Thanks for featuring Barry on your channel. I will definitely seek out his books. The history of America popular music is more than just about music, but about the nation's history as reflected in that music.
This guy is a gem. Personality and charm, backed by encyclopedic knowledge. Despite being a classic country fan, I know damn little about the true roots of country. I thought it all began with the Carter Family. I grew up with country music in the 1950s and 60s. I came in when Ernest Tubb was a star, Faron Young was crooning Lefty Frizzell was flying high, and Little Jimmy Dickens had to settle for old, cold taters. And of course the ubiquitous and influential guitar master, Chet Atkins, was everywhere. So many great artists from that era. I'm more of a Bakersfield guy these days. But I really appreciate hearing the eloquent origin story that Barry Mazor told. Thanks, Otis, for continuing to raise the bar with you guests and topics. You never fail to improve my day.
I remember meeting Pop Stoneman when I was 8. The Stoneman's used to stop by our house everytime they passed through. But Pop recorded with my Grandpa and great Grandpa back in the 1920's. Frank Jenkins was my great Grandpa and Oscar Jenkins was my Grandpa. H.O. "Sleepy" Jenkins was my Dad. He played with Jim Eanes and The Gurney Thomas Band. My Dad was known by everyone around Nashville back in the day. He used to carry me everywhere He went. He took me to Bristol several times. The reason he quit playing professional is because He got religion and became a preacher. He was a music prodigy and was getting paid at 15 years old. The Pilot Mountaineer's was the Band's name that Frank, Oscar, and Pop played under. Frank also played with The Southern Broadcaster's. I even got to read the acceptance speech and play a song I wrote about them and accepted the award for The Stoneman's getting inducted into The Blueridge Hall of Fame. This was because I went to the award show the night it happened and they found out I knew Roni Stoneman as a kid as well as Pop and others. I just went on a free ticket and I knew I could eat good and hear some good music. That night also inducted were Andy Griffith and Lester Flatt. Among others. I just thought I'd put that out there. I went with Kirk Sutphin, Kevin Fore and Trish Fore. I used Tom Mylet's ticket because he had to go out of town...
"Country music is not what it used to be, and it never was." Great quote from Barry. I wish I had my own network, I'd have an entire series around Barry's research and knowledge of music.
This man is a treasure . I am in the middle of reading Mr. Mazor's book about Ralph Peer. One of the best books on music I've ever read. Thanks Otis for doing your interviews.
I sort of taught myself country history in middle school by browsing Wikipedia and songs RU-vid would recommend me. I’m glad my framework of understanding how country started and who the very first significant names were matches up with this guy’s very official sounding history.
That was a great point about what a million seller meant in those days based on population. Really shows how special that was. Solid interview as usual.
Interesting topic. --- According to the book, "Pickin' on Peachtree", Atlanta was the "Hillbilly" music center, prior to Nashville. --- Old-time Fiddle Music WAS called "OLD"-time, even back in 1913, during the first of the most famous Fiddle Contest in history, the "Georgia Old Time Fiddle Contest", which ran until 1935. --- This Fiddle Contest received FRONT PAGE coverage, and attracted 30,000 visitors during its 4-day run. Fiddlin' John Carson came in 4th on the first contest, but when on to be proclaimed "Champion Fiddler of Georgia" seven times, between 1914 and 1922. --- The song "Devil Went Down to Georgia" HAS TO BE an homage to this fiddle contest. --- My favorite story from the contest, is that early fiddlers were OUTRAGED, when they discovered that Music could be written on paper. --- The "Skillet Lickers", led by Gid Tanner, emerged from this contest. In the mid-1930's, the Skillet Lickers hosted a very popular radio show in Atlanta, with copies of the broadcasts currently available on CD's. --- The most frequent "Host" of the Contest was Alec Smart, a name which most consider to be an alias (uhhhhh, switch the first and last names).
Thank you, Otis and Barry 🙏🏻 Great stories and history! Always look forward to a Barry interview I have seen American Epic. Great documentary and history of early recorded American music. Be good to you
I think its a shame so few people really know what old time music is. Everyone thinks it was just bluegrass but that and country and so much all came from Old time music. I think its a genre that is cursed by its name. But really it should have all the prestige and popularity that blues has. Just like everyone knows Robert Johnson. Everyone should know Ed Haley
If that’s the short version of where country came from, I’d love to hear the long version! Thanks for this entertaining episode - I could listen to this kind of stuff all day 👍🏽
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the music of this area that the Country came from also had some Pidemont North Carolina Blues to it if you listen to that style of music. Also Ledbelly who did for these sessions where did You Sleep Last Night/My Girl My Girl and On a Tuesday/I Got Stripes, these were considered early country songs as later Johny Cash recorded them early in career in the late 1950's to early 1960's as did Nirvana do the first of the two songs as more in a blues style. Then whoever did at the same time This little light of Mine/Let It Shine Let It shine for the first place Ralph Peer worked for, was also done by He Haw years later in 1970's before the death of Stringbean in 1972 as well as after in the late seasons and other country artists when they were recording the roots of country music 1970's, as well as some of the first stuff from late 1940's and early 1950's to be actually called County Music when the records were first sold.
The best thing I have ever heard here. The truth. the originals. This matters. We never know what matters but this matters. The best thing I have ever heard here. What is country music? That is a question we need to ask ourselves. The folk music I grew up with is now turned country. What?
3 IS my magic number and also happens ot be about how many moments i have left of the trifecta gem u already posted of otis on elivs on saint john prine brb lol
Ralph Peer was looking for a label to market Black music. Richmond Virginia had Black newspapers and Peer discovered "Race Men" who exhibited what later was called Black Pride. So he used Race Music to market Black music. The term became outmoded but was initially invebted out of respect Every tine Peter Coyote Said Race Music (on the PBS series)I could hear a sneer in his voice. He should have read Barry Mazor
Saw a video about a year ago of a woman in Africa with a homemade two-string (not metal strings but nylon-like- likely REAL gut strings…?) banjo-type instrument playing “traditional” community music to her young son. It was posted here on You Tube but was “disappeared.” These things tend to happen when narratives and” His-story” runs into “THE story” - the actual past.
Vaudeville! acc to George (RR not the Beatles ) Martin Julesworks has been trying to be brining Vavudville back with our variety show the Vollies....i love whenever I ehar the term....I also think people love what by definition Vaudeville is...a true variety show....its a format I thnk shold catch on more in this age
American Epic is greta...to be blunt its about the only time Ive seen JAck White run his mouth and dug him....(i do agree with oyu Otis he does cool things) and it has Nas and a lot of cool stuff as Barry says greta lil series i believe spearheaded by T Bonew.....a precursor to Ken Burns epic Country series.....anyhooo just wanted to chime in American Epic is well worth watching
