Bakersfield was the first genre of
country music to rely heavily on electric instrumentation, as well as a defined
backbeat -- in other words, it was the first to be significantly influenced by
Rock and Roll. Named after the town of
Bakersfield,
California, where a great majority of the artists performed, the sound was pioneered by
Wynn Stewart and popularized by
Buck Owens and
Merle Haggard. Using
Telecaster guitars, the singers developed a clean, ringing sound that stood in direct opposition to the produced, string-laden
Nashville sound. The Bakersfield sound became one of the most popular - and arguably the most
influential -
country genres of the
'60s, setting the stage for
country-rock and
outlaw, as well as reviving the spirit of
honky tonk.
Published before on allmusic.com. Placed with permission.