The inland South includes parts of Virginia, West Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, Arkansas, southern Missouri, northern Louisiana, eastern Oklahoma, and East Texas. The inland south has had great influence on American popular music since the 19th century. Many genres of music including rock and roll, country, blues, jazz, and rhythm and blues originated in the Inland South before achieving worldwide popularity. A genre that is particularly associated with Inland South is country music. It has been influenced by many older musical traditions. Today, country music is a very popular genre and has had significant influence on rock music and other contemporary genres of popular music. Country music is associated with the Appalachian region where its historical background may be traced.
Grand Ole Opry District
Residents and visitors to the Inland South also enjoy the music industry of Tennessee. Other places in the Inland South that are known for music are Memphis--"home of the blues," Nashville--"the music city," and "country music capital of the world." Tennessee is home to the Grand Ole Opry and Country Music Hall of Fame. Many of America's biggest country music stars started their careers in clubs and recording studios in Nashville, Tennessee.
The Music City: Tennessee
New York City
The music of New York City is also a major part of the American music industry. Many popular genres of music such as jazz, rock, blues, classical, and art music are home to New York City. It is also a birthplace for hip hop, Latin freestyle, punk rock, bebop, salsa, disco, and "new wave." Many music companies and organizations have set up their headquarters making new York a center for American music since the early 20th century. Some famous venues and institutions located in New York are Tin Pan Alley, Broadway, Carnegie Hall, and the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
Tin Pan Alley
Broadway
By the 1830s, New York City had become an important cultural center in the U.S. Much like the inland South, it was home for different genres of music such as folk and classical music. By the 19th century, many influential venues were founded such as the world-famous Metropolitan Opera House and Carnegie Hall. Going into the 20th century, New York's musical development continued as companies including sheet music found their foundation in the city.
Metropolitan Opera House
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is one of the most important musical venues for classical music. It is known for its excellence in acoustic style songs. Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts is the largest performing arts center in the world. In it exists twelve organizations--Metropolitan Opera, New York Philharmonic, New York City Ballet, Julliard School, Lincoln Center Theater, New York City Opera, etc. Other institutions in New York related to music are Brooklyn Academy of music and the Jazz Foundation of America.
Julliard School of Art