Music of Missouri

Music Of Missouri

St. Louis, Missouri was an important center of jazz and blues, as well as country and bluegrass. Kansas City was also one of jazz's major centers, with performers such as Charlie Parker, Count Basie and Lester Young, and its own jazz style. Ragtime got its influential hold at the city of Sedalia thanks to Scott Joplin and his publisher John Stark, and through another Missouri native, James Scott. In the Ozarks, hillbilly music developed, and from 1955–1961, Springfield was home to some of the first national country music programs on American television. Chuck Berry and Porter Wagoner were both born in Missouri. More recently Branson has become a country music tourist mecca.

Missouri played a major role in the evolution of country music, and originated a vibrant style of fiddling characterized by a driving bow. In the pre-grunge days of the 1990s, up-and-coming local St. Louis area bands Uncle Tupelo blended punk, rock, country-influenced music styles with raucous performances and became the modern day pioneers of the genre known as Alt-country.