American Roots Music

Explore a period in which different strands of roots music become commercialized and visible through movies, television, radio and records. Concurrently, “folk music” is redefined to include newly written music for songs that often deal with social causes. Roots music is influenced by the labor movement, WWII, urban migration, progressive politics and the McCarthy era. We see how roots genres, particularly country, are evolving. From the popularization of cowboy and western music through movies and radio to the development of western swing by charismatic band leader, Bob Wills, the creation of Bluegrass by Bill Monroe and Earl Scruggs and the innovations of “honky tonk” artists including Ernest Tubb, Lefty Frizzell and Hank Williams, country music is sprouting many branches from its roots. This episode also highlights the early folk revival with the emergence of Woody Guthrie and the recording of Lead Belly by John and Alan Lomax. Finally, we trace the origins of the blues scene in Memphis from a small radio station down in Helena, Arkansas where the blues were first broadcast to Elvis Presley's first big hit with Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup's blues song “That's All Right Mama.” Commentary in this episode is provided by Earl Scruggs, Merle Haggard, Marty Stuart, Arlo Guthrie, Sam Phillips, Kitty Wells and B.B. King among many others.

Trace the continuing emergence of American roots music through a national awareness catalyzed by the folk and blues revivals. Gospel music's golden years are explored in this episode, from the Golden Gate Quartet to Rosetta Tharpe, Mahalia Jackson, and the crossover success of the Staple Singers. Urban migration from the Mississippi Delta to Chicago fosters the electrification of the blues, producing such giants as Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf. During this period, folk music and the blues become intertwined with youth culture and social and political causes like the Civil Rights and anti-war movements. The Newport Folk Festival presents a mixture of traditional blues, gospel and country artists with popular “folk” and protest singers of the time. Blues bands integrate and begin playing for integrated audiences, and Bob Dylan, the most prolific singer/songwriter of the generation, goes electric, causing quite a stir in the “folk” community. Commentary in this episode is provided by Mavis Staples, Bonnie Raitt, Peter Yarrow, Pete Seeger, John Sebastian, Keith Richards, James Cotton and B.B. King among many others.

Explore the reassessment of diverse ethnic musics previously excluded from American “folk” music, and their inclusion in a redefined “American roots music.” This episode describes the flourishing of Cajun culture in southwest Louisiana, the popularization of tejano music in south Texas, and the evolution of Native American music forms. We round out the series by exploring the state of American roots music today - where the blues, country and gospel genres are now and where they are headed in the 21st century. Commentary in this episode is provided by Marc and Ann Savoy, Steve Riley, Flaco Jimenez, Edwin Hawkins, Robbie Robertson, Floyd Westerman, and Robert Mirabal among many others.