I love learning through documentaries. The combination of the narration, visuals, film footage, music, and interviews make it so easy for concepts to sink in. The recent documentary on
PBS has been one of my favorites to date. Even if you don't dig country music, it's a fascinating lesson in 20th century American history.
My dad would often break out into tunes I had never heard before, at times with a strange, yodelly twang. Those songs make so much sense to me now after seeing the segments from the
1930s and
40s. The sections of the documentary from the
1950s and
60s made me the most
tingly. This music always makes my ears
prick up. The backstories are so interesting to me – how one's life progressed from being dirt poor, troubled or doubted by others to becoming world-famous and influencing so many.
Yippee-ki-yay!
I love the talent that came out of
1950s and
60s country music:
•
Johnny Cash •
Patsy Cline •
The Everly Brothers
•
Elvis Presley •
Kris Kristofferson •
Dolly Parton
•
Faron Young •
George Jones •
Tammy Wynette
•
Jeannie C. Riley •
Bobbie Gentry •
Loretta Lynn
•
Glen Campbell •
Don Gibson •
Marty Robbins
•
Brenda Lee •
Hank Snow •
Hank Williams
If you have any interest in music, it'll behoove you to catch this series.
I challenge you not to tap your feet and want to sing along.
Above are photos of my parents in the
1930s during the
Great Depression when they were hearing folks like
Gene Autry and
Jimmie Rodgers while gathered around the radio like the
Walton family.
