Atlanta, Georgia
The Birthplace of Country Music
Not many folks know it, but the song that is recognized by
the Recording Industry Association Of America,
as the very first country music "hit" record
was engineered by Ralph Peer, for Okeh Records,
on June 23, 1923 in Atlanta, GA.
The Artist was a well known
local musician named Fiddlin' John Carson.
John was already widely known across the south as a champion fiddler.
His recording of "The Little Old Log Cabin In The Lane",
would become the first "hit" record in country music history...
the Recording Industry Association Of America,
as the very first country music "hit" record
was engineered by Ralph Peer, for Okeh Records,
on June 23, 1923 in Atlanta, GA.
The Artist was a well known
local musician named Fiddlin' John Carson.
John was already widely known across the south as a champion fiddler.
His recording of "The Little Old Log Cabin In The Lane",
would become the first "hit" record in country music history...
Until Carson sold over 500,000 copies of his first recording, back in 1923, no one had ever realized the commercial potential of country music. Carson was also a star attraction for a brand new radio station known as WSB, which began broadcasting in March of 1922. That same month Fiddlin' John Carson would create a sensation with his first radio broadcast from the WSB studio. Today WSB is still the "flagship" station in Atlanta, Georgia.
Remember the song "The Devil Went Down To Georgia" by Charlie Daniels? You may recall that in the song, there is a fiddlin' contest between the devil and a young man named "Johnny". This is a reference to Fiddlin' John Carson, a 7 time fiddlin' champion in the early 1900's. John also recorded an original song entitled "Hell Broke Loose In Georgia", which is mentioned in the song recorded by Charlie Daniels.
Remember the song "The Devil Went Down To Georgia" by Charlie Daniels? You may recall that in the song, there is a fiddlin' contest between the devil and a young man named "Johnny". This is a reference to Fiddlin' John Carson, a 7 time fiddlin' champion in the early 1900's. John also recorded an original song entitled "Hell Broke Loose In Georgia", which is mentioned in the song recorded by Charlie Daniels.
