After some eight years in the making, Ken Burns' newest documentary premiers this evening on your local PBS station:

Trailer | Country Music | PBS

Obviously Ken doesn’t have any true friends. If he did they would be honest with him and tell him his hair looks ridiculous.


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Just seen that on Fox and Friends.

It's funny that just last Friday I was having a few cold ones at the American Legion Post I'm a member of with another vet when I catch a glimpse of a 1967 Plymouth Barracuda pull into the parking lot.
Guy sits at the bar stool next to me.
Long hair and long Fumanchu mustache braided. Ordered a beer & cheeseburger.
So I ask him about the car.
He said his dad bought it brand new, when he was 7 or so.
He inherited it when his dad died.
Said he lived in Arkansas when he was a kid so my buddy asked him if he knew certain places and bars in that area.
He sure did.

Long story short that man told us he was in a local band and his buddy helped co-write Garth Brooks "Friends in Low Places".
The "Oasis" in that song was a bar in a hotel there where the drank when they were young.
Interesting guy, I hope he comes in again when I'm not as buzzed as I was that time.
Going to watch cause I'm hoping Garth explains the story of how he got that song.

Thanks for the heads up!
I will watch for sure.
One of our family stories goes like this -
During the Depression my Dad worked for the WPA.
We Pittle Around.
No - Wait - it’s Works Progress Administration.
He was building Barns and Sanitary Facilities in Arkansas.
Sanitary Facilities are Outhouses.
So this allowed my Dad to have a Ford Model A Coupe and a Victor windup record player.
And he had every Jimmie Rodgers record he could find.
For you non Country Folks, Jimmie Rodgers was the First Country Star, and one of the first recording stars of any genre.
Another other early Country Sensation were the Carter Family.
That’s why they are called The First Family of Country.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

Here are a couple of articles on the documentary:

Opinion | Country Music as Melting Pot - The New York Times

Ken Burns’s ‘Country Music’ Traces the Genre’s Victories, and Reveals Its Blind Spots - The New York Times

Ken Burns’s Delightful “Country Music” Gets the Big Things Mostly Right | The New Yorker

I will be watching for sure, Willie's Roadhouse on XM radio has been talking about it for weeks. The part I'm looking forward to the most is probably Ken's interview with Merle Haggard done shortly before Merle's death.

The PBS website has a lot of info on the making of the documentary series including a concert at the Ryman earlier this year.

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Super Snooper

It was given a good review in this morning's newspaper. Have never seen a Ken Burns documentary which wasn't good.

While channel surfing last Sunday night, I accidentally stumbled on a concert from the Ryman promoting this. I am long time country music fan and look forward to this series. Willie's Roadhouse is the music I listen to most on the radio, since it takes me back to my youth.

Hasn't it been somewhere around 30 years since Ken Burns' series on the Civil War? I thought that was excellent, as I did his series on baseball in the mid-nineties. I understand a few years ago he did one on Jazz (which I did not watch - I remember thinking at the time "why doesn't he do one on country music"). Not sure what else he may have done. I hardly ever watch PBS anymore, but I am planning on watching this. I hope Ken Burns treats county music right.

Does Ken Burns do anything else besides make a documentary series on PBS every ten or so years?

I will definitely watch this as he is a masterful storyteller. My favorites from him are:

"The Civil War" (Ashokan Farewell is a permanent earworm)

"Jazz"

"Baseball"

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

Just finished Episode 1, and really enjoyed it. Not knowing a lot about the history of country music, I found the documentary fascinating. Never knew anything about Jimmy Rodgers or The Carter Family or Bristol, VA being the birthplace of country. Also didn't know so many radio stations were started by businesses as mouthpieces for promoting their products, including the famed WSM in Nashville and how one of its shows evolved in The Grand Ol' Opry. Already looking forward to Episode 2 tomorrow night.

By the way, one of North Carolina's rising new country artists, Rhiannon Giddens, has several cameos as a commentatory in this episode.

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Ukraine -- now more than ever

The first episode is a great history lesson and if you're a country music fan even better.

That first episode is gold! Imagine the serendipity Ralph Peer must have felt when out of the blue he discovers and records The Carter Family AND Jimmie Rodgers in just a few days. I know some music history but never knew of that little nugget. This is gonna be a good week.

All his films are so well done.

Click here and watch! Episode #1

Country Music | A Film by Ken Burns | Ken Burns

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Still Running Against the Wind

I was familiar with the Carter Family history but not that of Jimmy Rodgers or the fact that they were originally recorded in Bristol, TN.
Saw Mother Maybelle Carter with June & Anita in the early 60's when they toured with Johnny Cash.

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Super Snooper

Watching this show was bittersweet after seeing Jimmie Rodgers’ great nephew Aaron* hold off the Vikings.

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Not in jail.

It was very entertaining. I learned that "Wildwood Flower" was the "Walk Don't Run", "Blackbird", "Stairway", "Sultans of Swing", "Eruption" and "Texas Flood" of its day. Every guitar player wore out frets scrambling to learn it.

I am a victim. Two years after I started learning to play, I begged dad for a better guitar. He said: "fine..learn to play "Wildwood Flower" and "Under the Double Eagle" for me...correctly... and I will
move you up the ladder.

I did (even though I wasn't enamored with either tune) and he did. I had pigeon-holed that memory but this show brought it, and others, happily stampeding towards the barn.

I highly recommend watching this to anyone...even if you're not a music fan. It's a large slice of history and the human condition.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

I'm a student (beginner level) of early country music, old time mountain music and bluegrass and live in the Blue Ridge mountains of Southwest Virginia, right near a number of places that were mentioned Sunday night. Thankfully, the music lives on down here, with lots of young folks learning to play. There is music played almost every night of the week, within 20 miles of my house.

I'm hoping that the documentary covers the old time string and bluegrass music in detail.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Perhaps surprisingly, there is a pretty active bluegrass scene here in Minnesota. I wouldn’t call myself even a student, but I usually go to a local bluegrass festival, and will catch it when I find bluegrass performed locally.

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Not in jail.

i didnt hear them mention these guys in the program...they are one of my favorite groups from yesterdays.....

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There's nowt so queer as folk

IIRC, one of Gid Tanner and his Skillet Lickers' hits was "When it's peach pickin' time in Georgia".

Tuesday night's program is supposed to be about bluegrass and Hank Williams, so hopefully it will get into the old time string bands.

I really love me some clawhammer banjer playing!

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Peach picking time in Georgia?
That’s a Jimmie Rodgers Song!
He a co-writer.
On a Jimmie Tribute album a few back, Willie sang a kind of weak low energy version.
On that same album, Allison Krause does a Home Run on -
Any Old Time.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

I've always loved bluegrass and old time string band music. This show was excellent. I love how Burns illustrates the narrative with photographs. Not sure about upcoming episodes. Definitely not a fan of modern corporate country music.

Ditto. If they get to Taylor Swift, I'll probably turn it off.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

There is a museum in Bristol dedicated to that first recording session that they talk about. My wife and I stumbled across it on our trip to Texas last year. Lots of info and pics and artifacts that go back to the earliest days of country music which makes it a "must see" if you are into early country.

I think the closest they will get to modern "corporate country" will be Garth. I can live with that.

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Super Snooper

My wife is a pianist and plays the pipe organ, as well.
She's classically trained.

Even given that, she has watched some of Mr. Burn's latest effort,
and even enjoyed some of it. The photographs illustrating it help
I think. They are good shots, and fit the story.

What little I have been able to watch has been great. I love the old twang country music. Can’t stand the hip hop country of today. My wife and I love music and history so it’s a no brainer for us. Very well done.
Also brings back some good memories.

I always knew what an influence Hank Williams was to country music but I didn't realize what a prolific song writer he was. Like Kris Kristofferson said, Can you imagine the music we would have if Hank had lived as long as me, Kris is in his 80's.

Tonight will feature Patsy Cline. Considering Willie Nelson wrote "Crazy" he'll probably have some input.

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Super Snooper

If I remember right the Ken Burns said the History of Country Music series does not go past 1995.

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Dogs are better than people.

It's been good so far. Although it will continue through to Garth Brooks my interest will wane after they get past Web Pierce and Kitty Wells.

I hope they can fit Lyle Lovett in there. There had better be some George Jones, too.

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Not in jail.

Wow, the Hank Williams part of last night was amazing. What was most astounding, though, was that he was only 29 when he died. What an incredible lyricist and musician that man was, and what a tragedy to have lost him so young.

I'm still awed by the fact that so many of the early country music stars were regular folks who decided against what must have seemed all odds to try to make their mark, and that so many of them did. I'm loving the way Ken Burns is telling their stories, and it's too bad he doesn't have about twice as much time to spend with some of them.

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Ukraine -- now more than ever

Just finished the first 4 episodes, so far it has been a great history lesson.

Takes me back to listening to old country music with my grandfather when I was a kid.

Ah, the music of Patsy Cline, born in the tiny town of Gore, Virginia, NW of Winchester. She and her mama lived on the wrong side of the tracks in Winchester.

My dad told me that he used to eat breakfast in the Hot Shoppes in Washington DC in the '50s. He said that Patsy and Jimmy Dean would come in and eat also. He told me that Patsy was sweet and Jimmy was loud and boisterous.

I've read several books on Patsy and Jimmy. Patsy was, well, very friendly to the opposite sex.

She had such a beautiful voice. Like so many others, she was gone too soon.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Tonight's installment was well worth the watch. Ray Charles is near the top of my 'all time' list.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

I had never associated the Everly Brothers with country music but now I can understand it. At the time that I saw the Everly Brothers country to me was Johnny Cash.

I believe I caught an error tonight, the Everly Brothers were from Shenandoah, Iowa and got their start on KMA radio station there.
I'm not sure what was said but I don't think there was any mention of Iowa.

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Super Snooper

He's a dog!

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

How many different programs make up this series? I thought I heard there were eight of them. They were shown here beginning Sunday night and follwed on Monday thru Wednesday nights. But there was no program on Thursday night. Anybody know the scheduling for all the showings?

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So long ... Ken

I think it picks back up again this Sunday (Sept. 22) thru Wednesday (Sept. 25), but I am not 100% sure.

You can stream the first four episodes here.

Country Music | Episode Guide | Ken Burns

Yes, the remaining four episodes run this coming Sunday through Wednesday.

I missed the airing of Episode 4: 1953-1963 so streamed it last night. Johnny Cash and Elvis home movies?! Phenomenal! That was a treat.

But I got a few nits to pick. Now, I realize that even with the comprehensive 16-hour treatment there are going to be some things left out. I found it odd that they spent so much time on Hawkshaw Hawkins but hardly mentioned Cowboy Copas. Yeah, they both perished in the same plane crash with Patsy Cline, but it would have been good to give Copas a bit more treatment as they did Hawkins. His contribution was significant.

The really odd thing to me though was the complete absence of Johnny Horton! With "Battle Of New Orleans" the man had the number one song -- of all genres -- in 1959 and won a Grammy for it in 1960. He also perished in a tragic accident, and he sold one heck of a lot more records than Hawkshaw Hawkins. Nary a mention of him. Weird.

Lastly, relegating Ike Everly to "just a barber" with a pair of sons who hit it big is a real let down. In addition to his many years as a successful performer, Everly was one of the originators of the Muhlenberg thumb-picking style on guitar. This style was later made famous by Merle Travis and became known as Travis-style picking. Merle learned the foundations of it personally from Ike Everly.

Nevertheless, this has been one magnificent viewing experience and I look forward to the next four installments.

I was having withdrawals last night without a new episode to watch.

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Super Snooper

Great production! Some of the music reminds me of when my first love ditched me. Y'all know you never forget your first love, right?

Thanks to all of you who answered my question about scheduling of the programs. I have my TV set to record all of them so I won't miss anything! I'll be ready for it on Sunday night!! I grew up listening to the singers portrayed in the first four episodes. I continued listening to probably most all those who will be spotlighted in the final four. Sure brings back a lot of good memories for me. The radio was a constant presence in my life from day one!

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So long ... Ken

I finally got to see the first two episodes. Very informative so far. Episode 1 really covered the origins of Country Music. Episode 2 covered the early evolution. Being a Bob Wills fan, I really enjoyed that story, warts and all.

I can access 3 & 4 On Demand and have 5-8 set to record. I expect that 3 will cover Ernest Tubb and Hank Williams among other famous artists of the late 40 and 50s.

I was a little surprised not to see mention of "Moon Mullican" in the first two episodes. He was a honky tonk piano player and singer that influenced Jim Reeves, Jerry Lee Lewis, Hank Williams, Hank Snow, Elvis Presley, and Bill Haley.

If he is or isn't in the documentary, please don't spoil the surprise for me.

Here is perhaps his most famous song,

YouTube

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Can open, worms everywhere.

An interesting out take, my local country FM station normally plays mostly the newer stuff but for the past week has been playing a lot more of the older classic country.

A bit of useless trivia, The show poster that was shown for Johnny Cash in Des Moines in 1964, I was there.

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Super Snooper

The whole series has been great. Two to go.
I have noticed something and hope I can articulate this and make sense and a point.
All country fans know haggard, jones, etc.
all rock fans know hendrix, walsh, etc.
all jazz fans know armstong, etc.

The musicians who are so passionate about music more then the genre seem to be timeless and respected by music fans regardless of genre.
Examples would be, Johnny Cash, Charlie Daniels, Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and others.
I’m sure you can name some.
I guess I’ve made my point, being, those who are passionate about it have the respect of those who are not fans. Hope that made sense.

Tonight’s episode really did it for me. A little bit of George and Tammy, Dylan playing with Johnny Cash. I had no real appreciation for Kris Kristofferson’s songwriting until watching this one.

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Not in jail.

And, music fans everywhere said: "amen"!

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Music/Sports/Beer fan