"The Carter Family pioneered modern country music by setting folk songs to string-band backup, and were one of the most popular groups in America from 1926 until they disbanded in 1943.
http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/thecarterfamily/biography

They recorded hundreds of songs that A.P. Carter collected - and in some cases, wrote -, songs that have become standards in America. One can see and hear the influence of the Carter Family in many modern songs.

You may have heard of Country music's Johnny Cash - he was the son in law of 'Mother' Maybelle Carter.