9781422274354

Life in Appalachia during the early twentieth century was hard, and many people turned to music to relax after working long, hard hours in coal mines.

way to wind down after a long, difficult day was to gather on someone’s porch to play music, sing, and dance. Even today, many of the dances that accompany country songs can be traced back to traditional Irish jigs. These musicians had a strong faith that kept them going, and you could hear this in the heartfelt Christian hymns they sang. Even today, many country music artists include at least one spiritual when they perform a concert. The songs that arose spoke of everyday life for that was what mattered to those who performed. Love, family, work, and faith all were popular

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Chapter 1: Origins of Country Music

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