Canadian country music has a long history in this country.
Country music evolved out of the diverse musical practices of the
Appalachian region of the United States.
Appalachian folk music was largely Scottish and Irish, with an important influence also being the African American
country blues. Parts of Ontario, British Columbia and the Maritime provinces shared a tradition with the Appalachian region, and country music became popular quite quickly in these places.
Fiddlers like
George Wade and
Don Messer helped to popularize the style, beginning in the late 1920s. Wade was not signed until the 1930s, when
Victor Records, inspired by the success of
Wilf Carter the year before, signed him,
Hank Snow and Hank LaRivière.