Big Band Country
tagStarted 1938Peak 1942–1950Last big hit 1955
Big Band Country scales country dance music toward larger ensembles, tighter charting, and more brass- or sax-conscious swing phrasing, whether or not the band is fully horn-laden. The sound is richer and more formally arranged than small-combo western swing, with a ballroom sheen.
History
The style flourished in the late swing era as western bands expanded in size and polish, especially on the West Coast and in major dance circuits. Spade Cooley became the most visible exponent of the more orchestrated wing, while connected acts showed how country material could inhabit big-band space without losing identity.
Defining artists
Essential listening
Sources
- Encyclopaedia Britannica, "Western swing" (britannica.com)
- Library of Congress, "Western Swing: Live and on Film" (loc.gov)