Country music is for the Deep South what “copla” means for the Spanish. Popular music, from the street: by one side caracoling, comb and plastic carnation; and by the other hats, spurs, plaid shirts and barbeques.
Country music in Spain is a genre appreciated by most part of the classic guitar lovers. Their song’s rancher and folkloric rhythms do well with the Spanish guitar. Furthermore, thanks to the western movies, many people know country music existence because of the Texan dances where cowgirls with boots and cowboys with hat dance to the same rhythm.
Country music starts in USA
This musical genre was originated at the Southern United States countryside, specifically in the 20’s. From its beginnings, country music was essentially played with stringed instruments, like banjo, guitar, violin and double bass. Although many times accordion and harmonica also participated.
Among the most renowned personalities, it’s worth mentioning Carter’s family, who were the first to record a country song and the great Jimmie Rodgers, a famous railway train driver from Mississippi. The previously mentioned singer-songwriters are considered by many people as country music parents.
Rythm’s evolution
From country music’s beginnings and with the passing of the years electric guitar and keyboard use has been introduced, but what has not changed is the inclination to narrate quotidian stories that reach their listener’s hearts by the lyrics and the melody.
This music biggest and most important leap took place in the 60’s, when the country industry centralized in Nashville and approached its melodies to the pop and some other genres, making the songs more catching and easier to play with a guitar.
From 90’s decade to our days, country music, like all musical genres, has evolved from its origins. Nowadays, this style of music’s current trend is known as “New Country”, a style with very solid bases on genre’s origins but adapted to actual times.
Country music beginnings in Spain
Initially counting with a small group of loyal and passionate followers of Americana, Bluegrass and classic Country music, first enthusiasts for this genre arrived to Spain thanks to Country Line Dance current starting. It’s not really clear how and when everything started. The only certainty is that this phenomenon was initiated in Catalonia sometime between 1996 and 1997 thanks to some dance instructors that started giving dancing lessons at a club in Tarragona called Hot Country Line Dance.
It was shortly after that a group of lessons imparted by a woman that lived between Chicago and Barcelona started. Those lessons that took place at a bar in El Masnou set what nowadays is known like Line Dance Catalan Style.
Genre’s evolution also continued at El Masnou, in a bar called Jambalaya, where Tecia McKenna, a north American singer that occasionally visited this bar, realized the differences between the original line dance and the Catalan Style and inspired the instructor to turn back to the USA and teach this style. While in that time was Country Line Dance boom in Catalonia arriving bit to bit to the rest of Spain.
The expansion
It was at beginnings of 2000 when country fever expanded to Spain. What was the reason? None other than the great Coyote Dax, a well-remembered by the audience singer that popularized the genre in Spain with his song “No rompas más”.
It was during summer 2001 when Coyote Dax gained a great success in our country with his song “No rompas más”, an adapted translation for the song “Achy Breaky Heart”, from Billy Ray Cyrus. This single made all Spain to move at the rhythm of a same choreography that some still remember with a big smile.
At present
While it is true that still can find great country music passionate all over our country, the biggest community is concentrated in Catalonia, where will enjoy diverse concerts, events and meetings to move the body at country music’s rhythm.
If you are one of those Country Line Dance passionate, in addition of wearing the right attire, it’s important having a good honky tonk to dance together with other people. At our country the majority of these places, especially the most recognized ones, are located in Catalonia and Madrid, although it’s worth mentioning some located in Valencia, Mallorca and the northern part of the country.
We really hope you have enjoyed this brief history of country music origins in Spain. And for all those who look for country fashion, Corbeto’s Boots is your place. Despite the current sanitary crisis situation we are open in our store at Barcelona’s Las Ramblas. Furthermore, wherever you are can also find all what you need for your line dance marathons at our online shop.
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