Bakersfield Sound

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The Bakersfield sound is a style within the country music. Its origins lie in the migratory movements of the 1930s and 1940s, when during the Depression, tens of thousands of poor farm laborers from Oklahoma direction moved west. The so-called Okies sought work in the orchards and industrial areas of the rich California. One of the main settlement areas was the area around the 150 km northeast of Los Angeles located Bakersfield. Here was a lively music scene, which was dominated by the rural music of the Okies.

In the 1950s, the Texas native Buck Owens moved to Bakersfield. He had a hard, rock and roll style similar to the style of guitar playing. A similar style played Wynn Stewart. The harder and clearer sound and the simple arrangements stood out clearly from the prevailing at this time softer Nashville Sound.

Bakersfield became an important center of country music in the 1960s. Jointly responsible for this was the rise of Merle Haggard, who was born near Bakersfield. Owens and Haggard made ​​the Bakersfield sound beyond the region, popular, contributed significantly to their guitarist Don Rich and Roy Nichols at.

Today Bakersfield has lost much of its former importance. The once so lively club scene has shifted to Los Angeles. Nashville is again the center of country music. The 1985 has become a star Dwight Yoakam regarded as the last great representative of the Bakersfield sound.

• Country music style
• Rockabilly