American Popular Music - Final Exam

The tension between the United States and the Soviet Union from 1947 - 1991

Cold War

What is an acetate?

a test pressing of a phonograph record that was commonly used from the 1930s to the late 1950s

what is a DJ?

a person who introduces and plays recorded popular music on the radio.

what does double stop mean?

the playing of two notes at once on a stringed instrument.

what is Payola?

the practice of bribing someone to use their influence or position to promote a particular product or interest.

what is a reciprocal arrangement?

an agreement between two people or organizations to help each other in a similar way or by behaving in the same way.

What is Rockabilly?

MPM originating in the southeastern US in the 1950s, combining elements of rock and roll and country music. (sounds like Elvis)

What is whitened R&B

R&B performed by White artists and made family/friendly/clean sound

Who led the anti-communism (Red Scare) campaign in the United States?

Joseph McCarthy

First person to land on the moon

Neil Armstrong

How did the emergence of Playboy affect American society?

It made men look at magazines & influenced perceptions of sexuality

What impact did Barbie dolls have on American society?

They created a new beauty/feminine standard.

What was Brown v. Board of Education case?

Sparked by Linda Brown. It ruled that separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.

What action did Rosa Parks famously take that sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott?

She refused to give up her seat to a white man on the bus.

How did the promotion of R&B into mainstream pop music affect the market?

Radio/TV blurred the genre lines between MPM, R&B, and Country/Western.

What were two standard lifestyles of parents during the 1950s?

1) Work until you die 2) financial stability.

2 DJs who expanded R&R influence

Alan Freed and Dewey Phillips.

What musical style is Fats Domino known for?

12/8 piano rhythm, laid-back voice, family-friendly.

What musical style was Little Richard known for?

crazy, pounding piano, uncontrolled performance, screaming

What performance style is Chuck Berry famous for?

double stop, performative dancing(duck walk), lyrics about teenage life

How did Chuck Berry easily gain popularity in the music market?

He used easy/simple chords (I IV V) and catchy phrases.

What was the musical promotion strategy for Little Richard?

He cultivated rock and roll stereotypes.

How did whitened R&B maintain its relevance in mainstream pop music?

clean lyrics, white artist covers, country/western vibe, gospel music vibe

What were two forms of segregation in the music market?

1) Black artists were paid flat fees without royalties, 2) recording companies primarily published whitened R&B.

Where was Elvis Presley raised?

1) Tupelo, Mississippi and later moved to 2) Memphis, Tennessee.

Who promoted Elvis Presley before his rise to stardom?

Sam Phillips.

What made Sam Phillips a good music producer?

He was patient and skilled at spotting talent.

What song made Elvis Presley popular?

"That's All Right Mama."

Why did Sam Phillips sell Elvis's contract to RCA Victor?

1) He needed cash and 2) Sun Records could not support the expenses of Elvis's growing popularity.

What musical genre did Elvis cultivate?

Rockabilly.

What musical elements are characteristic of rockabilly?

Use of reverb and slap-back echo.

How did Elvis's music change after his time in the army?

It became more operatic/polished and less edgy.

Who were two artists that copied Elvis's style?

Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Gene Vincent, Edie Cochran, Brenda Lee, Janice Martin, Wanda Jackson

Who became known as the next Elvis Presley?

Buddy Holly.

What was the name of Buddy Holly's band?

The Crickets.

What major scandal contributed to the decline of rock and roll?

The Payola scandal.

What was the Payola Investigation?

Inquiries in 1950s that uncovered bribery in radio industry where DJs were payed by record companies to play specific songs

What was a consequence of the Payola investigation?

DJs were fired for manipulating charts, changes in FCC regulations

Who were two key figures in the rock and roll Payola scandal?

Alan Freed and Dick Clark.

2 Things from first wave of R&R Misfortunes

1957 - Little richard became 7th adventist pastor

1957 - Elvis received draft notice

1958 - jerry lee lewis 13yo cousin marriage scandal

1959 - buddy holly plane crash

1959 - chuck berry violated mann act (underage human trafficking)

How did the misfortunes of rock and roll artists affect parents' views on the genre?

Parents began to hate rock and roll again due to scandals.