This document discusses the origins and development of two influential genres of music that emerged from the American South: blues and country music. It notes that the isolation and conservatism of the South led to the development of its own forms of rural music. Key blues artists mentioned include Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, B.B. King, and Muddy Waters. The origins and isolation of country music are also briefly discussed, with examples given of famous country singers like Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, and Randy Travis.