Instrumental Country

There are hardly any instrumental songs on country radio anymore, but decades ago they were common. Instrumental Country is as old as country itself. Many of the earliest recording artists were instrumentalists, such as fiddler Eck Robertson and guitarist Sam McGee. Western Swing was full of instrumental songs (the Bob Wills standard "San Antonio Rose" originally had no singing), and during the 1950s, Nashville studio players like guitarist Chet Atkins and pianist Floyd Cramer had hit records with their smooth instrumental sounds. Out on the West Coast, guitarists Speedy West, Jimmy Bryant, Glen Campbell, and Roy Clark were such hot pickers that in many cases singing only detracted from the excitement. Ditto for steel player Lloyd Green, who also made some excellent records with Honky-Tonker Johnny Paycheck.