Question: Which North Carolina musician is credited with bringing country music to the forefront of American culture?
Answer:
Arthur Smith, who earned his claim to fame in the Charlotte area, is considered one of the most famous North Carolina singers to bring country music to the forefront of American culture. Smith had the first nationally syndicated TV program to feature country music. The Arthur Smith Show ran for 32 consecutive years, beginning in 1951. People who had never heard the genre before became fans after hearing it on Smith’s show.