To this day, the Carter Family is widely considered as the most influential group in country music and are commonly known as the first family of country music. Their style of play was responsible for influencing several genres of music that is played today including, country, bluegrass, rock and Southern Gospel. Several of their songs, such as “Wasbash Cannonball” and “Can the Circle Be Unbroken” set the standards for what is country music. The Carter Family, all born and raised in Virginia, was comprised of Alvin Pleasant “A.P.” Carter, his wife Sara Carter, and Sara’s cousin Maybelle Carter. Maybelle Carter was married to A.P.’s brother Ezra Carter. Sara was the lead singer, while Maybelle played guitar and A.P. sang harmony and background
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and Sara unfortunately didn’t last as they got divorced in 1936, but the group continued to record music and perform together. In the late 1930’s, the Carter Family traveled down to Texas where they had their own radio show. In 1939 and 1940, A.P and Sara’s children along with the children of Maybelle joined the Carter Family on their radio show. In 1942, the Carter’s left Texas and moved their radio show to Charlotte, North Carolina. In 1944, the group split up because Sara married Coy Bayes, cousin of A.P., and moved to California. Although the group split up, Maybelle, along with her three daughters, continued to perform as the “The Carter …show more content…
First of all, the Carter Family music represented a new sound and style that hadn't been heard before. In the mid-1920's, not a lot of people had radios and if they did they were probably subjected to listen to classical or even jazz music. When the Carter Family music hit the radio waves, most people were probably taken back with what they heard. What they heard was not your typical professional musicians, rather they heard normal folks who sounded like themselves, their neighbors, their friends, or members of their church group. Therefore, people, especially those people who lived in rural areas, were able to connect with them on a personal level and thought of them as normal people. Also, back in those days, musical instruments were the primary importance of early "hillbilly" music, not the actual vocals. The Carter Family, with their harmonies, were able to use their instruments in such a way that it complemented and not overshadowed their
and Sara unfortunately didn’t last as they got divorced in 1936, but the group continued to record music and perform together. In the late 1930’s, the Carter Family traveled down to Texas where they had their own radio show. In 1939 and 1940, A.P and Sara’s children along with the children of Maybelle joined the Carter Family on their radio show. In 1942, the Carter’s left Texas and moved their radio show to Charlotte, North Carolina. In 1944, the group split up because Sara married Coy Bayes, cousin of A.P., and moved to California. Although the group split up, Maybelle, along with her three daughters, continued to perform as the “The Carter …show more content…
First of all, the Carter Family music represented a new sound and style that hadn't been heard before. In the mid-1920's, not a lot of people had radios and if they did they were probably subjected to listen to classical or even jazz music. When the Carter Family music hit the radio waves, most people were probably taken back with what they heard. What they heard was not your typical professional musicians, rather they heard normal folks who sounded like themselves, their neighbors, their friends, or members of their church group. Therefore, people, especially those people who lived in rural areas, were able to connect with them on a personal level and thought of them as normal people. Also, back in those days, musical instruments were the primary importance of early "hillbilly" music, not the actual vocals. The Carter Family, with their harmonies, were able to use their instruments in such a way that it complemented and not overshadowed their