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In 1927, nineteen bands gathered for a recording session in Bristol, on the Tennessee-Virginia border, including some of the most influential names in American music - the Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers and more. Organized by Ralph Peer for Victor records to capitalize on the popularity of
hillbilly
music, the Bristol Sessions were a key moment in country music’s evolution. The musicians played a variety of styles largely endemic to the mountain region. Rather than traditional sounds, Peer sought a combination of their elements, an amalgam that would form the backbone of modern country music. The reverberations of the Bristol Sessions are still felt today, yet their influence is widely misunderstood, and popular accounts of the event are more legend than history. These 19 essays offer an examination and reevaluation of the Bristol Sessions - from their germination, to the actual sessions, to their place in history and continuing influence. The first section discusses technological advances that resulted in the unmatched quality of the Bristol recordings. The second examines the people and bands involved, including Peer, responsible for many of the mistruths long attached to the event. The third gives first-hand accounts of the Bristol Sessions, while the fourth presents musicological studies of two of the prominent acts. The final section details subsequent recording sessions in Bristol and nearby Johnson City, and explores the lasting local musical legacy.
