Music History 2

POPULAR MUSIC HISTORY

POP MUSIC ORIGINS

  • Cultural Blending

    • Result of various immigrant groups blending over time.

    • Enslaved peoples from Africa and the Caribbean introduced work songs.

    • Rise of cake walks (dances) and spirituals (early gospel) post-emancipation.

  • Characteristics of Early Pop Music

    • Features include chanting, call & response, and shouting.

    • Origin of the blues in the deep South; recorded as early as the 1920s.

    • Distinctive tonal qualities developed over time with strong rhythmic structures.

  • Prominent Female Blues Singers

    • Gertrude "Ma" Rainey, one of the first professional blues singers, claimed to have coined the term "blues."

    • Popular figures in 1920s urban blues include Mamie Smith, Bessie Smith, and Victoria Spivey.

BLUES MUSIC

  • Key Elements of Blues Music

    • Lyrics: Themes of struggle and loss.

    • Structure: AAB lyrical form.

    • Rhythm: Includes a walking bass line.

    • Instrumentation: Guitar, bass (guitar or upright), harmonica, piano, and percussion.

  • Regional Variations

    • Blues sound evolved regionally: Tin Pan Alley, Mississippi Delta, St. Louis, Memphis, Detroit, Chicago.

    • Notable Artists:

      • Bessie Smith (St. Louis blues prominence in the 20s-30s)

      • Muddy Waters (classic Mississippi Delta sound in the 40s).

      • B.B. King (Chicago blues influenced by jazz in the 50s).

FOLK MUSIC

  • Cultural Roots

    • Music of poor white immigrants from England, Ireland, and Scotland, often called Appalachian folk or hillbilly music.

    • Narrative songs derived from ancient oral traditions, accompanied by instruments like fiddles and banjos.

  • Evolution

    • Evolved in the Appalachian region leading to the development of country music.

    • Early collaboration between folk and blues musicians regardless of race.

      • Example: Woody Guthrie's "This Land is Your Land."

    • Resurgence of folk music during the late 1960s due to the Hippie movement.

1920’S TO 1940’S

  • Jazz Explosion

    • Jazz emerged in the 1920s with unique musical structures, predominantly instrumental with occasional improvisational vocals.

    • Instruments typically included saxophone, trombone, trumpet, bass, drums, and piano.

    • Major urban centers: NYC and Chicago known for jazz clubs.

  • Big Band Era

    • 1930s-40s characterized by large orchestras, blending jazz and blues.

    • Notable example: Glen Miller's "In The Mood."

    • Prominent artists: Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole.

1950’S: BIRTH OF ROCK N ROLL

  • Evolution of Blues

    • Blues integrated elements of boogie woogie and the electric guitar.

  • Teen Appeal

    • Lyrics centered around teenage experiences and romance.

    • Notable figures: Elvis Presley (rockabilly), Chuck Berry (guitar), Fats Domino (piano), Little Richard (guitar & piano).

    • Lyrics began to explore more risqué topics, sparking controversy.

  • Continuation of Jazz

    • Artists like John Coltrane and Miles Davis remained influential into the 1960s.

1960’S

  • Social Influence and Eclecticism

    • Music became more politically charged amidst social movements; Bob Dylan was prominent for rally songs.

  • British Invasion

    • New sound introduced by groups like The Beatles, The Kinks, and The Rolling Stones.

    • Psychedelic rock emerged, featuring artists like The Doors and Jimi Hendrix.

  • Motown Records

    • Promoted black artists with harmonic vocal groups such as The Temptations and The Supremes.

    • Led to the popularization of funk and soul in the 1970s (e.g., James Brown, Aretha Franklin).

1970’S

  • Rock Subgenres

    • Further splintering into Glam (David Bowie, Aerosmith), Punk (The Clash, Sex Pistols), and Heavy Metal (Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath).

  • Punk Music

    • A reaction against complex production; characterized by loud, fast-paced music, angst, and DIY ethic.

  • Innovation

    • Outlaw Country and Heartland Rock emerged alongside Hair Metal and Stadium Rock.

LATE 1970’S INTO 1980’S

  • Disco Rise

    • Disco music evolved from funk; notable artists include the Bee Gees and Earth, Wind & Fire.

    • Emergence of dance clubs and DJs.

  • Early Hip-Hop

    • Groups like Grand Master Flash and The Sugarhill Gang used sampling, spurring copyright debates.

    • Significant artists: N.W.A., Wu-Tang Clan, Outkast.

1980’S INTO THE 90’S

  • Synthesized Music

    • Rise of electronic dance music (techno, house) alongside club culture.

    • Mainstream success with artists like Daft Punk.

  • Pop Phenomena

    • Boy bands and pop princesses dominated charts: The Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, and others.

1990’S

  • Grunge and Alternative Rock

    • Counterforce to commercial music; major groups: Pearl Jam, Nirvana, and Smashing Pumpkins.

  • Emergence of Pop Punk

    • Fast-paced, broad appeal; bands like Blink-182 and Green Day.

  • Underground Scenes

    • Riot grrl scene and emocore evolve with significant contributions from groups like Bikini Kill and Fugazi.