re: How Black artists helped make country music what it is today

The Black contribution is more on the blues guitar that can be found in certain segments of country music because a lot of the white stars of early country music were poor Southerners who absolutely gleaned some influence from Delta Blues types.Along with the banjo. But then there was the Native American influence by way of the Appalachian people. It's main influence though is Scotch Irish. So much so that if you went to pubs in Ireland you might think you were in a Nashville club. Steve Earle brings in a lot of that influence.

You also cannot discount the Mexican influence that popped up out of Texas and in the Bakersfield sound and guys like Marty Robbins.

Old country music in the lyrics had a lot in common with blues guys. Michael Berry has said on more than one ocassion that country music was white working class blues .