After the Civil War came the emergence of the American cowboy as we know it. Born out of the need for livestock to be herded northward to different markets, these young, able shepherds became known by the term “cowboy.” Riding the trail and gathering around the campfire, music was always present. The instruments had to be portable. Fiddle, harmonica, or guitar were common instruments on the trail. Hollywood helped galvanize the idea of the singing cowboy. Ken Maynard appeared in silent films but released records on Columbia Records. When sound was added to film, it really came into focus. Gene...