Ken Burns Country Music Documentary

[matonanjin]

Airing, I think, this Sunday the 15th, on PBS.  This September, Ken Burns tells the story of Country Music.  I have posted on here before that country music is not my genre.  But Ken Burns and Vince Gill were on some morning talk show a couple days ago and they made a case for this documentary being interesting.

It is, if I'm correct 16 hours long, so a huge time commitment to watch the entire series.

From the PBS website:

"Explore the history of a uniquely American art form: country music. From its deep and tangled roots in ballads, blues and hymns performed in small settings, to its worldwide popularity, learn how country music evolved over the course of the 20th century, as it eventually emerged to become America’s music. Country Music features never-before-seen footage and photographs, plus interviews with more than 80 country music artists. The eight-part 16-hour series is directed and produced by Ken Burns; written and produced by Dayton Duncan; and produced by Julie Dunfey. "

 

[Popeye]

I washed it two nights ago. Really well done tribute to Nashville Country music and artists. 

[K9kaos]

Looks like a great show!

I just set our DVR to record it when it comes on our local PBS later this month

Thanks for posting this!  

[gotto]

Looking forward to it. I was raised on country music , as my folks favorite genre to listen to and am beginning to reconnect to the music with my playing. I'm a folk/rock/blues guy with old country in my blood. 

Greg

[John Wells]

I'm anxious to see the series. I saw the Ryman concert on TV and heard some of the criticism about omitting some of the CM artists. Somewhere along the line Country & Western (CW) became Country Music (CM). During my teenage years in the late forties CW music was looked down on by many people, so Eddie Arnold's "Cattle Call," Roy Acuff's "Great Speckled Bird," and even Cole Porter's "Don't Fence Me In," were ignored by all but CW fans. And don't you know, I'm sure David Alan Coe won't be mentioned.   Lotsa luck.

[Randy120]

Ken Burns always does an excellent job on his documentaries. At 16 hours long he will dive deep into the subject. He can't cover every artist, but that shouldn't be the true measure of a series like this.

[Randy120]

I enjoyed the first episode last night. Of course Martin and Gibson were part of the story. When they showed Jimmie Rodger's guitars I started wondering how much his guitars were worth. This is what I found.

The Most Valuable Guitars in America

[matonanjin]

27 minutes ago, Randy120 said:

I enjoyed the first episode last night. Of course Martin and Gibson were part of the story. When they showed Jimmie Rodger's guitars I started wondering how much his guitars were worth. This is what I found.

The Most Valuable Guitars in America

I haven't watched the show yet.  Bears football took precedence.😉  I sure will soon.  But @Randy120, your link raises a very interesting point: "is one of Jimmie Rodgers’ guitars the most important guitar in American history?"  I tend to have such tunnel vision I think that Hendrix' white Strat or John Lennon's Rickenbacker should have that distinction.  But Jimmie Rodgers' guitars started it all.

Thanks for the link.

[Randy120]

@matonanjin As a rocker I would think Hendrix and Lennon's guitars are important, but maybe they are the most important in rock music history. Jimmie Rodger's isn't seen playing live in the documentary so it is hard to judge his chops. The documentary is about country music so it is more about the roots of American music than what would happen decades later. You will have to judge for yourself when you watch the show. I was just curious what a Rodger's guitar would be worth and this article was the first thing I found. 

Edited September 16, 2019 by Randy120

[Randy120]

I watched the finale last night. The series was well worth watching. You can still see it On Demand and streaming on PBS. 

[matonanjin]

Randy, here I am the guy that started this thread and I haven't watched it yet.  I have it recorded and only watched bits and pieces at this point.  But interestingly every single post I have seen, and there have been quite a few at other forums where I waste a lot of time, is very positive.  And what is especially interesting is that many of these posts, probably most, are from people that I know to be "rockers" or blues guys or otherwise share about as much passion for country as I.

Thanks for your update.

[K9kaos]

I have not had time to watch the whole thing yet, but I too, have it recorded on my DVR. I was impressed by the short section I did get to watch though!  

Hoping this coming weekend to get some free time! 

So glad you posted this and I got it recorded though! I would surely have missed that!

 

[gotto]

Great series. So much musical history that transcends beyond just bluegrass and country music. I enjoyed it immensely and learned so much about the heart and soul of this American legacy.

Greg