10 Things I Learned from Ken Burns' Country Music Documentary 

I loved the documentary so, so, so much. One notable thing: In decades past, record companies and producers stuck with an artist even if they didn't sell. From 1962-72, Willie Nelson made 14 records. Many of them didn't chart at all. Other artists had similar career experiences. You would never, in a million years, see something like that today. The best thing about the documentary was being reminded of musicians I hadn't thought about in years. Out of all the songs featured, the one that got stuck in my head was "Streets of Bakersfield". Such a fun song/duet! I'd totally forgotten how much I appreciate Buck Owens.

I watched it from start to finish. I've read criticisms about omissions but nowhere does it say complete history of country music. A new audience has been exposed via PBS. Good job Ken Burns.

Kristofferson was a renaissance man: a janitor, a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford, an Airborne Ranger helicopter pilot, a boxer, an actor, and a country music star. And for what it's worth, my favorite album featuring his songs is Waylon Jennings' The Taker/Tulsa from 1971. It has four Kristofferson compositions.

Usually when people ask me what kind of music I like, my answer is "I like almost anything...except country." I honestly can't say that anymore. At first my interest in this documentary was strictly as a music lover wanting to understand something I didn't. It grew into something way more. I loved that he delved into the history of how much of a mish mash of sounds Country came from. I have a whole new respect for Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson in particular. One of the most important things I learned, was that I actually know, and like more country music than I realized. Having grown up in 70's/80's rural, predominantly white mid-Michigan, the radio station played more country music than anything else, but at the time I just considered it music. I wasn't thinking about the differences between what I was hearing from Kenny Rogers and Eagles. It was all just music. I also learned, some of the older stuff I like, because it just sounded good. The voices, the mixture of sounds, and some of the most heartbreaking lyrics...we can all relate to one song or another. Now when I'm asked, "What kind of music do you like", I can honestly say "Music"!

The thing I learned that shocked me the most was how young Patsy Cline was when she died. I had NO idea she was that young. She sounded so mature that I assumed she had to have been mid-40’s maybe when “Crazy” came out. Crazy that Willie Nelson wrote it! Never knew all these connections existed! So amazing!

The documentary was so good! I watched the whole thing with my mother & grandmother. I knew a lot already about country music being raised on it but there was so much to learn. And it was fun to here my family’s stories through the decades about what they loved and remembered.

Pretty happy he covered my favorite, Townes Van Zandt. Man is a genius.

no one: grady: NEXT 👏🏻 THING 👏🏻

I got the it on DVD for my birthday, my favorite is disc one where they talk about rural folk music old time music like banjos and fiddle roots music. I love Old Time Music.

Thanks for this. I also really loved Ken Burns' doc series - but I'm coming at it from sort of the opposite perspective as you. I'm an old-time and bluegrass fiddler who mostly plays with alt-folk acts and singer-songwriters. I think sometimes my community can be guilty of snobbery and a tendency to look down on Nashville and commercialized country, and think only the older stuff is "authentic" - and seeing the later episodes helped me see how much great music I missed out on by not taking country music seriously. I think Marty Stewart said some things I really appreciated like that "of course the music is always changing, but there's also always going to be something calling us back to our roots." There are all these recordings that I was tempted to not take seriously by George Jones and Loretta Lynn and Dwight Yokum - and I was amazed to learn how much musical excellence went into the songwriting and recording. So I'm really grateful for Ken Burns to push me out of my prejudices and open up my ears to a really rich musical universe.

Marty Stuart said it perfectly when he said as far as guitar players, there’s Maybelle Carter and then everyone else.

My grandpa produced some of the biggest names in bluegrass in the 70’s. They were playing a show in Roanoke and the sound system at the venue was down. Merle Haggard saved the day by loaning them his semi full of speakers. I always think of my grandpas story when I think of Merle haggard.

Johnny Cash and June Carter owned a house in Virginia near where The Carter Family lived. I would see them occasionally at the grocery store. They were the most gracious people, it must have taken them hours to do their shopping because they stopped and talked to everyone, they were so beloved as are all of the Carters. My nephew is engaged to one of Sarah and AP Carter's great great granddaughters. Also being from Southwest Virginia many people from here migrated to Eastern Kentucky in the 1800's so through genealogy research I've learned that I share common ancestors with Patty Loveless, Loretta Lynn, and Chris Stapleton.

Ken Burns is such a master storyteller. He recounts these immense decades-spanning stories, yet always finds the most compelling details. For example, I never knew that Roger Miller, then just an obscure Nashville songwriter, joined the search for Patsy Cline's plane and was the one who first spotted the wreckage. Or that Mother Maybelle Carter was the one to bring Chet Atkins to Nashville, standing off all the established guitarists who tried to keep him out for fear he would take away their jobs (which he did! :) ) Or how, when The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band came to Nashville to record what would become the classic album "Will The Circle Be Unbroken," it was Maybelle's early agreement to join them that would convince the other old-time stars to also participate. Or how "Poncho and Lefty" made its way from Townes Van Zandt through Emmylou Harris to Willie & Merle. It's like a great multi-generation novel with an enormous cast of characters that remain connected.

My mom is a HUGE Kristofferson fan and raised me on his music, so I feel like I've had kind of the opposite experience with him to most people's - I keep forgetting other people recorded his songs and made them famous, when most of the time I've only ever heard *his* versions. A lot of people think of Janis Joplin when they hear Me and Bobby McGee, but I think Kris's version is one of the best country songs of all time.

I have lived and breathed Country Music my whole 70 years. I loved the early history that I had never heard before. I was four when Hank Sr died and in high school when Patsy Cline died. Before Hank I was not educated about the earlier years.. That was so interesting! One of the best things I learned is that my impression of Faron Young was way off. Never judge a book by the cover lesson learned once more in my life. I loved his voice but had never bought any of his records because I thought him to be like a smart aleck with the short man syndrome and a hot headed temper. I may also be correct, but I learned he also had a kind side and generous with his support of the first black man, Charlie Pride, to sing country music. Also his lending Willie Nelson $500 instead of letting Willie sell the rights to his song , which when the royalty check came it, Willie paid him back with a big ole kiss on his lips! I have enjoyed every minute of the show and may just have to watch again in case I missed something!!!!! P.S. I stopped listening to Country Radio because Country Music is not aired any more! I listen to more Americana Music, EmiSunshine is the future of Real Country Music at 15 years old and writing her own songs. Please take a listen to her. She lead me to appreciate artist like Tyler Childers, Chris Knight, Jason Isbell, Matt Woods, Chris Stapleton, Cody Jinks, Stirgil Simpson,etc. There are so many awesome entertainers not on Country Radio.

I actually found your channel because of the Ken Burns doc and have watched a lot of your videos since then. Great stuff, man. Keep it up!!

I was surprised to find out that Shel Silverstein wrote a couple of my favorite songs like A Boy Named Sue

I learned to not get above my raisin 😂

I found it interesting how the country music's early growth was so tied with the explosion of radio, and how the conglomeration of radio recently has narrowed it's scope. (or at least the scope of what makes it on country radio)

Now we need a sequel covering the truck driving craze that led to Smoky and the Bandit. A flirtation with disco country in the early 70's. And the influence of Crystal Gayle, Eddie Rabbit and Kenny Rogers on Country Pop.

I just finished episode 2. What I was happily surprised to learn so far is just how much women, and African Americans influenced early country music. I think that's really cool. It was also cool that so many artists joined the war effort in WW2.

Learned that “Johnny” from Devil Went Down to Georgia was Fiddling John Carson

early,early country and western music from around the 1900s through the 1950s.very rock n roll.proto rock n roll.rock n roll at large wouldn't obviously exist without folk,jazz,blues and of course country.

I LOVE Ken Burns documentaries. They’re always fantastic and I can’t wait to watch this one.

My husband and I loved the documentary. We both came away with a deeper appreciation for country music but also the different artists themselves. It was 16 hours well spent! 😊

LOVED the doc! Thanks for your vid....much appreciated.

Thanks for doing this. I freaking loved the Ken Burns series so I am really glad you made a video on it.

I learnt so much from this great series. Ken Burns is a terrific documentary film maker. Ps Jason And The Scorchers have been the greatest country rock band of the last thirty years. Just my opinion of course.

Great recap Grady. I was glued to the TV watching this documentary. I learned alot too & plan to watch again sometime. I have been listening to country music since and enjoying it! I have enjoyed many of Ken Burns documentaries. Thanks for your enthusiasm and for sharing your thoughts.

Thanks for this! Haven’t got around to watching the whole thing yet.

If my mother had been alive when it was released, she would have bought a copy of the DVD set of the Country Music doc. I know for certain she wouldn't have missed a second of the PBS broadcast.

Nice roundup and impressions. I loved it and was glad to see my girl Emmylou get credit for her long commitment to country music. Burns and his staff took years to make this doc. The sound mixing of the music and interviews and narration was superb!

Never heard of this channel but so happy to see someone covering this. I just finished it it was my favorite by Ken. I’m actually going to be making a presentation like this one so I’m really excited to see this

For the last week I have found myself singing to myself “I Saw the Light” and weeping at the same time. I have sang to my 3 year old “You are My Sunshine”. I am so glad that I have been exposed to this music, more like this “chorus” of voices from the people of the Unites States.

Thanks for the review Grady! (I like your disclaimer too)

I found out about it around episode 5, so thanks for letting us know it’s on their website so I can catch up on the other episodes!

Oh My! When my coworker told me if I had seen or watching the Ken Burns about Country Music, I kinda said oh yeah I'll watch... Then one night at work I looked for it and that was the beginning of my road down memory lane. I was born in Southern Mexico, my Mother, siblings and I came in 1968 to the USA, don't worry we came legally lol. After 3 yrs We went back to visit in December, as We left the L.A. subs, going into the desert no more FM, just AM and that's when I 1st heard old Country, many many songs I never knew the singer or who was playing. But thanks to this mini series, I now have a Hank Williams on my pandora. One song stood out more then any... Hey Good Looking. And like you I never linked June Carter to the Carter Family lol, then the DOH moment, slap on the face! LOL

O.M.G. my grandmother and her siblings LOVED Jimmie Rogers. Her sister learned to yodel because they loved him so much. They also loved Gene Autry. I have unfair disdain for country music (mostly pre-80s) because they were so relentless about their love for country and western music (their words). Slowly, slowly I'm overcoming that because as an Alabamian and a southerner I feel like I should at least appreciate classic country music more.

Hey Grady! Man I loved it! So many things I didn't know and a lot that I did. This coming from an African American who has always loved cpuntry! Ken Burns docs are a part of American history! Simply awesome. Hooked from the word go! Thanks for your thoughta. O waa waiting for your reaction.

I loved your disclaimer in the beginning, but I totally Lol'd and face palmed when you admitted not knowing June was one of "those" Carters. 🤭❤ I haven't finished the series yet (we've been streaming it on the PBS app as life/time allows) but I've loved what I've seen so far. As far as your criticism of the music, keep at it Grady! There's a lot of us out here that agree with you, and like you said, the criticism itself is just another part of country music. 🤷🏼‍♀️ Keep on keeping on!

Nice! Just hit my mind yesterday that'd I'd like to hear your take on the new Ken Burns doc and here you drop a video on it🤠

I still haven't seen the film yet, but visited with my folks after they watched each episode, and they loved it. I can't wait to watch it too.

Hey fellow Virginian! What an excellent and eloquent commentary. Great insights and observations. 🙂

I am a hard rock -new wave music lover and musician . However , I grew up hearing the outlaw movement and what I now know is the Bakersfield sound around our house in rural Missouri . The last couple of years I’ve been coming back to that music and have been watching your videos . I thought about you and your whole point of view on the current state of country music ( a lot )during the film . Thanks for telling us how it made you rethink a bit about your views . It was also nice to have someone separate the different styles of country music along with examples !!! I love Marty Stuart , Dwight Yoakum and Travis Tritt ! I was glad to see them in the film . I once met Billy Bob Thornton... he called me over because I was wearing a Johnny Cash shirt . He asked “ what is your favorite Johnny Cash song”? I replied “Sunday Morning coming down “. He said “ You know .. Johnny didn’t write that “! I said “ yes I know , Kris Kristofferson did and Johnny sang the hell out of it “! He just smiled and raised his glass! Then we just talked about country music for 30-40 minutes! It was great ! Thanks for the video !

The biggest thing I learned from it was 1) the origin of the Americana genre, and 2) what "killed" country music (record companies wanting to only put out huge money makers, and the Telecommunications Act of 1996 made radio monopolies where they all play the same playlist).

It was a really good music doc. I was interested by how the quack who transplanted goat glands into men created Mexican border blaster radio and spread country music farther than ever before.

Grady you're disclaimer is on point. In this day and age, we are too quick to judge and comment nasty things about others. Negativity is all around us and I feel your videos should be the educational space for die hard country fans and those who are just mildly interested or trying to learn. Well done for calling this out. Love your videos by the way from an Irish girl in the Uk 💚 ☘

You’ve been pumping out a ton of sweet, sweet ‘tent lately. Keep up the good work!

We should recognize the BBC documentary Lost Highway covered much of this history some years ago.

You really are amazing. Such a treat for work break. Thank you, from RP.

I was disappointed that George Strait got so little attention, he was and is far more prolific than he is given credit. Johnny Cash is great no one disputes that but for crying out loud it's been done and it's honestly not that interesting any more. Just my thoughts, again a great channel.

Kristopherson being a Rhodes Scholar blew my mind! And it was great to get Rhiannon Giddens input - she's an enormous talent and super smart. I think Country music tends to pretend to be anti-intellectual; but it definitely benefits from people who bring a great deal of thought and a full understanding of their history to the art.

Man this was a great documentary. People have been fighting about what is and isn’t country music since the beginning. Man how dare you not know about June Carter Cash....j/k man. Keep doing what you are doing brother!

When I was young my grandpa pretty much wore out various 8-track tapes of Marty Robbins. A talented musician with a wonderful voice.

I loved every minute of this documentary and I was kinda so so on country music as a genre outside of a few artists. Not anymore, I love it. I'm so glad they spotlighted Maybelle Carter, she doesn't get near enough recognition as the mother of country and being just an all around awesome lady.

A fantastic documentary! Very engaging & I have a new appreciation of Country Music💕

I loved this documentary! My great-grandparents on my dad's side (who were also named Smith - from Smith Mountain) lived at the time outside of Woodlawn, WV - only 15 miles away from the original Carter family! Those hillbilly roots are still in my family! Also after watching the first two episodes, it made me realize to a greater extent the importance for the characters in 'Oh Brother Where Art Thou' to get to the radio station competition.

Your insight into this great series is very good. I also learned a lot from this film as I had many misconceptions. I was also impressed with how many of the stars struggled out of poverty then had difficulty with success. The one thing I either missed or wasn't explained was the fact fifty years ago when I was young it was called Country and Western, now it is just Country. Was that a decision or just evolution. Thanks

like you said, it seems to cycle every 20-25 years or so. first in the early 60's with patsy cline and strings and orchestral sound then again in the late 70's with the urban cowboy sound then randy travis and them taking it back in the mid 80's and again now turning more pop in the 2010s til now with traditional country making a comeback

Good job. Agree with what you said. I wish I had a signed Ken Burns poster. Love the film, bought the DVD set to pass to my sons.

I love that documentary and I didn't know any of that stuff. It was cool learning bout it.

And the song that Rosanne Cash sang for her dad when he was dying was The Winding Stream by the Original Carter family, and she mentioned that he came up in the world listening to the carters, and went out listening to them

Have been looking forward to this video just so that it can inspire more people to watch the documentary if they haven't seen it. Was very good and even someone that doesn't like classic country would still enjoy it. With that said, here is what stood out to me the most. 1. Not only was the Carter family from a rural area of VA but from a place so bleak it was literally called "Poor Valley". This was a recurring theme throughout, almost all the trailblazers came from very rough beginnings. Dolly being on TV as a kid and her family having no way to see it because they were too poor to own a TV but also didn't even have power. 2. Was glad to learn about performers I had virtually no knowledge of like Bill Monroe, Bob Wills, etc. At the same time it showed how bluegrass has been pushed aside into it's own genre when the smoother "Nashville Sound" came along which is too bad since the banjo and fiddle sound so great when modern stars incorporate it in their music. 3. The background on WSM was great, basically the Opry was created to sell insurance. Also found it funny how the upper-class in Nashville was so opposed to the hillbilly influence and the name Opry came about from WSM trolling them back in the day. 4. Weird to see how radio played such a huge role in growing country music and now seeing what a mess it has become. Listening to SiriusXM's "The Highway" which I assume probably has the largest audience of a country music station but also has some of the absolute worst music programming. Easily the most popular song right now on that station is the Kane Brown/Marshmello song. They have also started hyping the Justin Bieber/Dan + Shay song. Thankfully Willie's Roadhouse, Outlaw and Bluegrass Junction are great. Great video Grady, appreciate all the effort put into your videos.

This video is so gonna help me out making my presentation

I learned so so so so much! So amazing!

I had grown up listening to "Outlaw" country but never knew the origins of the term until watching the documentary. Very cool story. I find it ironic that Willie Nelson had arguably his biggest hit as a writer on "Crazy" using the Nashville sound and yet he had to move out of Nashville and back to Texas and his roots to find real success. Also need to thank Ken Burns for showing us non Texans the origins of ZZTops "Heard it on the X"

Been a country fan all my life so documentary felt very personal and a joy to watch. I laughed for the fun and interesting parts and teared for all the pain that underpins so much of the history.

Definitely ditch the hand clap bumper.

Being from a 'Holler" in Va, I have pretty well all ways known about the S.W. Va gifts to country music. As a young child in the 50's I was exposed to the "Grand Ole Opry" as my father listened to it every Saturday. I collect old radios, so I still listen to WSM on an old AM radio that was made in the early 50's. I really dislike the sound of modern country music, the 50's and 60's had the best music no doubt. But as was pointed out in the videos,wait a few years, it will come back to what you like. I enjoy the videos very much, kudos to Ken Burns.

Loved Kens Burns country Music he did a great job!

For the most part I liked the documentary. I was however surprised/disappointed that there were literally like 15 seconds mentioned about Conway Twitty and that was only dealing with the duets with Loretta Lynn. The man had 55 #1s throughout the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's. I felt that maybe a little more could have been said about him because he really kinda pushed the envelope with his provocative music. And I'm not saying this because you think I'm his #1 fan....I have many others I like more than him..but I thought he sould have more said about him. Off my soapbox now....lol

I loved the documentary! I even told some relatives about it and they watched it.

I loved this documentary which was very surprising for me, I never considered myself a country music fan. However as I watched so many of these musicians and great songs I was singing along with them and that I was a huge fan. I always loved Bluegrass and Appalachian music, that is the music of my DNA. I did know the history of the Carters and Johnny Cash because even us "rockers" loved Johnny Cash. What warmed me most was how interconnected we are all, country, rock, bluegrass, blues it is who we all are as humans.

I was there with you about June Carter!!! And I also saw walk the line in my teens and didn’t really get it! Dude you’re great

Gotta say again the sound mixing of the music and interviews and narration was awesome! Their sound team better win some Emmy Awards!

Country: Portraits of an American Sound (2015) on prime video, is a great documentary too

I watched all 8 episodes of the series. It aired posthumously for some interviewees like Little Jimmy Dickens, Jean Shepherd & Merle Haggard; I'm glad their perspectives could be captured on video before they died. I was happy that the series spotlighted Waylon's masterpiece Dreaming My Dreams, listening to which was one of my earliest memories. Besides Waylon & Willie, I grew up listening to myriad artists who couldn't be mentioned: Deborah Allen, the Bellamy Brothers, John Conlee, Earl Thomas Conley, the Forester Sisters, Janie Fricke, Vern Gosdin, Charly McClain & Mel McDaniel. Shortly after the KB series ended I watched a PBS program about Nashville's Music Row narrated by Pam Tillis. Kathy Mattea was interviewed for both programs, but the Music Row program also had interviewees like the Bellamys & Ray Stevens. Music Row was originally intended to be a welcoming atmosphere to newcomers, but over decades that atmosphere deteriorates as new buildings replace old ones.

I love anything done by Ken Burns so I was very excited about this documentary. I learned so much about country music with this. I never liked country until I discovered Blake Shelton when I saw his video She Wouldn’t Be Gone. I’ve since fallen into country.

I thought it was great. Really learned a lot about the origins I had never heard before. Had never heard Pancho and Lefty before, and now it's one of my favorites. Several great versions, from Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard's duet, to Emmylou Harris, Ashley Campbell, the list goes on. Definitely think it's worth the time to watch.

My dad got me hooked on comedy courntry records around 6-7yrs old. The one I love is "Wrong House" by Don Bowman. I'm in my 50's and still think it's really funny!!

First off kudos to the another Virginian. I was raised in Virginia Beach but my dad was from Tennessee and mom from Virginia. I love all Ken Burns docs. He spends so much time on getting the facts. My favorite so far has got to be the Country Music one. I grew up with my father singing Hank, Roger Miller, Buck Owens and so many more. We watched Hee Haw every Saturday night. Look their making fun of themselves. I have a diverse love of music. I love Led Zeppelin, Skynyrd, Son House, most of the old country and even Jack White. Music if it's good, good to you, it speaks to the soul.

I learned that the number 1 hitmaker in the 50's right in the thick of the Elvis onslaught and a guy who had a solid decade as the king of country music was allotted a full 5 seconds, just enough to pronounce his name twice. Webb Pierce,,,,,, hmmm,,, maybe it was 3 seconds......

In 1978 I was 16 and a huge Jimmy Page rock guitar fan. One Sunday afternoon I was watching He-Haw, sneering at how uncool the show was...then Roy Clark and Jerry Reed stepped on stage. I’ll just say I got schooled that afternoon. Ask ANY guitar player. Roy and Jerry are guitar gods. They were shredding guitar before Eddie Van Halen, Steve Vai and Yngwie Malmsteen ever picked up a guitar...and Eddie, Steve and Yngwie acknowledge that fact.

Your DISCLAIMER is spot on by the way - I have loved Country since the mid-70s....but my brain just doesn't work in a way where I can recall facts from decades ago. Even my favourite artists....I wouldn't be able to tell you all their songs and lyrics and every band member they ever had. Wish I could....but I just can't! So people who seem to gloat about knowing EVERYTHING and looking down on those that don't know it all.

I couldn’t agree more . I loved watching it. I’m obsessed with Maybelle Carter because of this show!

Awesome review, Grady. Really nicely distilled. Obviously, in 16.5 hours of documentary nirvana many other jewels could be highlighted. Hopefully many of your viewers who might not otherwise be inclined will dive into Burns' gift. My wife and I simply could not stop watching the series. It was just too compelling and enjoyable to think of stopping. Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts. Well done! Ps: Your clapping didn't bother me.

Loved hearing from Holly Williams about her grandfather. She is an EXTREMELY good artist herself.

I thought that the country music documentary was very interesting and that it was fun and interesting to watch I loved watching it on my TV screen and I learned so much and it was joyful to watch.

I hadn’t heard Long Black Veil since I was a kid. It’s now on my play list (and now stuck in my head forever )

I have the book and it was fun to learn about the history of country music

It was so good. I'm from Nashville originally and a lot of it I already knew but there was so much that amazed me.

It was very engaging

A couple of things: 1. Thanks so much for this video. Love watching you and hearing you opinions and you constantly expose me to new country music. 2. Please dont do the clapping anymore. Its annoying. 3. Do you have any control over the ads? They seem to cut your videos at the least opportune moments. Really annoying.

For the record, I actually enjoyed the clapping and found it very energizing and exciting! Am I the only one? Maybe that's the millennial in me! Of course, I enjoyed this documentary thoroughly and binged the whole thing like there was no tomorrow. I've heard all these names before, but never really knew how they were connected to each other through time. Suddenly everything fits together! I was thinking about doing a similar video, but you beat me to it! Perhaps I still might... we shall see!

As for the *instrumentation* of country and bluegrass, fiddles, mandolins, and banjos did get a basic back-story in the documentary, but that other mainstay of country music, the various forms of *steel* guitar ---- including Dobros and other "resonator" guitars, the early acoustic lap steel guitar styles that started in Hawaii, the fact that the VERY FIRST electric guitars were lap steel guitars, and how they evolved to include string-pulling, pitch- shifting pedals ---- all of this got left out. A quick synopsis for those who might not know: lap-style slide guitar evolved in Hawaii on acoustic instruments, and the 1906 Worlds Fair brought Hawaiian musicians to the mainland US, and caused a national sensation, to the point where almost any guitar bought via mail order for several decades afterward automatically came with a slide bar and a conversion nut for raising the strings higher. Standard acoustic guitars, however, weren't loud enough to be heard over the horn section in the popular jazz bands of the 20s, and a trio of Czechoslovakian brothers named Dopyera came up with the idea of putting thin aluminum cones, like speaker cones, inside guitars as a form of mechanical acoustic amplification, and these guitars ---- some with round necks, some designed for laying flat on the lap ---- actually had metal bodies as well. Their National Guitar Company faced internal squabbling and a hostile takeover, and then the Depression hit; two of the Doperya brothers left to form the Do-Bro company, putting metal cones inside woodbody guitars with flat necks so they'd rest comfortably in the players lap, and these became de rigeur for many country and bluegrass bands. Meanwhile, Adolfo Rickenbacher was experimenting with solid body electric guitar designs for lap-style slide playing, one made of molded Bakelite plastic, and another made of aluminum that was shaped a bit like a banjo or a frying pan......guess which nickname name stuck!? During WWII, electronic amplification technology underwent enormous improvement, and after the war electric lap steel guitars grew in popularity, and around 1948 or 49, several players ( I forget who) were experimenting with pitch-shifting mechanisms and dual necks, with as many as 10 strings per neck.

My favorite episode is “don’t get above your raisin” because it was just awesome. It was also very emotional at some points, and that’s one of the reasons why it’s my favorite episode.

Glad you got Jimmie Rogers as being the early rock star of country music. Being from Meridian Mississippi I grew up with him and the festival. Also Marty Stuart is from just up the road. Thanks for your thoughts.

Not a big country fan but great series. Love the outlaw years in part 7. Would like to have seen a few more parts to bring it up to current times to show where country is today.

Loved the documentary, it's truly a gift to country music lovers from every generation! You got a lot of years put into the 18:00 you gave us! lol So many opinions and tastes, it's as diverse as the music itself! Thank God! lol