COUNTRYPOLITAN

COUNTRYPOLITAN (c. 1970–1985) After the pernicious effects of the NASHVILLE SOUND had made country music into a bland reflection of middle-of-the-road pop, the 1970s drove the final nail into country music's coffin with the development of countrypolitan, or crossover, country artists. It was obvious that the influence of rock, pop, and even disco could no longer be ignored by the country music establishment, who were more comfortable with Dean Martin era crooning. Younger artists were pushing…