CHEATING hearts . . . one last whiskey . . . murderous revenge . . . and a lonesome life. If you hear a Country and Western song, you are likely to hear one of these themes.
Yet true guitar-picking, laid-back country music is quite different from the near rock veneer that it often has today.
Its roots are a far cry from the best-selling format that is rejuvenating a surprised music industry.
The origins of Country and Western were pure and non-commercial, as settlers throughout the United States sang home-made songs after dinner.
At times, it was known as folk music, cowboy music, or even hillbilly music, and employed a variety of instruments, including fiddles.
Blind guitarist Riley Puckett combined yodelling with hurried recordings to become one of the first ''stars'' of the 1920s.