I can sort of play a Jew’s Harp. Is that term offensive? I can’t say for sure. One of our other forum members can probably shed some light on that. Is it any more offensive than a French Horn? If it came from that culture, I would think it perfectly inoffensive to name it as such. I’m not much on country, but I do love Bluegrass. It has so much influence with Irish and Scottish folk, which is a passion for me. I suspect I might like the “old country” you guys mention if I heard more of it. Johnny Cash always sounded good to me, I don’t know where he gets classified.
If you like Johnny Cash, look into his Sun Recordings. His best stuff was recorded at the old Sun studio.
@snuffegnugen, I’m just the opposite. I take pride in being a redneck and am offended by the term hillbilly. Must be a locality thing. LOL I love old country, back when it was closer to Bluegrass. I hate most new country but the “outlaw” rockin’ stuff is pretty good, but it’s closer to rock than country.
I can play the juice harp & the bones. Love bluegrass. Ralph Stanley is one of my favorites, Flatt & Scruggs, Bill Monroe. And love the old country. Stuff like Hank Snow, Buck Owens, Ernest Tubb, Hank Williams Sr., Tennessee Ernie Ford, Woody Guthrie, Marty Robbins And the ‘classic country’ with artist like Hoyt Axton, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Charley Pride, Merle Haggard, David Allan Coe, Waylon Jennings Always have the satellite radio in the car on XM 13 ‘Willies Place’ or XM 14 ‘Bluegrass Junction’. Also have it on Dish Network Satellite TV channel 6064 ‘Willies Place’ or channel 6065 ‘Bluegrass Junction’ Willies Place on XM satellite plays all the good ol’ stuff. Of course living in the mountains, this music fits right in. I would say country music is the most popular type of music around here.
Im a red neck from rural lancashire and proud to be one, stranded in London for a couple of decades. 30 years of blues geetar playing under my belt and a lot of whisky drunk. My wife calls me ‘rough’ - I pray daily not to become ‘smooth’.
@Troutstroker Rounder Records released a couple volumes of very early Monroe Brothers-just guitar and mandolin and those two singing a mix of the old gospel/bluegrass/traditional songs. There was supposed to be three volumes in all. Also a little know fellow who had an interesting story is Riley Puckett. He was blinded by a doctor at a young age but went on to be a very influential guitar player with his style of playing and singing. He played by himself and with a band called The Skillet Lickers. You may find it interesting as you would probably find the Bluegrass Roundup thurs. on the above radio station. Bart
David Allen Coe recorded an album with the late Dimebag Darrel (Pantera) and all I can say is other than Johnny Cash / Willie Nelson, the resulting album is in my opinion the best piece of “country” made in the last 20 years. Oh yeah, and I’ll quit when Willie quits. EDIT: The album is called “Rebel Meets Rebel”
I think the billy refers means billy goat. Glad to hear that some people can see that new country is as boardroom made as pop music.
bob, that may be true. all I can find is the first use in print, from the New York Journal, ca 1900: “a Hill-Billie is a free and untrammeled white citizen of Alabama, who lives in the hills, has no means to speak of, dresses as he can, talks as he pleases, drinks whiskey when he gets it, and fires off his revolver as the fancy takes him.” and if that’s wrong, I don’t wanna be right.
it’s wrong fancy should never be used in a paragraph with hillbilly! (unless it’s this paragraph are about fancy yellow mustard.)
Be that as it may, I am currently listening to Hank III, on his latest musical endeavour, Assjack. I now know why there was a tear in his dear ol’ grandad’s beer.
I hope you like it zonesix. I think Assjack was one of the best metal albums to come out this year. To me it’s amazing that Hank III knows his roots, but still goes off on his own with projects like Superjoint Ritual, Assjack and Down and Arson Anthem. To see him cover all of that live in one set is also an amazing sight.
Hillbilly is a term that was used for the Scotch-Irish settlers that came to Appalachia. Billy was what the Scotch-Irish used for “fellow” or “bloke”. edit: I am definitely a “hillbilly” and proud of it! BTW I played mandolin and guitar for a bluegrass band called “Pigeon Mountain Boys” for quite some time. That is where I was introduced to snuff.