History of Rock and Roll Exam

Schlock Rock

the commercialization of rock, made for the white middle-class. It was repetitive, looks were more important than voices, lyrics were sentimental and clean sounding, and it represented the 1st example of "teen pop".

Pitch

the frequency, vibration rate

Billboard

the leading music industry trade magazine, published popularity charts of only the music genres considered to be "popular" at the time, but then shifted to making them for all genres as time went on.

Motown

the name of an African American record label located in Detroit that was founded by Berry Gordy. They made danceable music that was very tuneful, had their high point from 1961-71.

Texture

the number of parts/melodies being played at once in a piece

Mass Culture

the set of ideas and values that develop from a common exposure to the same media, news sources, music, and art. Developed from a shift in culture, going from "of" the people to "for" the masses.

Beat

the speed at which the rhythmic pattern moves in a song

Instrumentation

the types of instruments playing

Folk Music

this was the voice of civil rights, based around oral tradition that was passed down. Its origins are local, music that was "by and for" the people, represented nationalism and pride.

Doo Wop

urban, vocal harmonies, gospel, jazz, blues roots. Prominent bass vocals, falsettos, vocables. Starts as an African American genre, moves to whites in the 1950s-60s.

David Bowie

very crazy individual, known for being very innovative in the 1970s and one of the main faces of glam rock because of his wild face paint and haircuts. Played songs like "Space Oddity" and "Under Pressure"

Little Richard and "Tutti Frutti"

very improvised solo vocals from Little Richard and it was covered by many different people, but it was never as truly improvised as the original.

Power Chords

very strong, powerful notes that are heavily present in the heavy metal genre. Typically played on the electric guitar.

Ray Charles

was a pioneer to soul music, integrating R&B, gospel, blues, jazz and country to create everlasting hits like "Hit the Road Jack" and many others. He went blind at a young age, is also known as the "Father of Soul".

ASCAP

the American Society of Composers, Artists, & Publishers. The organization allowed musicians to work together in a group to make/produce music and different shows. Provided more help to whites than blacks. Monopolized the music industry.

Payola

the act of paying someone else to perform your music, this was illegal. Created many problems with who was to be paid for music production and performances and how much each person deserves.

Melody

the tune, an organized sequence of pitches

Jim Crow

The rural archetype used as a demeaning nickname during the early minstrelsy.

Led Zeppelin

an English rock band formed in 1968, they basically redefined the way rock artists were supposed to act. They broke rules and made new ones, all while being extremely successful. Famous for songs like "Stairway to Heaven" and "Whole Lotta Love".

Alice Cooper

another example of glam rock/metal, most well known for his crazy stage antics and props like guillotines. Played songs like "School's Out" and "No More Mr. Nice Guy"

Charity Rock

became popular in the 1980's and 90's, many rock musicians coming together for a certain charitable cause and producing music or performing at shows for it. The Conspiracy of Hope US tour is an example.

Counterculture

breaking away from the norms of society/mainstream. The time of "hippies", drugs, independence, peace, love, contrary values, protests, and anti-establishment views. Birth control becomes more available at this time which changes attitudes on "love". Drugs are seen as euphoric and "mind-altering".

Donna Summer

was a strong supporter of counter-patriarchal culture and empowering women. She gave a critique on sexism. Known best for her song and music video for "She Works Hard for the Money" (1981) where she is actually the narrator instead of the actor in the video.

Ruth Brown

was an R&B artist, had refined vocals with some vibrato and a defined backbeat. Her music had a jazzy feel and a sense of freedom with her expressive intonation. Played songs like "Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean" (1955).

"Stop-Time"

when the rhythm or beat in a song, typically in jazz, cuts out for a few seconds while a soloist continues to play/sing

Funk

genre that originated in the mid- to late 1960s when African American musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of soul, jazz, and R&B. This was a precursor to the disco era. Artists like James Brown fall into this category.

Punk

genre that was anti-establishment, unconventional, rebellious, and promoted garage-band culture. The lyrics were speech-like, proclaimed things, had no narrative, and were loud/aggressive. The beats were typically fast, heavily based on guitar and percussion, and very aggressive/relentless. The vocals were very raw and yell-like. An example would be the Sex Pistols.

Heavy Metal

genre that was very loud and guitar driven. The lyrics were typically very dark with raw vocals that could be borderline screaming. Power chords and distortion are heavily used. Focus on the male body.

Elvis Presley

he is regarded as one of, if not the most influential cultural icons of his time and is often referred to as "the king of rock and roll". Some of his most popular songs are "Hound Dog" and "Jailhouse Rock". He was a spontaneous performer and singer with a fast tempo to his music.

Alan Freed

he was a DJ, "the father of rock n roll", played a mix of white and black groups. He moved from Cleveland to New York, coined the term "Rock 'n' Roll", and was eventually charged with payola.

Attack-accent

how a note is struck

Three-minute Single

with the technological improvements of microgroove recording, artists were able to fit 3 minutes of recording on one side of a record, which led to single tracks being released as these three minute singles.

Bob Dylan

influential pop culture icon and musician since the 1960s, played songs like "Like a Rolling Stone" and "Knockin On Heaven's Door". His music has always depicted social unrest and how he feels about these issues. Very meaningful lyrics.

Aretha Franklin

known as the "queen of soul", sang songs like "Respect" and "Freeway of Love". She was the first female artist to be inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame in 1987.

Phil Spector

known for the "Wall of Sound", which was the advancement in technology that allowed for "doubling" and overdubbing. These created intense unison sounds and increased the number of instruments

Blackface Minstrelsy

late 19th century, white people would paint their faces black to parody black performers. Represented Jim Crow vs "Northern Dandy".

Blues

sad music, played in minor key, typically about grief/loss, was an African American genre that was connected with slavery (work songs, community, oral tradition). Also had connection to folk music, very similar.

Hip Hop

social movement, contained rap, break dancing, & graffiti art. Rises from the gang culture in South Bronx & Harlem ghetto communities. It is a new way of walking, talking, dancing, dressing, and seeing the world. The bubble of unemployment in the 1970s is also seen as a factor in its origin.

Earth, Wind, and Fire and the Bee Gees

some of the main figures during the disco era, created very upbeat, danceable music that was very popular the 70s. Songs like "September" stand out as hits

Vocality

special vocal effects such as falsetto and lyrical improvisation

Tempo

speed of a piece

Psychedelic Rock

style of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture and attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs, most notably LSD. Was a very popular sub-genre during the Woodstock time period.

Timbre

the color/quality of the sound, difference between a guitar and a voice

Riff/Ostinato

other terms for "vamping", which was used by Al Jolson

Form

overall structure of a song - 3 types: repeat, vary, new

Robert Pittman

an extremely successful businessman who created MTV.

DJs

Means disc jockey, "riding a record to success", they were the ones who chose the music and promoted it, as well as promoting themselves.

Al Jolson

"Blue Skies", sings song while in a movie, singing style was light-hearted, jazzy, and quick. Part of the Tin Pan Alley era, utilized "vamping" which was a repeated pattern/intro until the song gets going.

The Who

"pop art", theatrics, and more performance based concerts. Included lead singer Roger Daltry and guitarist Pete Townshend. Considered to be rock opera, humorous, and an early form of punk with their concerts that were considered to be controlled chaos. They were one of the first groups to break guitars/equipment on stage. Played songs like "Baba O'Riley" and "My Generation".

Sub-genres to heavy metal

- Pop/Light Metal: sweeter vocals/harmonies - Glam: look/makeup/performance style - Thrash & Speed: drums, faster; punk influence, anti-commercial, mosh pits - Death: violence, brutality, gore - Black: Satanic - White: Christian

Years Defined by Superstars

1. 1983 - Michael Jackson, 2. 1984 - Prince, 3. 1985 - Whitney Houston & Bruce Springsteen.

Prince

1984, known for his flamboyant dress and wide range of vocals in which he showed off his skills in falsetto and timbre changes. Played electric instruments, mainly guitar, and had an eclectic mix of styles. He was hugely popular and successful, playing songs like "Purple Rain" and others.

Harmony

2 or more tones sounded simultaneously = chord (type of harmony) - Major vs minor keys = happy vs sad sounding harmonies

Madonna

A pop culture icon of her time (mid-late 80s) who pushed the boundaries of content in her lyrics and images in her videos. She was a main fixture on the MTV program, some of her best songs being "Like A Virgin" and the later "Vogue".

Eric Clapton

An English rock artist who is the only three-time inductee to the rock and roll hall of fame. Famous for songs like "Tears in Heaven" and "Wonderful Tonight". Played in the band Cream.

Altamont

Another concert that represented the counterculture era, this one was free and was held in California in 1969. This concert became very violent and led to several deaths, leaving a bad taste in the mouths of American society about counterculture once again.

Beatles

British band including famous names like John Lennon and Paul McCartney,they took over as a glimmer of hope in a tough political time. They had very innovative harmonies that were more complex than usual, dominant vocals with doo wop influence and simple lyrics (singable). Very happy, smooth and polished sound, but their sound changed over time, drugs could've been the cause. Played songs like "Here Comes the Sun".

Rolling Stones

British, rougher image than the Beatles though. They had a different look, raw vocals, and their lyrics were overtly sexual. The vocals were less dominant, much more repetitive and directed towards the lead singer Mick Jagger. Played songs like "Satisfaction".

BMI

Broadcast Music Incorporated, the biggest competition that the NAB had. This organization launched in 1939 due to all the support from the "have nots" of the publishers coming together. Fought against the monopolization of ASCAP.

Muddy Waters

Delta blues, played the slide guitar and then electric guitar once he got to Chicago. He was the blues' revival inspiration, his music was ALL about sex, was known for speak-singing, low pitched, raspy/raw vocals. Played songs like "Mannish Boy" (1955).

U2

Irish rock band formed in 1976, most well known member being Bono. Songs about social unrest again, meaningful lyrics. Some songs are "One" and "With or Without You".

NAB

National Association of Broadcasters, fought against the stringent membership restrictions for ASCAP because they felt that the publishers were taking money away from the broadcasters.

Queen Latifah

One of rap's first female artists (end of 1980s). Her emergence and success was in part due to racial solidarity & feminism at the time.

PMRC

Parents Music Resource Center (1985), calls for censorship of music, beginnings of the "Parental Advisory/Explicit Lyrics". The main concerns were the encouragement of drug/alcohol use, encouragement of suicide, graphic violence, fascination with occult, and graphic/explicit sexuality. Turned out to have an opposite effect on the music community, they felt there was a problem with lyric interpretation. Right to "freedom of expression" is tested.

Michael Jackson

Referred to as the "King of Pop", he made an impact on popular culture like no one else. He made contributions to fashion, music, dance, and other personal life aspects. Most memorable year was 1983. Some of his most popular songs were "Thriller" and "Smooth Criminal".

Tupac/Biggie Smalls

Two of the most prominent/famous rap artists of all time, Tupac being from the West Coast and Biggie from the East Coast. Both were murdered early on in their careers, Tupac in 1996 and Biggie in 1997, due to gang violence, and their deaths are believed by many to be connected due to the ever present LA/NY rivalry that had developed.

Monterey Pop Festival

a 3-day concert held in 1967 that rivals the popularity that Woodstock had. Many artists, one being Jimi Hendrix, used this festival to skyrocket their careers.

Irving Berlin

a Russian immigrant who "wrote" music by ear, he didn't know how to read music. He made folk-type music, similar to Tin Pan Alley sound.

Dick Clark

a cultural icon, he hosted the television program "American Bandstand", which was responsible for steering the popular taste in music for quite a while.

Carole King

a female singer and songwriter, she was a commercial artist who was very popular in the early 1970s. Her first hit was "It's Too Late" in 1971, along with "Jazz Man" later on.

Rockabilly

a genre that was formed through the blending of R&B and country western, it was one of the earliest forms of rock and roll. Artists like Johnny Cash, Elvis, and Bill Haley fall into this category.

Kiss

a great example of glam rock/metal, Kiss wore outrageous outfits and painted their faces in crazy ways. Members: Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley and 2 more randos. Formed in NYC in 1973, known for songs like "I Was Made for Lovin You" and "Rock and Roll All Nite"

Tin Pan Alley

a group of artists that influenced rock in the early 20th century and played light-hearted, tuneful music. The music was played on very "tinny" sounding pianos.

Woodstock

a music festival that attracted an audience of over 400,000 in 1969 that lasted 4 days. Some of the most memorable performances from artists like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Jefferson Airplane could be seen here. The festival is commonly used to represent the counterculture movement that was taking place at this time in US.

Covers

a new performance or recording of a previously recorded, commercially released song by someone other than the original artist or composer

Backmasking

a recording technique in which a sound or message is recorded backward onto a track that is meant to be played forward. Part of the technological advances that occurred in the heavy metal era.

Rhythm

a strong, regular, repeated pattern of movement or sound.

Crossover

a term referring to when an artist or recording from a secondary genre achieves hit status in the mainstream market. An example would be a R&B or Country & Western hit making it big when they were still very new in music.

MTV and music videos (periods)

came about on Aug. 1, 1981 and was a music promo network. It has gone through 3 major periods: - 1981-83: continuous music, "veejays", video radio, very white - 1983-85: more heavy metal, more competition, more youth, less music - 1985-Present: less & less music, more focus on youth, more racial integration

Metallica

considered a classic metal band, but with a true depth to their lyrics. some songs are "Nothing Else Matters" and "The Unforgiven".

Rap

cultural phenomenon, was part of the hip hop culture movement that was seen in the 1970s. Its roots come from the Caribbean and W. Africa (field workers, work songs). Bronx Style of rapping starts in 1976-79 with songs like "Rapper's Delight" by Sugar Hill Gang. West Coast rap comes after with harder lyrics and rhymes and a slower pace, with artists like NWA.

Glam Rock

developed in the United Kingdom in the early 1970s performed by musicians who wore outrageous costumes, makeup, and hairstyles. Artists like Kiss fall into this category.

Run D.M.C.

early rap group which was the first to cross the border between the rap and rock genres when they worked together with Aerosmith to recreate the song "Walk This Way".

Van Halen

first name was Eddie, heavy metal artist, known for his technical skill in playing guitar. He played with speed & precision, pioneered "two handed tapping", and was a symbol for "shred" which is just extremely fast and intense playing of the guitar.

Atlantic Records

founded in October 1947 by Ahmet Ertegün and Herb Abramson, company produced R&B music with several different artists, some of which include Muddy Waters and Ruth Brown.

Jukebox

gave people the power to pick the song to listen to, was more preferable than radio, and steered musical taste. It was nearly 40% of sales in music by 1935, most popular was country, R&B came in the 1940s-50s.

Queen

lead vocalist Freddie Mercury, utilized piano and had deep opera influence. Their first music video was for the song "Bohemian Rhapsody" in 1975 and was supposed to be about "madness" and has confusing lyrics which are represented in the video through a depiction of real vs fantasy.

Beach Boys

made up of family members, were quoted saying "we're white, so we sing white", influenced by doo wop and schlock rock. Played songs like "Fun, Fun, Fun" and "Surfin' USA".

MCs

means master of ceremonies, they controlled the crowds through entertainment and what developed into rapping

Radio

music transmitter in which the host/person operating the radio station picked the music being played. Classical was the most common, then country, and R&B/Jazz are rarely ever played. "Grand Ole Opry".

Bill Haley

musician who is often times credited with being the first to popularize rock and roll music in the early 1950s. He did a cover to Joe Turner's "Shake, Rattle, and Roll", which totally sanitized the song. Also had songs like "Rock Around the Clock".

Shred

one of Eddie Van Halen's key characteristics, it was the act of furiously playing the guitar, "tearing up" the fretboard

Chuck Berry

one of the pioneers of rock music, is famous for his song "Rock and Roll Music". African American from St. Louis. Played guitar and was one of the most influential artists of his time.

Janis Joplin

played at Woodstock, has extremely raw vocals and used a lot of improvisation that was influenced by blues & heavy bass. She was super drugged out ALWAYS and was considered part of the Acid (psychedelic) rock era. Played songs like "Summertime".

Roy Acuff

played fiddle, banjo, harmonica in his music. Had a slower tempo, country music. "Grand Ole Opry". Played songs like "Wabash Cannonball" and "Great Speckled Bird".

Jimi Hendrix

played in several different bands and became the world's highest paid performer when he headlined at Woodstock in 1969. Known for pioneering the use of the guitar as an electronic sound source, mixing loud rock with a blues background. Unfortunately died in 1970 from a drug overdose, adding to the several others that died very young in this time. Played songs like "Purple Haze" and "All Along the Watchtower".

Disco

pop music intended mainly for dancing to at discos, typically soul-influenced and melodic with a regular bass beat. Popular mainly in the 1970s, artists like the Bee Gees and Earth Wind and Fire fall into this genre.

Sex Pistols and "authenticity"

punk band, lead singer Johnny Rotten and rest of the band were very anti-popular. They had an "every person" aspect about them and prided themselves on an "anti-talent" motto in which they openly expressed how bad they knew they were and didn't want people to like them.

British Invasion (Feb. 7, 1964)

refers to the influx of British groups into the U.S. who take over the pop music industry in the U.S. for a while. The date Feb. 7, 1964 marks the day that the Beatles performed in NYC.

Bruce Springsteen

rock and roll artist who is seen as one of the most influential cultural/musical icons of 1985 and the surrounding years, known for songs like "Born to Run" and "Born in the USA" and most of his work with E Street Band.