Did you know there was a difference between Country AND Western?

[Taverner]

Country, often attributed to Hank Williams Jr. was actually an innovative offshoot combining Blues, Bluegrass and Western aka Texas Swing.

Texas Swing is it's own beast, having a time signature that resurfaced most recently in Stevie Ray Vaughn's blues playing.

Just thought I'd share ;)

[DanCa]

1. Actually do you know the difference between folk and Americana

I have gotten more into this style of music since i started playing the harp. But for some reason I am too thick headed know the difference.

[Taverner]

2. Isn't Folk the traditional stuff

Everything from spirituals up to Dylan...and then Americana is modern folk :shrug:

[ScreamingMeemie]

7. Americana usually refers to music that emphasizes America or its

people. Think Johnny Cash's "Tennessee Flat Top Box"...or "Saginaw Michigan", "The City of New Orleans", "Poncho and Lefty"...and can encompass many different music styles. :hi:

[mitchum]

14. A humanities degree and at least three pieces of folk art...

in the house is how I have always characterized the Americana aficionado :)

[Crazy Guggenheim]

3. John Denver said he played more of a Western music style. That's

all I know.

[CatholicEdHead]

4. So that is what that Blues Brothers line means

when they pull up at that Country backwoods bar.

[JVS]

11. yup

[hippywife]

5. I don't know if I

would classify Stevie Ray as Texas Swing. Texas Swing has more of a sound of big band with a western flair ala Bob Wills. I would consider Stevie's music more towards a modern/electric blues genre.

There's a local program on KWGS (local NPR station) out of Tulsa you can listen to on the internet at 7:00 pm CST on Saturday nights called "Swing On This" with John Wooley which plays Texas Swing.

[lakemonster11]

9. Asleep at the Wheel is the biggest Western Swing band

I can think of that's still around. They do a lot of tributes to Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys.

There's also a George Strait Christmas song called "Christmas Cookies" that's Western Swing.

[BrotherBuzz]

15. Dan Hicks and his Hot Licks are still around, too

Country? Jazz? Rock? Western swing? Comedy? Western Swing Revival? Your call...but I've always thought of his sound was heavily influenced by Texas swing as I knew it.

[Taverner]

12. The style was blues all the way

But the beat - and the beat alone - that was all Texas Swing

[Left Is Write]

6. Yes.

[enigmatic]

8. Kinda

Country music in it's original form you had right, but Texas Swing had a big dollop of swing via Big Band music as well that helped drive the music. Ernest Tubb was as much a fan of Benny Goodman as he was Jimmie Rodgers..

[JVS]

10. I learned that by watching The Blues Brothers...

when the waitress said "We've got both kinds"

[mitchum]

13. Hank Williams- "I play blues and folk music"

and he was right

[crispini]

16. Yes, but I wouldn't call what they play on the radio these days...

either one. I think I would call that "twang-flavored pop." :P

[SOteric]

17. Yep. I knew that. A Texas born Chef of

my acquaintance explained it all for me when I was foolish enough to offer my opinion of Country & Western music.

[trof]

18. Try Hot Club of Cow Town, western swing mostly.

[BrotherBuzz]

19. Hmmm, a subtle tribute to Django Reinhardt?

"Quintette du Hot Club de France"

[HuskerDU]

20. 'Western' = Hillbillies playing Jazz.

I actually like Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys better than any jazz outfit.