DeFord Bailey was one of the first African American country musicians, playing regularly on the Grand Ole Opry from the 1920s to 1940s. His harmonica playing was influential in the formation of the Opry. Charlie Pride went on to become one of the most successful country music artists of all time, selling over 70 million albums despite facing racism as one of the first black country singers. Darius Rucker and other contemporary African American country artists like Cowboy Troy and Rissi Palmer are helping to expand the genre and appeal to new audiences, though they remain relatively rare in the country music industry which is still predominantly white.

1. Created By, Joe Wilson African Americans in Country Music

2. DeFord Bailey Charlie Pride Darius Rucker Cowboy Troy Rissi Palmer Few African Americans Have Succeeded as Country Stars

4. Music ran in his jeans. His family played “Black Hillbilly Music”

5. DeFordwas very much a part of the forming of the Grand Ole Opry and even inspiration for the change in name.

6. Became a regular on the Radio program WDAD.

7. Dr. Humphrey Bate who had his own band liked DeFord so much he invited him to play with him on the new "Barn Dance" program.

8. The announcer, Judge Hay, liked DeFord so much he asked him to perform regularly on the show.

9. Judge Hay nicknamed DeFord, “The Harmonica Wizard.”

11. On His Own Throughout the Great Depression DeFord had to find new ways to support his family. After a couple business ventures DeFord needed more money. DeForddecided to go on tour. There was one problem. Other than possibly the black community not many knew he was a “colored man.”

12. Huge Hit Surprisingly audiences all over the South lovedDeFord on tour. Including white viewers. Socializing with white fans and associates was restricted due to the (segregation) laws of the time. But, they did not keep DeFord from musical equality with white artists.

13. Return to the Grand Ole Opry… Throughout the 30’s there was a shift in the style of music coming into the show. In the beginning of the 40’s the company was buckling down and increased professionalism. Controversies with copyright laws led to a boycott. Preceding the boycott musicians were expected to come up with new songs. DeFord did not. He had songs he was loved for and had been asked to play for years. He did not want to abandon them. In 1941 he was released from the show.

14. The End of an Inspiring Soul DeFord vowed to never work under anyone anymore and opened up a successful shoe shining shop, popular with his white and colored fans. DeFord Bailey was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2005

16. One of eleven kids in a family of poor sharecroppers Charley Pride was destined for something different.

19. 36 #1 hit singles,

20. 70+ million albums sold

21. 31 gold…4 platinum albums

22. 1 quadruple platinum.

24. “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About IT” Rucker’s first great hit, “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About IT,” hit #1 on October 4th,2008. Rucker was the first African American to have a #1 hit since Charley Pride’s in 1983. Like Pride, Darius was alone in the Country music industry.

25. Dig Deep for Those Roots and You’ll Find a Star Many outside genre artists had tried making a transition to country music but none had done so like Darius Rucker had. Country revolves around the roots. Darius came from a poverty stricken Southern musically inclined family, similar to many early country stars. At many points in his early life Rucker’s family consisting of his 2 aunts, maternal grandma, and 13 other kids lived in a 3 bedroom apartment.

28. Cowboy Troy did not grow up with straight country in his cup. Troy has been influenced by a little bit more. Rap Country Rock ‘N Roll “Cowboy Troy”Lee Coleman III

29. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUPK9z59yUc Hick Hop Cowboy Troy’s song, “I Play Chicken With the Train,” is symbolic for the change he is bringing to country. Troy is not afraid to go against the norm to spread his country spirit. To bring African Americans into the country music industry more artists need to grasp this concept. Troy is also bringing a style of music new generations of country lovers are wanting.

30. Rissi Palmer may be the least known African American Country artist in this group but again she is a country artist who is fighting the norm. Rissi’s situation is a little bit different than the others considering she is not only African American, but also a woman. Rissi Palmer

31. “No Air” Another symbolic song that could be emphasizing struggle trying to make it as an African American, female country artist.

32. The rise of African American Country musicians has been there from the beginning, starting from the influence of African/African American slave singing. At one point there was a break in genres to the blues for African Americans and country for whites. Country is predominantly white performed, but that possibly is changing.

33. Where is the African American support for country music? It seems that more and more young African Americans today enjoy rap, hip hop, and pop music. Reasons causing this? the lifestyles they are raised in Increasing demand in sexual driven image Demand in dancing music African American musicians dominate those other genres giving young African Americans role models they look up to. African American Fans

34. Upon further research I found the leader in hit singles is George Strait with 57 hit singles. Charley Pride was just over 20 off. Readily available music is a lot easier to come by today then it was back in Pride’s time. For his time Pride accomplished what most people could not even dream of and those few African American country artists today would find life as a country artist much harder if it was not for him. Impact

35. Yes the country music industry is dominated by white Americans but, that does not mean the African American country artists are not as talented or popular. There are not enough African American country artists to spread out styles. Cowboy Troy has the right idea in forming his own style that appeals to rising fans. If an artist wants to survive in the music industry he/she must play what the fans want to hear. African American artists are welcome in the country genre, in todays society. Skin color is not holding them back like it has in the past. What is holding them back is the amount of African Americans flowing in as artists and fans. In conclusion

36. CanYou Find Them

37. Bibliography CMT“Charlie Pride Biography” 21 July,2011.Web http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/pride_charley/bio.jhtm Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. “Charley Pride”. Web.21 July,2011 http://coe.ksu.edu/nlbemuseum/history/players/pridec. Charley Pride. “About” Web.21 July,2011 http://www.charleypride.com/about/ DeFord Bailey: A Legend Lost.“Growing up in Smith County”.Web. July 21,2011 http://www.pbs.org/deford/biography/early.html Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.”DeFordBailey”.Web. July 21,2011 http://countrymusichalloffame.org/full-list-of-inductees/view/deford-bailey AGLA.“History of American General Life and Accident Insurance Company”.Web. July 21,2011 http://www.americangeneral.com/lifeinternet2000/careerweb.nsf/contents/aboutus_history Bio:TrueStory.“Darius Rucker Biography”.Web. July 21,2011 http://www.biography.com/articles/Darius-Rucker-224910 About:Country Music. “Darius Rucker - Biography”Web. July 21,2011 http://countrymusic.about.com/od/maleartistsmz/a/DariusRuckerBiography2.htm CMT:Get Country.”Cowboy Troy - Artist Main”Web. July 21,2011 http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/cowboy_troy/artist.jhtml Rissi Palmer. “Bio”Web. July 21,2011 http://www.rissipalmer.com/