Cumberland Plateau, Tennessee Valley and
Unaka Mountains Region -
Bluegrass and String Band Music

Bluegrass and string band music has one of the most fiercely loyal audiences in American music. Followers don't look at it so much as entertainment as they do a way of life. You'll frequently see the makeup of these bands are family members, and many make it their life's work. That kind of devotion says a lot about the values they see in the music. Whether it's history and tradition they hear, or that they hear it as a true expression of Americana, the performers and their audiences are passionate. You'll find a great presentation of this in a thesis by Leslie Blake Price entitled Bluegrass Nation: A Historical and Cultural Analysis of America's Truest Music.

Any discussion of country or bluegrass music must acknow-ledge the contributions of the Carter Family. They were one of the most influential groups in country music history, and they moved the emphasis from hillbilly instrumentals to "folk stories in song". The original group consisted of A.P., his wife Sara, and her sister Maybelle. They influenced all that followed in country and folk music, from Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger and Doc Watson all the way up to Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris and Ketch Secor.

It's unlikely that bluegrass music would exist today without the Carter Family's contributions. A.P. collected hundreds of Appalachian folk songs and rearranged them into the classics we have today. They recorded hundreds of songs. but "Will the Circle Be Unbroken", "Wildwood Flower", and "Keep on the Sunny Side" will give you a good sense of what their music did to build the folk tradition in country music.

That foundation work was built-up by those who followed. In bluegrass, there are no better examples of where we are today today than Earl Skruggs' "Foggy Mountain Breakdown", the Foggy Mountain Boys' "Rollin' in My Sweet Baby's Arms" or the Osborne Brothers' "Rocky Top", but here is a short list of more recent (and also great) examples of bluegrass and string music:Old Crow Medicine Show's "Sweet Amarillo"The SteelDrivers' "Wearin' a Hole"The Grascals' "Old Friend of Mine"Dailey & Vincent's "Take Me Back (And Leave Me There)"Aly Bain, Jerry Douglas and Russ Barenberg's
"St. Anne's Reel"Wilson Banjo Company's "95 Years"Yonder Mountain String Band's "Alison"
Top Ten Music Shrines in Tennessee
If you're into music and history, here are some great places to visit when you're in Tennessee:In the Coastal Plains region:
Graceland - Memphis
Elvis promised his parents he'd build them the finest house in town, and put an end to years of struggle. Graceland was the fulfillment of that dream.
Sun Studios - Memphis
Johhny Cash, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis recorded here - all at the same time.
Stax American Soul Music Museum - Memphis
Stax made hit soul music in the 50s and 60s, and this is one of only a few museums dedicated to soul.In the Nashville Basin region:
Country Music Hall of Fame - Nashville
The museum’s core exhibition is "Sing Me Back Home: A Journey Through Country Music". It's a full-immersion experience.
Ryman Auditorium - Nashville
The first Grand Ole Opry started here in 1925. It's almost like being in a cathedral.
Johnny Cash Museum - Nashville
It's captivating, real and raw - just like Cash himself.
Jack Daniel's Distillery - Lynchburg
What, you ask, does Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 have to do with Tennessee music?In the Cumberland/TN Valley/Unaka Mtns region:
Cumberland Caverns - McMinnville
Bluegrass concerts are presented every month in the Volcano Room of Cumberland Caverns. They've been featured on NBC and PBS.
Dollywood - Pigeon Forge
Think of it as Disneyland with a bluegrass soundtrack.
Birthplace of Country Music Museum - Bristol
Tells the story of the 1927 Bristol Sessions recordings that included the Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers
Tennessee Artists:
Here's a list of some of the most famous musicians that were born in Tennessee or made the state their home. Each artist is listed with one - three songs to give you a sampler of their music. The list is long, but not comprehensive. Think of it as a primer. (With apologies to our Texas readers for the inclusion of Townes Van Zandt and other sons of the republic. But they, and many from other states, did make their home in Tennessee for a while.)
-A-

Roy Acuff country singer and fiddler
"Wabash Cannonball", "Tennessee Waltz"

Trace Adkins country singer
"Honky Tonk Badonkadonk", "Arlington",
"You're Gonna Miss This"

Jessi Alexander country singer
"Honeysuckle Sweet", "Fool Me Again"

Deborah Allen country songwriter and singer
"Baby I Lied"

Duane Allman rock guitarist and songwriter
"Goin' Down Slow", "Ramblin' Man", "Whipping Post"

Gregg Allman rock singer-songwriter
"Midnight Rider", "Tuesday's Gone"

Jessica Andrews country singer
"Who I Am", "There's More To Me Than You",
"Now I Know"

Eddy Arnold country singer
"I Walk Alone", "You Don't Know Me"
Clarence Ashley country singer and musician
"Amazing Grace", "The Coo Coo Bird", "The House Carpenter"

Rodney Atkins country singer
"If You're Going Through Hell", "Watching You", "Farmer's Daughter"

-B-

Barefoot Jerry country-rock band
"Smokies", "In God We Trust", "Proud To Be A Redneck"

Bobby Bare Jr country-rock singer and musician
"The Sky Is The Ground", "But I Do", "What Difference Does It Make"

William Bell r&b singer and composer
"Poison in the Well", "The Three of Me",
"All The Things You Can't Remember"

Luke Benward country and pop singer
"Had me / Hello", "Let Your Love Out"

Big & Rich (band) country
"Lovin' Lately", "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)"

Bobby Bland soul singer
"(If Loving You is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right",
"(I Wouldn't Treat a Dog (the Way You Treated Me"
Son Bonds blues singer
"Give Me That Old Time Religion"

Pat Boone pop singer
"Love Letters in the Sand"

Jenn Bostic country singer
"Jealous of the Angels"

-C-

Deana Carter country singer
"I'm Just a Girl", "Strawberry Wine"

June Carter Cash country singer
"Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone", "Wildwood Flower",
"Country Girl"

Johnny Cash country and gospel singer
"Folsom Prison Blues", "I Walk the Line", "Ring of Fire"

Rosanne Cash country singer
"Two Girls", "Seven Year Ache"

Kenny Chesney country singer
"American Kids", "Come Over", "Pirate Flag"

Eric Church country singer-songwriter
"Talladega", "Mistress Named Music", "Jack Daniels"

Guy Clark country singer-songwriter
"L.A. Freeway", "Desperados Waiting for a Train",
"Homegrown Tomatoes"

Kelly Clarkson country singer
"Because of You", "Piece by Piece",
"Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)"

Patsy Cline country singer
"Crazy", "Walking After Midnight", "Back in Baby's Arms"

Mark Collie country singer
"In Time", "It Is No Secret"

Citizen Cope rock and soul singer
"Penitentiary", "Let the Drummer Kick"

Rita Coolidge pop and country singer
"All Time High", "I Don't Want To Talk About It"

Hank Crawford r&b and soul jazz saxophonist
"Wildflower", "Corazón"

Miley Cyrus country and pop singer
"Wrecking Ball", "23", "We Can't Stop"

-D-

Trent Dabbs alternative rock and pop singer-songwriter
"Off We Go", "Don't Believe in Stars"

Russell Dickerson country singer
"Yours"

Whitney Duncan country singer
"Skinny Dippin'"

Donald "Duck" Dunn (of Booker T. & the MG's)
Blues and r&b bassist
"Green Onions", "Sunny Monday"

-E-

Bobby Emmons country keyboardist and songwriter
"Luckenbach Texas", "So Much Like My Dad"

Sleepy John Estes blues singer
"Lawyer Clark Blues", "Milk Cow Blues"

Sara Evans country singer
"A Little Bit Stronger", "The Case Against Last Man on Earth"

-F-

Lester Flatt (of Flatt & Scruggs and the Smokey Mountain Boys) bluegrass guitarist and singer
"Cripple Creek", "Roll in My Sweet Baby's Arms"

Béla Fleck bluegrass-jazz-rap fusion
"The Message"

Tennessee Ernie Ford country and gospel singer
"Sixteen Tons", "Old Time Religion", "The Bonnie Blue Flag"

Framing Hanley (band) alternative rock
"You Stupid Girl", "Hear Me Now"

Aretha Franklin soul and r&b singer
"(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman", "One Step Ahead",
"Chain of Fools"

-G-

Tompall Glaser country singer
"Put Another Log on the Fire", "T for Texas"

Al Green soul and r&b singer
"Let's Stay Together", "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?

-H-

Lucy Hale pop singer and actress
"Make You Believe"

Bobby Hebb pop and r&b singer
"Sunny", "Love, Love, Love"

John Hiatt country, country blues and r&b singer-songwriter
"Terms of My Surrender", "You Must Go:, "Walk On"

John Lee Hooker blues singer
"Boom Boom", "Big Legs, Tight Skirt",
"One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer"

-I-

Luther Ingram soul and r&b singer
"(If Loving You is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right"

Sonya Isaacs country singer
"I've Forgotten How You Feel"

Jason Isbell country singer-songwriter
"24 Frames", "God is a Working Man", "Alabama Pines"

-J-

Alan Jackson country singer
"Jim and Jack and Hank", "Mexico, Tequila and Me", "It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere"

Shooter Jennings country singer-songwriter
"The Gunslinger", "Outlaw You"

George Jones country singer
"The King is Gone (And Are You)", "He Stopped Loving Her Today", "Crawdad Song"

Wynonna Judd country singer
"My Strongest Weakness", "Things That I Lean On", "Why Not Me"

-K-

Charles Kelley (of Lady Antebellum) country singer
"Southern Accents", "The Only One Who Gets Me", "Bartender"

B.B. King blues singer and guitarist
"How Blue Can You Get?, "The Thrill is Gone",
"When Love Comes to Town"

Kings of Leon alternative rock
"Wait For Me", "Waste a Moment", "Use Somebody"

Kris Kristofferson country singer-songwriter
"Sunday Morning Coming Down", "Me and Bobby McGee",
"For the Good Times"

-L-

Lady Antebellum country trio
"Need You Now", "Just a Kiss", "Golden"

Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver inspirational string band
"Whatever Happened to Us", "Dixie Road"

Jackie Lee country singer
"She Does", "Headphones"

Kimberly Locke pop and r&b singer
"8th World Wonder", "Coulda Been"

Dustin Lynch country singer
"Hell of a Night", "Seein' Red"

-M-

Uncle Dave Macon bluegrass banjoist and singer
"Rock About My Saro Jane", "Way Down the Old Plank Road"

Barbara Mandrell country singer
""I'll Leave Something Good Behind", "Woman to Woman",
"I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool"

Jimmy Martin country banjoist, guitarist and singer
"Tennessee", "Free Born Man"

Martina McBride country singer-songwriter
"Anyway", "Concrete Angel", "Independence Day"

Mindy McCready country singer
"Guys Do It All The Time", "Ten Thousand Angels"

Paul McDonald and Nikki Reed (duo) alternative rock singers
"Watch Me", "All I've Ever Needed"

Ronnie McDowell country singer
"I Dream of a Woman Like You",
"You're Gonna Ruin My Bad Reputation"

Sam McGee country blues guitarist and singer
"Railroad Blues"

Tim McGraw country singer-songwriter
"Humble and Kind", "Live Like You Were Dying", "Don't Take the Girl"

Ken Mellons country singer
"Workin' For the Weekend", "Keepin' It Country"

Memphis Minnie blues singer, guitarist and songwriter
“Me and My Chauffeur Blues”, “In My Girlish Days”,
“Nothing in Rambling”

Memphis Slim blues singer, pianist and composer
"Steppin' Out", "Mother Earth"

Leslie Mills pop singer, songwriter, record producer and actress
"Wings", "Making My Way"

Tonya Mitchell former pop singer
"Broken Promises", "I Represent"

Don Moen gospel singer-songwriter and producer
"God With Us", "God Will Make a Way", "Emmanuel Has Come"

Ashley Monroe country singer-songwriter
"Satisfied", "I Don't Want To", "On to Something Good"

Kip Moore country singer
"That Was Us", "Wild Ones", "Running For You"

Craig Morgan country singer
"That's What I Love About Sunday", "Redneck Yacht Club", ""International Harvester""

Lorrie Morgan country singer
"Five Minutes", "What Part of No", "I Didn't Know My Own Strength"

Charlie Musselwhite blues harmonicist
"Crazy For My Baby", "Help Me"

Meg Myers alternative rock singer-songwriter
"Lemon Eyes", "Desire"

-O-

Old Crow Medicine Show folk and bluegrass band
"Sweet Amarillo", "We Don't Grow Tobacco", "Wagon Wheel"

Roy Orbison rockabilly singer-songwriter
"You Got It", "Oh, Pretty Woman", "Crying"

Chord Overstreet pop and country singer
"Homeland"

-P-

Paramore (band) alternative rock
"Ain't it Fun", "Still Into You", "Misery Business"

Dolly Parton country singer-songwriter
"Jolene", "I Will Always Love You", "Coat of Many Colors"

Johnny Paycheck country singer-songwriter
"Take This Job and Shove It". "Colorado Kool-Aid", "Old Violin"

Minnie Pearl country singer and comedian
"How To Catch a Man"

Ann Peebles blues, r&b and soul singer
"I Can't Stand the Rain", "99 Pounds",
"Trouble, Heartaches and Sadness"

Carl Perkins rockabilly singer-songwriter
"Blue Suede Shoes", "Matchbox", "Rockabilly Music"

The Band Perry country and pop band
"If I Die Young", "Better Dig Two", "Don’t Let Me Be Lonely"

Elvis Presley rockabilly, country, gospel, pop, r&b, and rock singer
"Viva Las Vegas", "How Great Thou Art", "Burning Love"

Margo Price country singer-songwriter
"Hands of Time", "Hurtin' (On the Bottle)", "Desperate and Depressed"

-R-

Red (band) (A.K.A. R3D and RED) alternative rock and metal, christian rock and metal and hard rock band
"Breathe Into Me", "Start Again", "Darkest Part"

Jerry Reed
Country and country rock singer-songwriter and actor
"Amos Moses", "When You're Hot, You're Hot", "Ko-Ko Joe"

Tex Ritter country and western singer and actor
"You Two-Timed Me One Time Too Often", "Deck of Cards",
"High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me)"

Marty Robbins country, western and rockabilly singer-songwriter
"El Paso", "My Woman, My Woman, My Wife", "Big Iron"

Jimmie F. Rodgers folk, pop and rock singer
"Honeycomb", "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine", "English Country Garden"

-S-

Hillary Scott (of Lady Antebellum) country and christian singer
"Thy Will", "Need You Now", "Downtown"

Earl Scruggs bluegrass banjoist
"Foggy Mountain Breakdown", "Wreck of the Old 97",
"Ballad of Jed Clampett"

Randy Scruggs guitarist
"My Secret Life", "City of New Orleans"

Blake Shelton country singer
"Mine Would Be You", "She's Got a Way with Words",
"Bet You Still Think About Me"

Danny Shirley (of Confederate Railroad)
Country and southern rock singer
"Queen of Memphis", "Daddy Never was the Cadillac Kind"

Skillet christian rock
"Monster", "Back From the Dead"

Carl Smith country singer
"Don't Just Stand There", "Time's A Wastin"

Chris Stapleton country singer-songwriter
"Traveller", "Tennessee Whiskey", "Parachute"

The SteelDrivers country-rock and bluegrass band
"If it Hadn't Been for Love", "Ghosts of Mississippi",
"Drinkin' Dark Whiskey"

Edwin Starr soul, r&b and psychedelic funk singer
"War", "25 Miles"

Frank Stokes blues guitarist
"Downtown Blues"

Marty Stuart country singer
"Burn Me Down", "Tempted"

Taylor Swift country and pop singer-songwriter
"Blank Space", "Wildest Dreams", "Bad Blood"

-T-

Justin Timberlake pop and r&b singer
"Sexy Back", "Can't Stop the Feeling", "Rock Your Body"

Ernest Tubb country singer
"Pass the Booze", "Pick Me Up on Your Way Down"

Ike Turner r&b and rock guitarist
"Proud Mary", "She Made My Blood Run Cold"

Tina Turner r&b and pop singer
"Private Dancer", "Better Be Good to Me", "Nutbush City Limits"

-U-

Usher r&b, pop and hip hop singer
"No Limit", "U Got it Bad", "OMG"

-V-

Townes Van Zandt country singer-songwriter
"Pancho and Lefty", "White Freight Liner Blues", "Waiting 'Round to Die"

-W-

Kitty Wells country singer
"It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels"

Dottie West country singer
"Would You Hold It Against Me", "Country Sunshine"

Drake White country singer
"Livin' the Dream", "It Feels Good"

Maurice White (of Earth, Wind & Fire) soul singer
"Stand By Me", "Sunday Morning", "System of Survival"

Hank Williams III country singer-songwriter)
"Rebel Within", "Troopers Hollar"

Mark Wills country singer
"Don't Laugh At Me", "19 Somethin'

Sonny Boy Williamson II blues singer
"Keep it to Yourself", "All My Love In Vain"

Darryl Worley country singer
"Have You Forgotten", "I Miss My Friend"

Tammy Wynette country singer
"Stand By Your Man", "I'm Only a Woman"
This is the end of the 3 page article on the music of Tennessee
Use these navigation links to continue:

| Go to Page 1 | Go to Page 2 | Go to top of this page |