Garth Brooks (1962–), despite being a staggeringly popular recording artist and performer is a strangely polarizing figure. Brooks, the first country singer to release a multi-platinum album, too...

Patsy Cline (1932–1963) was arguably the most influential country musician of all time and certainly one of the style's greatest singers. Cline, who was born Virginia Hensley, began her career at...

Bill Monroe (1911–1996) invented the bluegrass style. Monroe had gotten his start playing mandolin in a Chicago band with his brothers, but his great innovation was to revamp the Appalachian tune...

Ralph Peer (1892–1960) is often credited with creating the country music business. Peer was a New York-based artist and repertory man for Okeh and Victor records—two of the large early recordin...

Elvis Presley (1935–1977) was such a pivotal figure in the history of popular music that in retrospect, he seems to have been destined to emerge when he did. Sun Records honcho Sam Phillips antic...

Jimmie Rodgers (1897–1933) was the most influential performer in the early history of country music. Every singing cowboy, rambling man, and honky-tonk hero who has followed owes Rodgers a signif...

Fred Rose (1898–1954) was one of the crucial figures in the process that centralized the country music industry in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1942, Rose formed Acuff-Rose Publications with the...

Hank Williams (1923–1953) is the most legendary figure in the history of country music. For many, Williams is country music and his spare songwriting and expressive singing is its spirit and soul...