grand+ole+oprey

Country Music reflects a way of life uniquely and unmistakably American.mirroring the hopes and dreams, the problems,the sorrows and the independece of millions of citizens. Country music sprang up in the rural south,began to thrive during the bitter depression years and with in the past 2 decades has swept the globe.

The world-wide symbol of this earthy,straight forward,enduring brand of music was and will remain the Grand Ole Opry,a weekly stage show that has been acclaimed revered and become almost hallowed to millions of country music fans.For 50 years the Grand Ole Opry has entertained,soothed,comforted and thrilled the packed audiences,but lets not forget the countless millions of radio listeners,a Saterday night without the grand old opry is like a church service without hyms.....

In the 1940, the opry was 15 years old and it had all ready out grown all it's homes,yet in the next 15 years it was to see growth that would be much more astounding growth that would make its stars not only wealthy but inemationally famous...growth that would build multimillion dollar business for WSM and Nashville.One of the reasons for that growth was that the opry had finally found a new home a building with which it could be indentified Ryman A uditirium which housed the opry for more than 30 succeeding years.

Styles effected dramatic changes inthe opry.Honkey Tonk music reflected the problems of those of us who were dejected and down and out.The crowds created more of another change for the opry in order for the crowds to hear the music amplification of instruments began to change sound of the opry,especially through many of its song writers.Ernest Tubb, one of the first opry singers to use the new instruments,started a trend that by the end of the 1940s was the dominant sound at the opry.

In the 1950s,America was hit by rock and roll ! The most noticable strike was made by a southerner Elvis Presley,whose intermingling fo country and rythm and blues launched a new era in American music history.His showmanship and personality were especilly effective during a period when a teenage population was buying more records than adults their population was very demanding and a discussion of their own interest in the 1950 youth they didn"t want their mom and dad music.Anew music which combined rock and roll and country;some called it"rockabilly". Using things like drums,back up singers,comics,were now used on stage at the opry.

From 1961 to 1966 the number full time country music radio stations increased to 81 to 328,Also in Nov 12 1971 construction began on the old grand ole oprys"s long awaited permant home-which will accomodaite its nearly 1 million annual vistors.On March 16, 1974 the $15 million grand ole opry house opened (Opry Land Usa) with a full house,includin the presidant of the United States.

The Grand Ole Opry is still active today,which has alot fo great singers such as Rascel Flatts, Dolly Pardon, Carrie Underwood,Faith Hill but most of all a new generation is here a young woman Taylor Swift in her teens took home the best female artist of the year award.Her simple guitar playing and quiet singing is changing my youth.

written by Briana Kratzer