America's Music: The Roots of Country (1996)

America's Music: The Roots of Country is a 1996 three-part, six episode documentary about the history of American country music directed by Tom Neff and Jerry Aronson and written by Neff and Robert K. Oermann. The film touches on many of the styles of music that make up country music, including: Old-time music, Cajun music, Folk music, Rockabilly, Western music, Western swing, the Bakersfield sound, Honky-tonk and the Nashville sound. Country music artist and actor Kris Kristofferson narrates the three-part series.

The film was produced by Wild Wolf Productions for TBS Superstation and shown on three consecutive nights beginning on June 2, 1996. It was repeated only once in the Fall of 2011.

Synopsis

The six-hour, multi-part film series, examines the evolution one of America's popular and enduring music forms from its origin in Appalachia to its current status across the United States and the world. The film is a comprehensive journey through the history of American country music as told by the performing legends of the past and the performing stars of today. Included are record producers, song writers, record executives, fans, country radio DJ's, and others who laid the foundations of country music and those who stand at its apex today.

Actors