Country music in the 1930s was a blend of tradition, storytelling, and heartfelt emotion. It captured the spirit of rural America during a challenging decade marked by the Great Depression and cultural transformation. This era saw the rise of pioneering voices that laid the foundation for modern country music. These artists combined old-time string music, gospel, folk, and blues to create a distinctive sound that resonated with working-class audiences.
Below is a comprehensive and engaging look at 18 iconic country singers of the 1930s who helped define the genre.
18 Country Singers of the 1930s You Can’t Miss
🎤1. Jimmie Rodgers – The Father of Country Music
Jimmie Rodgers is widely regarded as the founding father of country music. His unique yodeling style, coupled with blues and folk influences, made him a trailblazer in the genre. Born in Mississippi, Rodgers’ recordings with the Victor Talking Machine Company in the late 1920s and early 1930s were instrumental in popularizing country music nationally.
Notable Songs: “Blue Yodel” series, “T for Texas”, “Waiting for a Train”
His songs spoke to everyday struggles and joys, combining heartfelt lyrics with technical innovation. Though he passed away in 1933 due to tuberculosis, his legacy continued to shape country music for decades.
🎤 2. The Carter Family – Harmonies of the Hills
The Carter Family, consisting of A.P. Carter, his wife Sara Carter, and sister-in-law Maybelle Carter, brought Appalachian folk music to the forefront of American consciousness. They focused on family-oriented, gospel-tinged songs with tight harmonies and Maybelle’s groundbreaking guitar work.
Notable Songs: “Wildwood Flower”, “Can the Circle Be Unbroken”, “Keep on the Sunny Side”
They became a staple on the radio and through their Victor recordings. The Carter Family’s music became synonymous with heartfelt emotion and authentic country values.
🎤 3. Gene Autry – The Singing Cowboy
Gene Autry was the first singing cowboy to make it big in both music and movies. He helped merge Hollywood westerns with country music, creating a new image of the country singer as a cowboy hero.
Notable Songs: “Back in the Saddle Again”, “That Silver-Haired Daddy of Mine”, “South of the Border”
Autry’s style was smooth and appealing to a wide audience. His success in film and radio made him a household name and a cultural icon of the 1930s.
🎤4. Roy Acuff – The King of Country Music
Roy Acuff began his musical journey in the 1930s and rose to fame through his emotional singing and fiddle playing. He brought a theatrical flair to performances and later became a central figure on the Grand Ole Opry.
Notable Songs: “Wabash Cannonball”, “The Great Speckled Bird”, “The Precious Jewel”
His influence helped shift country music from a group-based format to a focus on solo performers, changing the industry’s trajectory.
🎤 5. Ernest Tubb – A Pioneer of the Honky Tonk Sound
Though his greatest fame came in the 1940s, Ernest Tubb began his career in the 1930s. Inspired by Jimmie Rodgers, he initially emulated the yodeling style but later developed his own voice with a Texas twang and electric guitar backing.
Notable Songs (later influence): “Blue Eyed Elaine”, “Walking the Floor Over You” (1941)
His roots in the 1930s laid the groundwork for the honky tonk subgenre that would dominate country music in the 1940s and 1950s.
🎤 6. Patsy Montana – The First Female Country Star
Patsy Montana made history by becoming the first female country singer to sell a million records with her hit “I Want to Be a Cowboy’s Sweetheart.” She brought a feminine voice to a male-dominated genre and inspired generations of women.
Notable Songs: “I Want to Be a Cowboy’s Sweetheart”, “Back on the Texas Plains”
Her style combined western swing with yodeling and heartfelt lyrics, celebrating both independence and romance.
🎤 7. Bradley Kincaid – The Folk Song Collector
Bradley Kincaid helped preserve and popularize traditional American folk songs. His appearances on the “National Barn Dance” radio program brought him national fame.
Notable Songs: “Barbara Allen”, “The Red River Valley”, “Sweet Betsy from Pike”
He sang with a warm, accessible voice and often emphasized stories passed down through oral traditions, enriching the country music repertoire.
🎤 8. Uncle Dave Macon – The Dixie Dewdrop
Uncle Dave Macon was a banjo-playing showman who entertained audiences with a mix of humor, music, and personality. A former freight hauler, he began his professional career later in life but became a favorite on the Grand Ole Opry.
Notable Songs: “Keep My Skillet Good and Greasy”, “Take Me Back to My Old Carolina Home”
He represented the transition from 19th-century minstrel shows to the radio era of country music.
🎤9. Tex Ritter – Voice of the Western Plains
Tex Ritter brought a deep, rich voice to country music and later became a movie cowboy. In the 1930s, he was a key figure in the development of the western music genre.
Notable Songs: “Rye Whiskey”, “Sam Hall”, “Get Along Little Dogies”
Ritter’s performances blended traditional cowboy ballads with theatrical flair, creating an enduring western image.
🎤 10. Lulu Belle and Scotty – The Sweethearts of Country Music
Lulu Belle and Scotty were one of the first famous country duos. Their partnership on the “National Barn Dance” radio show made them beloved figures across America.
Notable Songs: “Have I Told You Lately That I Love You?”, “Down by the Railroad Tracks”
Their harmonies and wholesome image brought charm and emotional connection to early country broadcasts.
🎤 11. Zeke Manners – Country Meets Comedy
Zeke Manners led the “Zeke Manners and His Gang” group and specialized in novelty songs with a western swing flavor. He brought humor and showmanship to the genre.
Notable Songs: “Take My Wife, Please”, “Los Angeles”
He later influenced comedic musical styles and radio personalities but was already a radio favorite by the 1930s.
🎤 12. Cliff Carlisle – The Slide Guitar Innovator
Cliff Carlisle was a steel guitar pioneer and a master of the dobro. His mix of Hawaiian-style slide guitar and bluesy country lyrics created a distinctive sound.
Notable Songs: “Tom Cat Blues”, “That Nasty Swing”, “Goin’ Down the Road Feelin’ Bad”
Carlisle’s bold and often cheeky lyrics made him a colorful character in early country music.
🎤 13. Clayton McMichen – Champion Fiddler
Originally part of the Skillet Lickers, Clayton McMichen transitioned to solo work in the 1930s. He was a master fiddler who combined traditional string music with jazz and swing influences.
Notable Songs: “Sweet Bunch of Daisies”, “Peach Pickin’ Time in Georgia”
His musicianship and innovation helped expand the boundaries of country music’s instrumental sound.
🎤 14. The Delmore Brothers – Gospel and Harmony Stars
Alton and Rabon Delmore were pioneers in blending gospel, blues, and hillbilly music. They rose to fame through the Grand Ole Opry and created harmonies that influenced countless duos after them.
Notable Songs: “Brown’s Ferry Blues”, “Blues Stay Away from Me”
Their influence extended into the bluegrass and rockabilly genres, and their 1930s success built a foundation for postwar country harmony groups.
🎤15. Gid Tanner – Old-Time Fiddle Fun
Gid Tanner was another central figure in the Skillet Lickers, one of the earliest successful string bands. Known for energetic playing and old-time tunes, Tanner helped bring fiddling into the recording era.
Notable Songs: “Bully of the Town”, “Soldier’s Joy”
His spirited performances preserved old Appalachian fiddle tunes that are still played today.
🎤 16.The Blue Sky Boys – The High Lonesome Sound
The Blue Sky Boys, Bill and Earl Bolick, began recording in the late 1930s. Their gentle harmonies and religious themes made them stand out.
Notable Songs: “Down on the Banks of the Ohio”, “Where the Soul Never Dies”
Their pure, acoustic style prefigured bluegrass and preserved a rural sound beloved by traditionalists.
🎤17. Jimmy Davis – Politician and Songwriter
Before becoming governor of Louisiana, Jimmy Davis was a country and gospel singer known for his sentimental and uplifting songs.
Notable Songs: “Nobody’s Darling but Mine”, “It Makes No Difference Now”
Davis brought a smooth and accessible vocal style to his music, and his songs often carried themes of love, loss, and faith.
🎤18. Riley Puckett – Blind Banjo Virtuoso
A member of the Skillet Lickers, Riley Puckett was a gifted guitarist and singer whose work helped popularize flatpicking and humorous ballads.
Notable Songs: “Ragged But Right”, “Rock All Our Babies to Sleep”
He was known for his expressive voice and cheerful delivery, and he helped elevate the role of the guitar in country music.
SEE ALSO: 15 Most Famous Black Country Music Singers You May Not Know
🎶 Conclusion
These 18 country singers of the 1930s were not just musicians; they were cultural storytellers, innovators, and icons. They bridged old-time traditions with new sounds and technologies, reaching listeners through radio, records, and live performances.
Their contributions laid the groundwork for every country artist who followed. From heartfelt yodels and gospel harmonies to cowboy ballads and comic tunes, the 1930s was a golden age of creative exploration in country music.
Their legacies continue to echo in the genre’s modern evolution. Exploring their music today offers a rich and rewarding journey into the heart of American roots music.
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