Fall 2024 Part 2.

 

 

Fashion Part 3

 

Fashion culture from 1500 to 1900 represents a radical change in human history. By this time, we saw the growth of Empires globally that dealt with international trade, cultural diffusion, and the growth of economies. There is power in the cultural diversity of the human race. Fashion doesn't just deal with the design of clothes. Fashion also deals with the constant changes that have occurred in human history too. The modern capitalist system as we know it (as tons of people have criticized this system too) existed during this era of four centuries. Also, we can't omit an important event of this time too. This time saw the peak of the Maafa which was the worst form of slavery in human history. The Maafa was when millions of innocent black men, women, and children were kidnapped, raped, abused, and murdered. Many black people were kidnapped and forcibly sent to the Americas, other parts of Africa, Asia, etc. In the Americas and throughout the world, black people were stripped of culture, creed, family, and tribal affiliations. This event damaged families, and black people used strength and resiliency to fight back against slavery too. From 1500 to 1900, there were the ages of growth of Empires, the Renaissance period, the Age of Global Revolutions and Wars, and the existence of the start of the Modern Era of time. Fashion during this time became very advanced. Tunics weren't used so much. They were replaced with differentiation in clothing (that defines modern fashion in many ways).  For example, people wore clothing with detachable sleeves, overskirts, jerkins, and baskets. More people wore caps and hats. Different colored dresses and shirts plus religious caps were commonplace in the world. There were tons of unsung fashion designers who helped people express their individuality in creative ways. Therefore, the fashion of the era of 1500-1900 set up a foundation where modern fashion flourishes today. 

 

The Renaissance Era

By the Renaissance period of time, we saw how women and men wore very different clothing. The Renaissance was when many people tried to put a remix on the Greco-Roman cultural expression. Some people escaped from Constantinople into Italy, because they wanted to escape the Ottoman invasion of Turkey. For women, they wore tight bodices, full skirts that could hang to the ankles, and intricate sleeves. Dresses that exposed the neckline were fashionable. Women wore berets, veils, garlands in their hair, and adorned their clothing with feathers and lace. During the Renaissance, men wore puffed sleeves, form-fitting waists, and codpieces worn over tights. Many men wore doublets, berets, and caps. Some used feathers on their hats. There was a linen shift in clothes, regardless of gender. Clothes had fibers like linen, wool, and silk. There were many heavy clothes for upper-class members of society. By the 1500's more people wore headdresses. Women worn gown as shown in the portrait of Mona Lisa done by Leonardo da Vinci. Mona Lisa was actually Lisa Gherardini, wife of Francesco del Giocondo. Gothic clothing was shown in Northern Europe. In Africa by the 1500's, African people wore shirts, dresses, beads, other advanced clothing, and shoes. By the 1500's, there was the Little Ice Age where temperatures were cooler in the Northern Hemisphere especially. The great myth is that no black lived in Europe before the 1500s. We have scientific and historical evidence of black people living in ancient Greece and ancient Rome. We know that black people did live in the Renaissance period, and the first people into Europe were black people (in many cases having blue eyes). There are tons of works of art from paintings to sculptures showing an African presence in Europe during the 1400's. 

Robert de Clari was a French Knight who was part of the Fourth Crusade. He wrote about his account of that Crusade in a work called Conquest of Constantinople, which he is wrote in about 1216. He wrote that in 1203, he saw an unnamed Nubian King. By 1402, many Ethiopian embassies arrived all over Europe in Spain, France, and Italy. We know of the Afro-Spanish Painter Juan de Pareja in the 17th century of Spain. Beatriz de Palacios was a soldier, nurse, and explorer of African and Spanish descent. Marie-Cessette Dumas was a female slave in the French colony of Saint Domingue. She was the mother of General Thomas-Alexandre Dumas, the grandmother of novelist Alexandre Dumas, and the great-grandmother of playwright Alexandre Dumas, fils, and has been called a "great matriarch to a saga of distinguished men." Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-George(s) (25 December 1745 – 9 June 1799) was a French violinist, conductor, composer and soldier. Moreover, he demonstrated excellence as a fencer, an athlete and an accomplished dancer. His historical significance lies partly in his distinctive background as a biracial free man of color. Bologne was the first classical composer of African descent to attain widespread acclaim in European music. He composed an array of violin concertos, string quartets, sinfonia concertantes, violin duets, sonatas, two symphonies and an assortment of stage works, notably opéra comique.

The 1600's

By the 1600's, the world has changed. We saw the early modern period of the world. There was the Baroque cultural movement, the end of the Spanish Golden Age, the Dutch Golden Age, and the Scientific Revolution. The world's first megacorporation existed called the Dutch East India Company. Kingdoms and Empires govern areas in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas, etc. We saw logarithms, electricity, the telescope, the microscope, the invention of modern-day calculus the law of Motion understood, and researchers growing (from Galilei to Pascal). The Islamic world grew in strength. The southern half of India would see the decline of the Deccan Sultanates and the extinction of the Vijayanagara Empire. The Dutch would colonize Ceylon and endure hostilities with Kandy. The end of the 17th century saw the first major surrender of Ottoman territory in Europe when the Treaty of Karlowitz ceded most of Hungary to the Habsburgs in 1699. Qing China spent decades of this century with economic problems (results of civil wars between the Qing and former Ming dynasty loyalists), only recovering well at the end of the century. In Japan, Tokugawa Ieyasu established the Tokugawa shogunate at the beginning of the century, beginning the Edo period; the isolationist Sakoku policy began in the 1630s and lasted until the 19th century. In China, the collapsing Ming dynasty was challenged by a series of conquests led by the Manchu warlord Nurhaci, which were consolidated by his son Hong Taiji and finally consummated by his grandson, the Shunzhi Emperor, founder of the Qing dynasty. The Elizabethan influence in European fashion existed during this period. There were embroidered jackets, expensive materials, and waistcoats. Women wore silhouettes and the garment for dresses called the chemise. More people used combs to brush their hair. There was linen in many styles. Men wore jackets and pants. Anne Vavasour was a fashion expert during the 1600's. Many men wore hats. Other men wore coats, waistcoats, and other forms of fashion. 

 

The 1700's

The 1700's saw massive changes in fashion. By that century, many women wore Baroque and Rococo-influenced dresses. There was the brocaded silk mantua dress filled with fabric and images on it. Many women started to wear healed shows with designs on them made up of fabric. Complex gowns and petticoats were commonplace during that period too. Some of the gowns were white, pink, yellow, and other colors. It included a stomacher, box pleats, lace sleeve ruffles, cartridge pleating, and a polonaise mechanism. Women hair was designed with feathers and braids, and other forms of clothing. Men, during the 1700's wore boats, petticoats with buttons on them, and linen filled vests. Many in Europe, American colonists, Africans, Asians, Native Americans, etc. wore diverse clothing from neoclassical fashion to fashion common to working-class people. Men wore shoes, boots, and specialized hats back in the 1800's too. Coats back then had cuffs, collars, and designs on them. People wore masks for parties including wearing canes as a fashion statement. 

The 1800's

During the 19th century, the world has changed. The early 19th century saw global Revolutions being against monarchs and imperialism like the Haitian Revolution, the American Revolution, the French Revolution, the Latin American Revolution, etc. The result of these events caused democracies to grow and Monarchs to reach the start of the beginning of the end of their empires. Also, imperialism was constantly in growth from Africa to Asia by the 1800's. Napoleon invaded Europe and was pushed back by many European armies like from Russia and the UK.  Human beings by this century saw more population growth, human lifespans increasing, and the Industrial Revolution. The Industrial Revolution was a paradox when it did grow railroads, steamships, roads, and bridges, but it also had its imperfections like workers' exploitation, pollution, the growth of imperialism, and other evils too. The early 1800s saw neoclassicism rise up in fashion. Women wore headdresses, gowns, and sandal shoes. Feathered bonnets and other designs like umbrellas were expressed by women in the 1800's too. Urban culture growing via the Industrial Revolution influenced fashion too. Jewelry filled with pearls and many people wore ncklaces and umbrellas as fashion styles. Many women wore evening hourglass dresses. Many men back in the 1800's wore top hats, canes, and dress shoes. Many men wore wool cloth and tailoring to make their clothes fit. There was sportswear too. As the 1800's continued, there were more dresses with more elaborate designs and bonnets with feathers on them. Dresses began to have silk, there were tassels and specialized sleeves. Charles Worth was a famous designer of the 1800's. The bustle skirt was common too. The bustle was popular during the late 1800's. By the mid to late 1800's, men wore modern-day three-piece suits, dress shows, top hats, and quilted capes. The wardrobe became more business-like. Women wore sportswear with bustle dresses, collar dresses, nautical images, umbrellas, and a walking suit. Many people wore turbans and costumes. We know about the Victorian era in the UK where men and women wore more conservative clothing. This era spread into America. 

It is important to mention the diverse fashion of the African continent centuries ago. Many geographic and environmental realities influence fashion. Also, there were trade and cultural influences that changed African fashion too. Many parts of Africa suffered the evils of colonialism and imperialism. Before European colonialism, pre-colonial Africa had great clothing, fabric, and popular silhouettes. There were tons of handwoven fabrics in Nigeria with advanced patterns from the 13th century. Many Africans back centuries ago wore less clothing because many Africans lived in the Equator. European colonizers and racists tried to use respectability politics to restrict African's fashion freedoms. The kente cloth in Ghana and other parts of Africa have a long history. The kente cloth came from Ghana with a woven textile that have striped patterns and bright colors with many meanings. How much of African dress has been influenced by colonizers and missionaries has been documented by Madeleine Janz's article of "From Kente to colonialism: African fashion over time" found in the Journal of Fashion Studies. By the 17th century and 18th century, Africa had the raffia cloth. It is a type of textile woven from palm leaves and used for garments, bags, and mats. 

During the 19th century, there is the African akwete design. Akwete is a decorative cloth with complex weave designs, intricate geometric patterns, and it has vibrant colors. It is usually made into wrappers for women to wear, and it is made by the Igbo women of Nigeria. By the 1800's, the world saw the growth of the red silk dress.  Many of them existed by 1869. This dress has a fitted waist, accented by the bustled overskirt with black lace trimming. There are advanced designs on the dress too. There are many colors of the silhouette too. Clothes had more advanced fabrics like silk, satin, taffeta, faille, moire, silk poplin, velvet, etc. Silk dresses of many colors were worn in picnics, birthdays, and other celebrations throughout the 1800's. 

Conclusion

From the late Middle Ages to the early Modern Ages, fashion evolved massively. We saw tons of changes. From the early period, fashion was less detailed and filled with items similar to the days of the ancient Roman Empire. As time moved forward, we saw fabrics being more complex, the growth of elaborate dresses, and new styles of top hats too. During the centuries from 1500 to 1900, massive world changes existed. The monarchies of the world were challenged by revolutions from Haiti to France. People wanted real human rights beyond the centralization of power being contained by a select few Royal interests. There was a revolutionary transformation of fashion indeed. From the 15th century to the end of the 19th century, we saw kente cloths, advanced silk dresses, top hats, and other displays of monumental fashion styles. By the 1800's, there was the American Civil War, the Prussian War, new scientific inventions, and the abolishment of slavery in many countries of the world (from America to Brazil). There were conservative Victorian gowns and elegant Regency attire. The Industrial Revolution of the 19th century saw new technologies and more methods of production causing more dyes to be used on clothes (filled with silk, cotton, etc.). Many women wore high necklines, long sleeves, and full skirts. Some women wore corsets and crinolines. Men had many utilitarian suits, waistcoats, ties, and hats. The three-piece suit was popularized in the 19th century. 

 

 

  

 

Country Music Part 2

By the 1960's and the 1970's, Country music became more international. It was a new era. Musicians existed to show the Nashville sound. Now, Nashville is a city that is one large epicenter of country music culture. There were people like Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, and Jim Reeves. By this time, the Nashville sound became a multimillion-dollar industry. Many country singers passed away from plane crashes in the early 1960's.  Starting in the 1950s to the mid-1960s, western singer-songwriters such as Michael Martin, Murphey, and Marty Robbins increased in prominence as did others, throughout Western music traditions, like New Mexico music's Al Hurricane. The late 1960s in American music produced a unique blend as a result of traditionalist backlash within separate genres. In the aftermath of the British Invasion, many desired a return to the "old values" of rock n' roll. At the same time, there was a lack of enthusiasm in the country sector for Nashville-produced music. What resulted was a crossbred genre known as country rock. Fourth generation (1970s–1980s) music included outlaw country with roots in the Bakersfield sound, and country pop with roots in the countrypolitan, folk music, and soft rock. Between 1972 and 1975 singer/guitarist John Denver released a series of hugely successful songs blending country and folk-rock musical styles. By the mid-1970s, Texas country and Tejano music gained popularity with performers like Freddie Fender. By this time, more black American country music legends existed like Charlie Pride and Linda Martell. Linda Martell has inspired artists like Kane Brown, Mickey Guyton, Beyonce, Rhiannon Giddens, Jennifer Nettles, Darius Rucker, Carrie Underwood, and other people who blessed the stages with music comprehensively

The 1960's

By the 1960's, the New Nashville Sound existed. The music merged blending rockabilly and more traditional styles. Ray Price, Jim Reeves, Ferlin Husky, Eddy Arnold, Patsy Cline, and George Jones embody this sound in their recordings. Women singers come into their own as star performers. Kitty Wells and Patsy Cline lead the way for Jean Shepard, Skeeter Davis, Dottie West, Connie Smith, Loretta Lynn, Barbara Mandrell, Tammy Wynette, and Dolly Parton to rise to the top of the charts. The Country Music Hall of Fame inducted its first members in 1961: Jimmie Rodgers, Fred Rose, and Hank Williams. Willie Nelson wrote "Crazy" for Patsy Cline and "Hello Walls" for Faron Young, planting himself squarely at the heart of the country music tradition. Roy Acuff was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1962. Vocal groups rise to prominence. The Statler Brothers, the Oak Ridge Boys, Larry Gatlin, the Gatlin Brothers, the Forrester Sisters, and the Bellamy Brothers all gained popularity by the late 1960's. By 1964, Charley Pride begins to rise to the top of the charts. He was the first black performer to become a massive superstar in the country music field. Pride successfully switches back and forth between the country, pop, and gospel charts.  Charley Pride lived from March 18, 1934, to December 12, 2020. He could sing, play guitar, and was a professional baseball player (playing in the Negro League's Memphis Red Sox and other teams like Bosie Yankees, Fond du Lac Panthers, etc.). He was born in the Deep South in Sledge, Mississippi. Charley Pride had tons of hits from 1969 to 1975. Pride is one of the three African American members of the Grand Ole Opry (including DeFord Bailey and Darius Rucker). He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2000. 

Starting in the 1950s to the mid-1960s, western singer-songwriters such as Michael Martin Murphey and Marty Robbins rose in prominence as did others, throughout Western music traditions, like New Mexico music's Al Hurricane. The late 1960s in American music produced a unique blend as a result of traditionalist backlash within separate genres. In the aftermath of the British Invasion, many desired a return to the "old values" of rock n' roll. At the same time, there was a lack of enthusiasm in the country sector for Nashville-produced music. What resulted was a crossbred genre known as country rock. Many of his hit songs are All I Have to Offer You (Is Me), Is Anybody Goin' to San Antone, and A Shoulder to Cry On. In 1967, Dolly Parton joined Porter Wagoner's TV show. In 1968, Bob Willis was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, and in 1969, Gene Autry was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. By 1970, Bill Monroe and the Original Carter Family were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. During the 1970's, Bakersfield, California, becomes a center for a west-coast country music style. Ferlin Husky and Buck Owens are early examples of the style. A more contemporary artist is Dwight Yoakum. Precious Lord: New Recordings of the Great Gospel Songs of Thomas A. Dorsey is recorded by Thomas Dorsey, Marion Williams, and others. Thomas A. Dorsey is considered the Father of Gospel Music. Thomas Dorsey is the father of modern Gospel music songwriting. 

The Man in Black Johnny Cash remains one of the many icons of country music. When he was on the stage, he brought massive excitement, skills, and intensity. He was born in Kingsland, Arkansas, and he lived in Nashville, Tennessee for many years. People know her for his deep, calm, and bass-baritone voice. Johnny Cash was also a military veteran. He worked with the Tennessee Three and had established his own solo career. Johnny Cash had music that dealt with sorrow, moral tribulation, and redemption. His music became more introspective as time came about during his life. He lived to be 71 years old. He loved his five children, and he married Vivian Liberto and June Carter. A lot of people don't know that Vivian D. Liberto's father Thomas Liberto was of Sicilian descent. Her mother Irene was of German, Irish, and African American descent (who was in Texas since the 19th century). One of Vivian Liberto's great-great-great grandmothers was Sally Shields, a woman of biracial heritage. Sally Shields' mother was an enslaved African American. Sally's white father and slave owner was William Bryant Shields. Johnny Cash had imperfections from drug abuse, violence, and adultery. Vivian Liberto's children supported a documentary that outlined a fair picture of how Vivian Liberto was a kindhearted woman who cared deeply for her children (back in the 1960's, the Klan wanted to kill Johnny Cash and Vivian Liberto, because many of Vivian Liberto's relatives and ancestors were black people). Johnny Cash's first single was I Walk the Line being inspired by Vivian Liberto. Cash had many signature songs like Ring of Fire, Get Rhythm, Man in Black, One Piece at a Time, and Jackson. He sold over 90 million records worldwide. He worked in country, rock and roll, rockabilly, blues, folk, and gospel music.  He was inducted into the Country Music, Rock and Roll, and Gospel Halls of Fame. By the 1960's, he had an outlaw image. Cash made songs to defend the human rights of Native Americans. He worked with Pete Seeger's TV show Rainbow Quest. He had his own television show called The Johnny Cash Show on ABC lasting from June 7, 1969, to March 31, 1971. It was taped at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. He was the grand marshal of the United States Bicentennial parade too. Johnny Cash converted to Christianity early in his life and attended First Baptist Church in Hendersonville, Tennessee before his passing with his wife. 

One of the greatest country music artists is Linda Martell, and she was born on June 4, 1941. She was the first commercially successful black women artist in the country music field. She was the first artist to play in the Grand Ole Opry. As one of the first modern-day African American country artists, she has inspired future Nashville artists of color (including black people). She was born in Leesville, South Carolina, with her name of Thelma Bynum. She grew up listening to country, gospel, and R&B music. She formed a singing trio with her family called Linda Martell and the Anglos. By the 1960's, she made R&B singles with many black performers. She had the cover of Color Him Father. Her debut album was in 1970. Martell gave interviews, gave appearances on many country music television programs and released more music. She performed at Grand Ole Opry 12 times. She loves her three children. Martell has inspired future black artists like Kane Brown and Mickey Guyton (whose stories will be shown in the near future in a future work about country music). Martell was honored with the Equal Play Award at the 2021 CMT Music Awards. It was given to her to honor her work as a black woman performer in country music. A tribute during the broadcast was given by Darius Rucker, Carrie Underwood, Rissi Palmer, Rhiannon Giddens, Jennifer Nettles, and Mickey Guyton. Linda Martell made a full recovery from breast cancer.  

The 1970's

Patsy Cline was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1973. Minnie Pearl is inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1975. In 1976, Willie Nelson created the Outlaw movement (or Austin sound), exemplified in his album Wanted: The Outlaws, with vocals by Willie, Waylon Jennings, Jessi Colter, and Tompall Glaser. Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash, and Hank Williams, Jr., also fit the Outlaw category in their 1970s recordings in 1976. Fourth generation (1970s–1980s) music included outlaw country with roots in the Bakersfield sound, and country pop with roots in the countrypolitan, folk music, and soft rock. Between 1972 and 1975 singer/guitarist John Denver released a series of hugely successful songs blending country and folk-rock musical styles. John Dever was one of the most popular artists of the 1970's. He lived from December 31, 1943, to October 12, 1997. He was born in Roswell, New Mexico. He performed folk, folk rock, pop, Western, country, and soft rock music. He was not only a singer, composer, actor, and guitarist. John Dever was a record producer, actor, and humanitarian. He loved his three children. John Denver released about 300 songs, with 200 of them being written by himself. He had 33 albums and many singles. Many of his signature songs are Take Me Home, Country Roads, Poems, Prayers, and Promises, Rocky Mountain High, Annie's song, Thank God I'm a Country Boy, Sunshine on My Shoulders, and Calypso. John Denver promotes nature conservation projects. In 1997, Denver filmed an episode of the television series Nature. His last song was Yellowstone, Coming Home. By the mid-1970s, Texas country and Tejano music gained popularity with performers like Freddie Fender. Kitty Wells is inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1976.

The Pointer Sisters made country music during the 1970's and beyond. They loved to express music in multiple genres, including R&B, soul, pop, dance, and country music. Their members back then were Ruth, June, Bonnie, and Anita Pointer. The Pointer Sister started in the Bay Area in Oakland, California, a city filled with a history of social consciousness (as it was the origin of the Black Panther Party of Self-Defense). The Pointer Sisters had a massive successful career in the 1970's and the 1980's with songs like Automatic, Jump (for My Love), Slow Hand, So Excited, etc. In the 1970's, the Pointer Sisters had a country music song called Fairytale. That song was from their February 1974 album of That's a Plenty. Anita Pointer said that she wrote the breakup song of Fairytale from her personal experiences. Anita heard music from James Taylor (who is a great singer and songwriter), and she felt inspired to write the song Fairytale. The Pointer Sister had a series of promotional appearances in Nashville with an August 16, 1974, performance at Fairgrounds Speedway. On October 25, 1974, the Pointer Sisters performed Fairytale at the Grand Ole Opry, making the inaugural Opry appearance by an African American vocal group. The group sang the song first at their April 21, 1974, concert at the San Francisco Opera House. Fairytale would later result in something. Later, The Pointer Sisters won the Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group for the year. This was the first awarding of a Grammy to an all-women vocal group, making The Pointer Sisters the only black women to date who has won a Grammy in a country music category. 

By the early 1970's, country music icon Dolly Parton was already a legend. She was born in the South at Pittman Center, Tennessee. For generations, Dolly Parton has been a singer, songwriter, actress, and philanthropist. She has participated in country music for more than five decades now. Her first album was called Hello, I'm Dolly in 1967. Dolly Parton was raised very poor. She performed on the radio as a child. She moved to Nashville after she graduated from Sevier County High School in 1964. By 1968, she released the song of Just Because I'm a Woman. Dolly Parton by the 1970's, increased the number of hits like Joshua, Coat of Many Colors, etc. She loved to do duets with fellow country artists too. Tons of people know Dolly Parton's signature song Jolene, which was released in in late 1973. The song topped the country charts in February of 1974. Beyonce and Dolly Parton did an ode to the song called Jole from Beyonce's Cowboy Carter album. Dolly Parton released the song I Will Always Love You in 1974 which was about her professional break from Wagoner. It went to number one on the country chart. Parton wanted to own her own royalties and publishing rights which caused her to earn millions of royalties from the single. Whitney Houston made an iconic cover of I Will Always Love You from the Bodyguard soundtrack back in 1992. Dolly Parton did pop music too along with Olivia Newton-John, Emmylou Harris, and Linda Ronstadt. Parton's album of Here You Come Again in 1977 sold over one million copies. In 1978, Dolly Parton won a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. Dolly Parton continues to make music to this very day, help the sick, promote tolerance for fellow human beings, and lives a very quiet life in the South. 

There is no mention of country music without mentioning information about Willie Nelson. Willie Nelson grew to be a rebel against an extremely conservative interpretation of how country music should be displayed. Nelson became a great activist on many social causes and follow his own individuality as America culturally always had a libertarian, individual streak. He was one of the many leaders of the outlaw country genre that was formed by the late 1960s to react to the conservative Nashville sound. He was born in the Deep South in Abbott, Texas. Nelson loved music since he was a young child.  He wrote his first song when he was seven years old, and he joined his first band when he was ten years old. He toured with the Bohemian Polka during his time in high school. He graduated from high school in 1950. He joined the U.S. Air Force. Later, he attended Baylor University for two years, worked as a disc jockey at radio stations in Texas, and wrote sounds (like Funny How Time Slips Away, Hello Walls, Pretty Paper, and Crazy). He lived in Nashville in 1960. He signed with people and had his first album called And Then I Wrote in 1962. He had success and joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1964. Willie Nelson moved to Austin, Texas in 1972 to escape the corporate side of the music industry. In 1975, Nelson released the outlaw country album of Wanted! The Outlaws with Waylon Jennings, Jessi Colter, and  Tompall Glaser. He would make more hits in the 1980's and beyond. He toured the world, and he worked in reggae, blues, jazz, and folk music. He was a fighter for marijuana legalization (which was taboo back in the day. It isn't taboo now). Nelson owns the biodiesel brand of Willie Nelson Biodiesel. He is the honorary chairman of the advisory board of the Texas Music Project, the official music charity of the state of Texas. As an advocate of farmers' rights, Willie Nelson performed for Farm Aid for years. He is an American original being a great guitar player too. Recently, I found out that Willie Nelson called the black country music legend Charlie Pride Super N_____. I don't play that, and Willie Nelson is completely wrong. Pride said it was a term of endearment, but it is not. No human being should be called a racist slur, and I want to make that perfectly clear. Folks would dare call a Muslim, a Jewish person, a Hispanic person, and other people slurs. There is no excuse for the usage of that slur period.  

The End of An Era 

Country music in the 1960's and the 1970's dealt with a transition in culture. These two decades saw a massive shift in culture in general. This shift is called the Cultural Revolution. The Cultural Revolution saw no fault divorce being legalized in America, the growth of civil rights and voting rights laws, and the anti-Vietnam War movement reaching its zenith. Before the 1960's, many women couldn't sign a loan without a husband or male relative's permission, black people suffered Jim Crow apartheid, the Cold War was heating up, and massive conformity was commonplace. Anyone desiring to revert back to the early to mid-20th century is just plain mistaken and wrong. Then, society was massively changing by many activists who desired the expansion of human rights. Also, many people were sincere to desire for freedom for the human race. Other people were overtly funded by the CIA, foundations, and corporate interests to distract people from opposing imperialism and other evils via the usage of recreational drugs and divide-and-conquer strategies too. John Potash wrote literature proving that too. Country music in the 1960's had artists like Glen Campbell, Merle Haggard, Patsy Cline, George Jones, The Statler Brothers, Jeannie C. Riley (with the famous song of Harper Valley P.T.A.), Roger Miller, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Tammy Wynette, Dottie West, Johnny Cash, and other human beings who sang powerfully about their lives and the issues of the world. Soon, the country music of the 1980's will be described to the public. 

By Timothy