Episode 2 | “Hard Times” (1933 – 1945) | Country Music | Ken Burns
Key Takeaways
During the Great Depression and World War Ii, Country Music Thrives and Reaches Bigger Audiences. Gene Autry Sets off a Craze for Singing Cowboys, Bob Wills Adapts Jazz’s Big Band Sound to Create Western Swing, and Roy Acuff, a Singer on the Grand Ole Opry, Becomes a National Star. Despite a Divorce Between Two of Its Members, the Carter Family Carries On, Turning out Songs That Will Become Classics. Nashville Slowly Becomes Music City and the Center of the Growing Country Music Industry.
During the Great Depression and World War II, country music thrives and reaches bigger audiences. Gene Autry sets off a craze for singing cowboys, Bob Wills adapts jazz’s Big Band sound to create Western swing, and Roy Acuff, a singer on the Grand Ole Opry, becomes a national star. Despite a divorce between two of its members, the Carter Family carries on, turning out songs that will become classics. Nashville slowly becomes Music City and the center of the growing country music industry.
