980s country-music performers

Late-1980s country-music performers

Early-1990s country-music performers

Late-1990s country-music performers

20002009 country-music performers

Modern country-music performers, since 2010

See also

Related Research Articles

Country is a music genre originating in the southern regions of the United States, both the American South and the Southwest. First produced in the 1920s, country music is primarily focused on singing stories about working-class and blue-collar American life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rockabilly</span> Early style of rock and roll music

Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music. It dates back to the early 1950s in the United States, especially the South. As a genre, it blends the sound of Western musical styles such as country with that of rhythm and blues, leading to what is considered "classic" rock and roll. Some have also described it as a blend of bluegrass with rock and roll. The term "rockabilly" itself is a portmanteau of "rock" and "hillbilly", the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style. Other important influences on rockabilly include western swing, boogie-woogie, jump blues, and electric blues.

Outlaw country is a subgenre of American country music created by a small group of artists active in the 1970s and early 1980s, known collectively as the outlaw movement, who fought for and won their creative freedom outside of the Nashville establishment that dictated the sound of most country music of the era. Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, David Allan Coe and Jerry Jeff Walker were among the movement's most commercially successful members.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marty Stuart</span> American musician (born 1958)

John Marty Stuart is an American country and bluegrass music singer, songwriter, and musician. Active since 1968, Stuart initially toured with Lester Flatt, and then in Johnny Cash's road band before beginning work as a solo artist in the early 1980s. He is known for his combination of rockabilly, country rock, and bluegrass music influences, his frequent collaborations and cover songs, and his distinctive stage dress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kitty Wells</span> American country music singer (1919–2012)

Ellen Muriel Deason, known professionally as Kitty Wells, was an American pioneering female country music singer. She broke down a barrier for women in country music with her 1952 hit recording "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels", which also made her the first female country singer to top the U.S. country charts and turned her into the first female country superstar. “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels” would also be her first of several pop crossover hits. Wells is the only artist to be awarded top female vocalist awards for 14 consecutive years. Her chart-topping hits continued until the mid-1960s, paving the way for and inspiring a long list of female country singers who came to prominence in the 1960s.

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1978.

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1979.

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1984.

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1985.

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1987.

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1970.

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in 1969.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels</span> 1952 song performed by Kitty Wells

"It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" is a 1952 country song written by J. D. "Jay" Miller, and recorded by Kitty Wells. It was an answer song to the Hank Thompson hit "The Wild Side of Life". First performed by Al Montgomery as "Did God Make Honky Tonk Angels" on the Feature label which was owned by songwriter J.D. Miller.

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1952.

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anita Carter</span> American singer-songwriter

Ina Anita Carter was an American singer who played upright bass, guitar, and autoharp. She performed with her sisters, Helen and June, and her mother, Maybelle, initially under the name The Carter Sisters and Mother Maybelle. Carter had three top ten hits as well as other charting singles. She was the first to record the songs "Blue Boy" and "Ring of Fire". Carter was also a songwriter, most notably co-writing the Johnny Cash hit "Rosanna's Going Wild."

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in 2017.

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in 2021.

References

  1. "Randall Franks | Country Music".
  2. 1 2 "Mike Lunsford and Whiskey River Band - July 1990 -".
  3. Encyclopedia of Country Music. p. 106.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "100 Greatest Country Artists of All Time". Rolling Stone. June 15, 2017.
  5. Music City News, Grand Ole Opry Birthday Celebration December 1984
  6. 1 2 "Ringgold's Randall Franks inducted into America's Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame". 14 October 2019.
  7. "Randall Franks | Country Music".
  8. 1 2 "Previous Inductees".