Chapter 9: Country Western Music
During the 1930s and 1940s, a combination of catastrophic events—as stated earlier in this chapter, including the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, and the lingering effects of World War I—triggered one of the largest internal migrations in American history. Millions of white Southerners, many of them displaced farmers or laborers, left rural communities in search of jobs and stability in cities such as Nashville, Atlanta, Detroit, and Chicago. As these migrants began new lives in urban centers across the North and Midwest, they brought their musical traditions with them, helping to fuel a growing demand for what was increasingly known as country and western music.
No artist better embodied the appeal and values of this emerging genre than Roy Acuff (1903–1992), often hailed as the “King of Country Music.” Acuff rose to prominence in the 1930s and became a household name through his regular performances on the Grand Ole Opry, where he eventually became one of its central figures.
Acuff’s music was rooted in themes of sentimentality, patriotism, and morality, resonating with working-class Americans. His vocal style was clear, direct, and straightforward, a sharp contrast to the yodeling technique popularized by Jimmie Rodgers. Acuff focused on the lyrics and message of each song, making his music accessible and emotionally impactful for a wide audience.
One of his most enduring songs, “The Great Speckled Bird,” is a religious ballad that uses metaphor to explore themes of faith, persecution, and redemption. The song blends traditional hymn-like lyricism with instrumental techniques borrowed from African American blues, including the bottleneck slide guitar. This stylistic fusion reflects the complex cultural exchange in the American South and highlights how country music was shaped by both white and Black musical traditions. His music reflected the core values of his audience while also helping to define the evolving sound of country music in the mid-20th century.