Music's Impact On Country Music

Country music is often viewed as the whitest and most segregated genre of music; however, its roots are heavily focused on the working-class Black man. Evidence of African Americans’ involvement in the country genre can be dated decades back, however, as time continues on, their presence has come to a halt, since other genres such as hip-hop and R&B evolved and are more accepting of the Black community. DeFord Bailey, who was the first African American country artist, had a strong influence on the progression of country music, however, it took years after his death for him to get recognized in the Country Music Hall of Fame----mainly due to his race. The idea of white dominance in country music dates back to its beginnings when Black people were forced to hide the color of their skin in order to gain acceptance into the country community and develop a large fan base. DeFord Bailey, Charley Pride, and Darius Rucker clearly portray the difficulties of trying to become a successful African American country artist and portray the impact of African-Americans on country music while also challenging the white notions associated with the lyrics. Country music originated during the early 1920s in the rural South of the United States. DeFord Bailey, the first African-American country artist, is known for his involvement with the Grand Ole Opry and his ability to play the harmonica in a way that made the audience cheer in excitement despite his skin tone. Although it may