Country music is a popular musical genre in American society. Originating in the American South in the 1920s, country music draws inspiration from American folk music and Western music. Although country music is loved by many today, it was not always so successful and popular. Country music has spanned six “generations.” Through each of these six generations, country music and America's perception of it have changed enormously. Although all six generations played an important role in the formation of the country genre, the most significant developments in country music occurred during the first and third generations. These two generations took country music and shaped it into what it is today. The first generation of country music occurred in the 1920s. This was the very beginning of country music. Atlanta is considered the birthplace of country music, where Appalachians who came to work in the cotton mills brought their music with them. The Appalachians used instruments imported from the countries from which they had immigrated. The main instruments used in their music were the Spanish guitar, Irish fiddle, German dulcimer, Italian mandolin, and West African banjo. The country music of that first generation was different from the music of today's generation. Now called "original country music," first-generation country music evolved from folk music, gospel music, and old-time or hillbilly music, unlike pop music derived from today's country music 'today. Country music of this generation was not as popular. Some record companies embraced "Hillbilly Music" and saw that it would be a good fit for growing farm workers, while other companies turned away from the middle of paper......ne. Although the marketing industries don't even call it "country", Western music has been shifted to the "country and western" form. Singers of this genre have released their albums and songs with slight success. Country rock and roll took over country music sales, and due to its low popularity, Hollywood record companies dropped most of their Western singers. Also playing a huge role was the new increase in production in Nashville, where Nashville's sound, rockabilly and country rock styles ruled over traditional "cowboy" artists. During this period, country and western music as a style and genre lost most of its Southwestern, ranchera, and tejano musical roots and influences. However, in later generations, traditional styles of cowboy ballad and honky-tonk would be resurrected and reinvented with the enormous rise in popularity of "outlaw country" music from Texas and Oklahoma.