The Rubrics
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5/28/2006 5:00:53 PM
Interesting American Music History Lesson
I was reading some threads in the forum and came across the announcement of KIAC's Country Radio station. The response was very interesting...pictures of Jed Clampett and "YeeHa's" punctuate the thread. Then I went back to our own picture gallery of the Rubrics' Musical Influences and looked at the vintage photos of some 1920s "country" stars, all dapperly dressed in styles that would have made them indistinguishable from any northern musician of the time. And I asked myself, what happened? What effect did Nashville, the Grand Old Oprey, and the like have on the marketing and presentation of country music? Did the country artist need to play into northern stereotypes, and their fictitious romantic rural pasts in order to be "consecrated" by the country music establishment? When did Minnie Pearl's and Grandpa Jones' fashion statements become a requirement of country roleplaying? (Grandpa Jones dressed like a "grandpa" when he was in his 20s) Has this reinforced stereotypes that make certain musical styles almost impossible to do without carrying along a certain bit of condescension and ridicule (even by some of the performers doing the music)? How many times have I been asked whether I have all my teeth? Can you play "Deliverance"? (No, but I can do Black Sabbath, T.Rex, and the Incredible String Band on the banjo! :-)
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