What is Americana Music?
Sometimes Called Alt-Country, is Hybrid of Folk, Country, and Rock
According to the Americana Music Association, “Americana is music that honors and is derived from the traditions of American roots music.” In a nutshell this is the truth. However, in addition to being an amalgam of American music hybrids, Americana is also a genre contrived by the radio industry to give a home for those musicians that fall between the cracks between modern genres.
The Roots of Americana Music
Although the roots of Americana lie in the American Folk and Blues of the early 20th Century and the Rock and Country of the mid-century, Americana truly began to come together as its own genre in the 1970’s.
By the 1970’s, Folk and Rock Music had spawned a fusion known, fittingly, as Folk-Rock (R. Lankford “Folk Music USA). Bands such as the Flying Burrito Brothers, The Byrds, and The Band created a new sound combining the best elements of the two Genres. One member of both the Byrds and the Flying Burrito Brothers, Gram Parsons, who would later be revered as the god father of Americana (“Gram Parsons” rhapsody.com).
At the same time in Country Music, a movement was forming away from its traditional center in Nashville. This movement became known as Outlaw Country and was in direct contrast to the Nashville music industry as the tight control producers had over the artists and their music (“Outlaw Country“ Rhapsody.com).
Some of these innovators included Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Guy Clark, and Townes Van Zandt. Outlaw Country replaced the overproduced Nashville sound with a rawer roots sound more reminiscent of early country musicians such as Hank Williams and Jimmy Rodgers, along with lyrics unbleached by mainstream music.
The Alt-Country Movement and the Americana Radio Format
As Rhapsody.com puts it, “Alt-Country is basically Hank Williams interpreted by bands who grew up on the Replacements.” In the 1990’s, Folk-Rock and Outlaw Country began to merge with other, smaller influences, all coming together in a giant musical stew. With the sneer of Outlaw Country, the songwriting of Folk Rockers, and a healthy dose of Rock and Roll, diverse bands such as Uncle Tupelo, the Old 97’s, and the Jayhawks, along with roots rockers like Steve Earle and Lucinda Williams, developed their own large followings.
Alt-Country developed enough of a following to make radio stations want to cash in. The problem was that Alt-Country was too Rock for Country stations, and too Country for Rock Stations, and neither format was comfortable with the edgier lyrics.
Radio stations decided to create a new format to suit this developing genre. Backed by the newly founded Americana Music Association, whose mission is to “provide a forum for the advocacy of Americana music and to promote public awareness of the genre,” Americana found a niche in the modern American musical spectrum.
Some Important Americana Artists
- Uncle Tupelo-- One of the first Alt-Country bands. Later spawned the bands Wilco and Son Volt.
- Gram Parsons-- Singer-Songwriter whose music was highly influential on Americana as it developed.
- Lucinda Williams-- Singer-Songwriter who achieved fame with her raw lyrics and unique voice.
- Ry Cooder-- Guitar genius whose style has influenced everyone from the Rolling Stones to Los Lobos. According to Rhapsody.com, Cooder is probably the one who taught Keith Richards how to play in open tunings.
- T Bone Burnett-- Songwriter and producer who is most famous for producing the soundtrack to O Brother Where Art Thou, sparking a new interest in “old time” and American roots music.
Some Americana Starter CDs
- Sweetheart of the Rodeo-- The Byrds
- Car Wheels on a Gravel Road-- Lucinda Williams
- Mermaid Avenue-- Billy Bragg & Wilco, with lyrics by Woody Guthrie
- I Feel Alright-- Steve Earle
- Hit By A Train-- Old 97’s
- Heartbreaker-- Ryan Adams
The Future of Americana Music
Americana continues to grow as a genre, as a new generation of musicians with their own influences pick up their guitars. Youngsters like Justin Townes Earle and the Felice Brothers push the genre in new directions while old veterans like Levon Helm continue to release CDs the equal of past work. In short, as long as their is American music, Americana is not going anywhere.
Todd Snider Is an Americana Musician
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