You Think You Don't Know Country

About this event

MLMAS's sixth in-person listening session asks a deceptively simple question: what if you already know more country music than you think? Our roughly hour-long program traces the honky-tonk and Nashville Sound era of the 1950s and '60s — the two decades widely considered the foundation of modern country music — and follows its threads outward into the rock, pop, and Americana you already love. This is not a genre you're being asked to acquire a taste for. It's a hidden influence you may not have credited: the songwriters, singers, and standards that shaped everything from California country-rock to some of the biggest pop crossovers of their day. Expect barroom laments, heartbreak ballads, and a few surprising detours — presented not as nostalgia, but as a living lineage still audible today. Join us as we make the case that "country" is a much bigger tent than its reputation suggests. MLMAS member Sam, a former local country music radio DJ, curated the music selections and will offer his insights and perspective. We will provide a listening guide to help facilitate discussion following our uninterrupted listening. This is a free event. No preparation required — only curiosity, an open mind and a willingness to listen intently. Hope to see you there.