Country-Pop & Conway Twitty

Conway Twitty was born in 1933, under the name of Harold Lloyd Jenkins.  He was born in Mississippi, but raised in Arkansas.  He began performing at the age of ten, with a small town band, Phillips Country Ramblers. At that time, music was but a  pass-time for the young artist; he dreamt of becoming a profesional baseball player.  Shortly after being offered a contract with the Phillies, Jenkins was drafted into the conscription of the Korean war.

While in Korea, he continued to perform for his fellow soldiers. After returning, his offer with the Philidelphia ball team remained, but Twitty decided to attempt a career in the music industry, and moved to Memphis to record with Sun Records, the same record label that both Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash began recording with. Originally, Twitty was interested in recording Pop-Rock songs; Sun Records saw great potential in the artist, however none of his songs were ever released.

In 1956, Twitty left Sun Records and joined the Rockablility tour.  He later joined MGM Records, having only one successful song, and sadly MGM dropped the artist.  Soon enough Twitty joined Decca Records and began to write and perform country music with Loretta Lynn.  This lead the artist to twelve top five hits within two years in the late 1970's.

Twitty's songs were of a slightly more sexually revealing genre, at the time, during the Country-Pop Era.  Unfortunately, the Era was as long as Twitty's career and with new artists, a new genre of country was created in the early 1990's; leading up to Conway Twitty's sudden death of an abdominal aneurysm in during the summer of 1993.

Despite a twenty year career from 1970-1987, Twitty had over 40 #1 songs.  His legend continues to live, with his songs being frequently played on country radio.

Conway Twitty's first hit song: Guess My Eyes Were Bigger Than My Heart

I personally find that Conway Twitty's story is really one for many to idolize, a veteran who returns from war and becomes a successful country singer, potentially following his dreams but also serving his country in the meantime.  He may have lived a slightly shorter life, but he lived it to its fullest as we students need to begin doing.  Its very difficult, while in school, to find time for one's self to participate in activities that we love, and Conway Twitty is an example of someone who managed being away for war and performing for his fellow soldiers, something that he loved, and probably one of his best life experiences.  Hopefully when I'm old and wrinkly I'll be able to look back and say "Yes, I enjoyed my working and school life because it wasn't all work and no play, I made the most of every possible moment I could, of course when I wasn't doing my homework for M.Noecker's English class!"

http://www.biography.com/people/conway-twitty-20965309

The Beginning: Johnny Cash and June Carter

Country music was not always as we know it.  It originated with the folk traditions of the British Isles.  When the new land was discovered, country music came to being due to a mixture between many ethnic sounds of other cultures, mixed with tribal sounds from African slaves.

Apart from what many believe, country music did not begin in the hills of the Southern States.

By the early 1920's, record labels discovered talented artists like Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter family. Their songs swept the nation through three main radio stations: Forth Worth, Texas; Chicago, Illinois; and Nashville, Tennessee.

Soon this "barn dance"  music became not only a means of living for the artists, but a large part of the lives of listeners and followers.  Early records were diverse in style, but all had the same idea, "a raw, fiddle-driven string band."

Veterans of these string bands were fans of jazz and blues as well, which resulted in "Western Swing." Although many of the genre's artists were hillbillies, the term was considered offensive, which brought upon the cowboy apparel.  Cowboys represent romance, heroic activity and strength; which drew in a large female audience.

Throughout the years country has continued to develop and has evolved with every major artist, including June Carter-Cash and Johnny Cash; the iconic couple of Country music.

June Carter is a member of the Carter family, one of the first families, or artists to ever be discovered under the Country genre.  She was born in 1929 and became a part of the country world from birth.  After two marriages-gone-wrong she married Johnny Cash; who is in my opinion, Country music's king.

He was born in 1932, grew up on a farm in Arkansas, and first knew at 4 years old he wanted to be a country music artist.  He was inspired by Jimmie Rodgers, Gospel groups and his wife's family, the Carter's.  After losing his brother, joining the American army, and getting married he finally received a record deal with Sam Phillips at Sun Records.  His first song was recorded and released within two days of meeting Phillips.

After marrying June Carter in 1968, they had their first son, born March 3rd 1970.  He was later inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and deemed a country music legend, in 1980.  Shortly after in 1989, he was inducted into the Rock'N'Roll Hall of Fame. However, the award idolized most by Cash was being inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

All in all, Johnny Cash is a wonderful example of a man who overcame his difficulties and found great success along with happiness.
Many of Johnny's songs have influenced the way I look at life, and his story has taught so many about 
addiction awareness and how easy it is to fall into the dark trap when surrounded by that kind of business. I find that Johnny Cash will never compare to any other artist, he built Country music as a song writer and as an artist because of his personality and experiences and if one helps a genre grow to such an extent, they deserve more than to be members of the Hall Of Fame(s). Cash has influenced so many artists, young artists often idolize him and strive to be as strong as he was, and that is why, in my opinion, he is the King of Country. Without Cash, would Country music even exist as we know it?  In my opinion, no, Johnny has changed the world in a way in which no other artist could ever imagine doing. 



http://www.biography.com/people/johnny-cash-9240610