History of Rock and Roll MSU Midterm Study Guide

33. What style of music did Bing Crosby perform?

. Bing Crosby is an example of a pop singer who was successful independent of any particular band. scat-singing and showed a talent for jazz-styled phrasing. tin-pan alley

20. What was the most important aspect of a successful folk singer?

. The populist character of folk music attracted many of its listeners Folk's image of sincerity and authenticity music for regular people by regular people unpretentious and direct musical expression

30. What are the main features of Big Band music?

A singer, a rhythm section(guitar, piano, bass, and drum) and a horn section(trumpet, trombone, Sax)

41. Which musicians were a part of the Los Angeles studio musicians known as "the wrecking crew"?

BASS: Carol Kaye, Ray Pohlman, Max Bennett (musician), Joe Osborn, Jimmy Bond (musician), Lyle Ritz, and Chuck Berghofer DRUMS: Earl Palmer, Hal Blaine, Jim Gordon (musician), and Jim Keltner GUITAR: Bill Pitman, Tommy Tedesco, Billy Strange, and Glen Campbell KEYBOARDS: Larry Knechtel, Mike Melvoin, Michel Rubini, and Leon Russell OTHER: Steve Douglas (saxophonist), Jim Horn, Plas Johnson, and Nino Tempo

19. What most inspired the music of the "Dave Clark Five"?

Beatles

31. Why did the major networks initially avoid rhythm and blues?

Because R&B was only listened to by Black audiences for a long time. Independent networks covered it. R&B seen as a dangerous influence on American Youth. Freed was first to air r&b as a late-night show on a traditionally white clear channel. Between 1945 and 1955, nobody expected that white listeners would hear rhythm and blues; rhythm and blues was not a single musical style, but a designation given to a number of styles expected to have a black audience

39. Who were the main American Rhythm and Blues artists of the late 1940s?

Bessie Smith, Big Joe Turner and Muddy Waters Robert Johnson, Louis Jordan and his Tympani Five, Ray Charles, Howlin Wolf, John Lee Hooker, Little Walter, Bo Diddley,

25. Which artists are considered to by among the "first wave" of rock and roll artists?

Big Ones: Fats Domino, Chuck Berry, Elvis, Little Richard, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Gene Vincent Smaller Ones: Orioles, The Chords, Crew Cuts, Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters, the Platters, Bill Haley, Ruth Brown, Ravens, Comets, Pat Boone, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran, Brenda Lee, Janis Martin, Wanda Jackson, The Crickets, Richie Valens, Big Bopper

36. Which factors influenced the emergence of rhythm and blues in America during the late 1940s and early 1950s?

Black Audience originally white kids heard it on the black regional radio channels Atlantic brought it to a bigger audience but made it more like Pop Chicago Electric Blues scene and Chess records Doo Wop, Hokum Blues, . A middle class, teenage audience helped to blur the divisions between country and western, rhythm and blues, and mainstream pop. Disc jockeys such as Cleveland's Alan Freed helped rhythm and blues to break into the mainstream in the early 1950s. aggressive marketing tactics, including the practice of paying disc jockeys to play records on the radio

37. What are the main features of Fats Dominos music?

Delivered his songs from piano, tapping triplet chords and singing lyrical melodies in a relaxed manner. projected warm and friendly image unlikely ti trigger racial anxiety.

ESSAY 49. Elvis Presley was well versed in the country music of the South and the rhythm and blues of the black community. How did this help him in developing his own unique style that ultimately led to his superstardom?

Elvis was exposed to country and gospel music in Mississippi. When he moved to Memphis he was exposed to, and developed a liking for, the emerging R&B scene there. He sang at local joints and in school and was picked up by Phillips, who traditionally signed black artists so Elvis was surrounded and influenced by all of these amazing black R&B singers. Combined with his country and gospel roots, he developed a style that was unlike anything ever heard. With the exposure from Sun, he voice became known outside of the region and his career shot up from there.

ESSAY 45. Who was Al Freed and what was his impact upon the early history of the development of rock and roll?

Freed was a white DJ in Cleveland that hosted shows on a station that played to Middle America. In the 50's, R&B was strictly reserved for stations that catered to the black community. He was one of the 1st DJs to host a show playing R&B on a clear channel mainstream station. It was a late show geared toward teens who had been buying R&B records. He was so successful that he was brought to NYC to host "The Rock & Roll" party. He is credited with bringing Rock & Roll to the masses via radio, TV, live performances, and film. He was given the nickname the "Father of Rock and Roll."

7. Where did Hank Williams success as the star of country music come from?

Hank Williams, Country Music Singer-Songwriter in the Big Business of Country and Western "Pure Country" appeared as a regular on Louisiana Hayride KWKH Shreveport, 1st big his was Tin Pan Alley remake 'Lovesick Blues" then became a regular on the Grand Ole Opry in 1949 Hank Williams's popularity as a country and western musician was virtually unrivaled in the late 1940s and early 1950s.

35. What accounts for the popularity of Peter, Paul and Mary?

In the early 1960s, a folk group called Peter, Paul, and Mary surpassed the Kingston Trio as the most commercially successful folk-pop group; the trio was also embraced by the folk community. Passionate involvement in Civil Rights Movement Albert Grossman put them together with the idea to capitalize on the folk movement ignited by the Kingston Trio Represented both strains of the folk movement. Authentic feel and approachable performance style.

17. What happened at the Beatles 1963 Decca Records audition?

In what is considered one of the biggest mistakes in music industry history, Decca rejected the band, selecting instead Brian Poole and the Tremeloes.[1] After being available only on "bootleg" recordings, some of the songs recorded for the audition were officially released on the Beatles rarities compilation Anthology 1 in 1995. performed a total of fifteen songs in just under one hour. Epstein and the Beatles decided on a selection of songs the Beatles had performed in various clubs over the years, along with three Lennon-McCartney originals.

ESSAY 44. It has been said that the lyrics of Bob Dylan are more like poetry than song lyrics. What was it about Dylan's lyrics that created this effect?

Initially, Dylan recorded typical Folk music inspired by the events around him. However, he veered off in his own direction and started writing more seemingly autobiographical lyrics. Early examples of this style are "Girl from the North Country" and "Don't Think Twice It's Alright"

26. What activities took place in the Brill Building?

It's an actual place in Manhattan but is also a style of music and refers to a set of business practices. Example: Aldon Music - Offices contained multiple rooms with pianos where song writers cranked out as many as one song a day. Aldon would select a song, assign it to a singer (who was not a songwriter- usually teen idols and girl groups) and a producer would set up a professional session to record the song and release it. The artist was NOT at the center of the process.

24. What were the three prominent markets for popular music before rock and roll emerged?J

Jazz, R&B, Country Western, Tin Pan Alley, Singers and the Big Bands, Wholesome Pop, Black Pop, Doo Wop, Hokum Blues, THEN Rockabilly

10. What are the roots of Rhythm and Blues?

Many rhythm and blues styles were indebted to gospel music, from which they drew sophisticated harmony singing, vocal embellishments, and call and response between soloist and chorus. The songs, spirituals, spoken word, and poetics presented in this playlist reflect the mosaic of voices, styles, genres, and cultural influences that have contributed to the popular post-war urban music explosion known as rhythm and blues (R&B). Boogie piano music, with its driving rhythm, is energetic and youthful, while the character of lyrical styles derived from field and work songs is secular and playful. Gospel choirs serve a social function by creating community and teaching songs to youth attending church, while protest songs elicit the same sense of liberation and redemption found in sacred settings. The development of spoken word with jazz speaks to the urban experience and the progressive nature of the music. Historical roots unclear- but roots of sales traced to 1923 million selling hit, "Down Hearted Blues" by Bessie Smith. Rural Blacks migrated to urban centers in 1930s-1940s (Memphis) developed strongmusic scene record companies also migrated south trying to find new artists Atlantic Records, based in New York, attempted to bring rhythm and blues to a broader audience; Atlantic's recordings were influenced by mainstream pop and generally focused on the singer. In the years following World War II, rhythm and blues was popular music played by black musicians for black audiences; most white listeners had no familiarity with it. While most rhythm and blues remained outside the pop mainstream, Louis Jordan and his Tympani Five had a series of hit singles in a style known as jump blues. Between 1945 and 1955, nobody expected that white listeners would hear rhythm and blues; rhythm and blues was not a single musical style, but a designation given to a number of styles expected to have a black audience. . Rock and roll was born with the emergence of rhythm and blues into the mainstream.

23. Did the Yardbirds have a rebellious image?

Maybe?? The "birthed" psychedelic" music and created the "rave up" style The Yardbirds took over for the Rolling Stones at the Crawdaddy Club; lead guitarist Eric Clapton was particularly dedicated to the blues tradition. Jeff Beck became lead guitarist when Clapton, feeling that the band made too many concessions to pop music, left in 1965. i. The Yardbirds recorded at Chess studios and at Sam Phillips's new recording studio; guitarist Jimmy Page joined the band in 1966, and when the group disbanded two years later, he formed Led Zeppelin to play the Yardbirds' remaining bookings

12. Was the early 1960s music more, or less commercial?

More- Brill building patter. Monkeys. Fabian Forte. Girl group music was both blatantly commercial and some of the most ambitious rock and roll of its time. . Some critics dismissed the Monkees' music because of its commercial production and because the members of the band generally did not play on their early records; "Last Train to Clarksville" demonstrates that their music does have complexity.

8. Was 1960s music more, or less political than earlier artists?

More. The decade saw tremendous turbulence, including John F. Kennedy's election and assassination; a more forceful youth culture; and social movements that were critical of the government and traditional institutions. The feminist, environmentalist, and consumer protection movements also gained national awareness in the 1960s. Protest Songs- vietnam war

29. Of which artists did the Beatles perform covers in their early BBC performances?

Mostly American: Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Ray Charles, Litle Richard, Carl Perkins, Leiber & Stoller, Phil Spector, Ray Charles, Girl Groups, MoTown, and a movie theme.

34. Is/was there a "hillbilly" charts?

NO Billboard magazine begins publishing its first country music chart. Known as "Hillbilly Hits," the chart appears on a semi-regular (usually, monthly) basis, and will be published until early 1942. It is the predecessor for Billboard's later "Most Played Juke Box Folk Records," which would be published weekly and eventually evolve into today's Hot Country Songs chart.

5. Were "Gerry and The Pacemakers" nearly as popular as the Beatles in England in the early 1960s?

Nearly, but not in the USA. They had number 1 hits at the same time such as "How do you do it?", "I Like it" and "You'll Never Walk Alone" Gerry and the Pacemakers were nearly as popular as the Beatles in the United Kingdom, but they were never quite as successful in America; the Dave Clark Five had a number of Top 40 hits in 1964 and 1965.

3. What was Fats Dominos impact upon rock and roll based upon?

New Orleans-based pianist and singer who had more than thirty Top 40 hits, including "Blueberry Hill" AABA Form 37 top-40 hits Delivered his songs from piano, tapping triplet chords and singing lyrical melodies in a relaxed manner. projected warm and friendly image unlikely ti trigger racial anxiety. Antoine "Fats" Domino was one of the first early rockers to have consistent crossover success; he topped the rhythm and blues charts and also had many Top 40 hits. Pat Boone covered rhythm and blues songs such as Fats Domino's "Ain't It a Shame" and Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti," and his versions sometimes outperformed the originals on the charts;

16. Were teen idols generally talented, experienced musicians?

No

15. Were the Everly Brothers a major influence on Bob Dylan?

No Dylan was an accomplished songwriter; at first he modeled his songwriting approach on Woody Guthrie's songs about social injustice and then began writing more personal lyrics. Also influences by Chuck Berry

2. Was popular music from England as well known as American popular music (in the USA) when the Beatles first arrived in the US?

No. Capitol presumed the singles would fail because previous British artists had few hits in the United States.

9. Were Sonny and Cher an "overnight" success?

No. performed together as Caesar and Cleo. Released 3 singles that didnt chart. Then they had some regional success. Then, Cher's cover of Dylan's "All I Really Want to Do" became popular then , in 1965 thye had their 1st #1 hit, "I got you, babe" Sonny Bono worked for Phil Spector's label, and he brought his girlfriend Cher in to sing backup; the two began performing together in 1963. b. Sonny and Cher also contributed to developments in hippie fashion.

11. Was most of the 1950s rock music released on major labels?

Not until Elvis in 1955 when elvis moved from Sun to RCA. After him, other labels signed rock and roll artists such as Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Gene Vincent. Prior to that most were released my regional independent labels.

14. What was the key to Buddy Holly and the Crickets success?

Opened for Elvis and Bill Haley and got seen by producer. Guitarist who wrote most of his own songs. Had a distinctive musical sound with country twang. MOST influential as a songwriter 1956 Decca signed him to compete with Elvis but didnt work. Hits were popular in the rhythm & blues market as well. As rockabilly became mainstream, artists such as Buddy Holly, the Everly Brothers, and Ricky Nelson developed a musical style that was more pop and less country. Buddy Holly was influenced by the rock and rollers who were active in 1955 and 1956. Records by Holly and his band, the Crickets, were released by Decca Records and two of its subsidiaries. d. Holly had seven Top 40 hits before his death in 1959; he also wrote songs that were made into classics by other artists. e. Buddy Holly can be compared to Chuck Berry, as both were guitarists and songwriters with unique performance styles. The songs "Oh, Boy!" and "Peggy Sue" illustrate Holly's distinctive stylistic approach. g. Holly was most influential as a songwriter; he employed more song forms and stylistic influences than many of his contemporaries in 1950s rock and roll.

27. Which technology was most significant in boosting the popularity of the rock genre?

Pre-WWII was Radio and Films, then Post WWII was TV- Created a national audience

42. What are the main features of Elvis early Sun Records recordings?

Rocked up versions of Blue-grass, r&b, marketed as country western. blurred the boundaries between pop, country and western, and rhythm and blues. . Elvis's recording with Scotty Moore and Bill Black of "That's All Right (Mama)" launched his career and established Sun Records on a national level.

38. Which London musicians were heavily influenced by the blues in the early 1960s?

Rolling Stones and . In London, a British blues revival was sparked by guitarist Alexis Korner and harmonica player Cyril Davies; many important rock musicians came up through this scene, in which members traded hard-to-find American blues records and produced cover versions of them. yardbirds Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames, the Graham Bond Organization, and Zoot Money's Big Roll Band.

22. What happened to Ben E. King after he was fired from the drifters?

Solo Career: Stand By Me, Spanish Harlem and more

ESSAY 46. The 12-bar blues is a very important trait of many Rock and Roll songs, and it contains a very important "chord progression." Explain in your own words what this progression is and what it does.

The 12-bar blues pattern can be found in various genres from R&B to Jazz. Songs contain three groups of four measures in 4/4 time. The groupings typically follow the pattern of : Phrase, Phrase, Response or Question, Question, Answer. So, in a verse, the artist will repeat a phrase twice and then answer it with a 3rd phrase before moving on to the next verse. The chorus is structured the same way.

32. What are the characteristics of the early Beatles (1964-1966)?

The Beatles were formed in 1957 in Liverpool, playing skiffle at first, then rock and roll in the style of American artists, such as Buddy Holly. Live recordings of the Beatles from their early years demonstrate the band's influences from American rock and roll; they learned their craft in part by performing cover versions of songs popularized by artists including Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, and Ray Charles. a. "I Want to Hold Your Hand" is a good example of how the Beatles blended a variety of American musical influences in their early recordings. b. The music recorded by the Beatles in 1963 and 1964 can be described as more craft than art, because they relied on formulas to help them to create songs from a limited number of elements

1. How did the Turtles get their start?

The Turtles successfully covered Dylan's "It Ain't Me Babe" and then recorded a series of more mainstream pop hits "Happy Together", deal lead vocals Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman .. California Dreamin': Barry McGuire, the Turtles, and the Mamas and the Papas

28. What are names of the most popular dances of the early 1960s?

The Twist, The Mashed Potato, Monster Mash, The Monkey, The Dog, The Frug, The Madison, Hully Gully, The Pony, The Watusi, Hitchhike, The Swim, The Freddie.

ESSAY 47. Girl-groups of the late 1950's and early 60's often focused on the topic of teen-love. Discuss why the producers of the music had to treat this subject with a degree of sensitivity and give one example of a song where this issue was considered.

The producers of Girl Group music were careful to keep the image wholesome and appropriate for teens at the time. They didn't want to end up in any legal trouble again or damage the commercial success of the music. An example of this effort can be seen in "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow." The song addresses a young girl's fears about sexual intimacy without ever going into detail about it.

21. Who are two major influences of the Rolling Stones?

The songs that Jagger and Richards wrote together reflect a greater influence from Chuck Berry or Motown than the electric blues. Popular before the beatles. Were "bad boys" Modeled after "Blues Incorporated" Muddy Waters, Jimmy Reed and other blues artists

18. Was Doo Wop music popular?

Yes doo-wop era began around 1952--a time when the key musical qualities of the genre were all clearly in evidence--and remained artistically and commercially viable until the early 1960s Doo-Wop emerged in urban neighborhoods, and it consisted of a cappella vocal arrangements that often contained nonsense syllables . Until 1964, the Beach Boys stuck to a surf music formula, with vocals that drew on doo-wop

40. Did Sam Phillips record B.B. King?

Yes but ot under the Sun label. Blues legends such as B.B. King and Howlin' Wolf made their first recordings at his studio. In fact, Phillips deemed Howlin' Wolf his greatest discovery and he deemed Elvis Presley his second greatest discovery

4. Has Nashville always been famous as the home of country and western music?

became a center for country music recording and publishing after World War II Acuff-Rose was the Nashville-based publishing firm that was important for the growth of the country and western music industry In 1925, the establishment of radio station WSM and its launch of the broadcast that would be called the Grand Ole Opry further secured Nashville's reputation as a musical center At first, country and western radio programming was limited to local and regional stations; the Grand Ole Opry became more widely available when the station that carried it, WSM in Nashville, became a clear-channel station in 1932 and NBC began broadcasting a half-hour version over its network in 1939. After World War II, Nashville became a center for country music recording and publishing, due in part to the influential publishing firm Acuff-Rose. In the 50's Gene Nobles, John R. Richbourg, and Hoss Allen played R&B at WLAC Nashville

6. Was Marlon Brando an early rock and roll star?

no, but he starred in "The Wild One" playing a rebellious young leader of a motorcycle gang

43. What are the main features of the Everly Brothers sound?

the songs show influences of both country and rhythm and blues and have lyrics that address teenage love. c. The most distinctive features of the Everly Brothers' sound are their close harmony and straight-tone singing in the high end of their vocal ranges.

13. Who wrote "Rock Island Line"?

was written in 1929 by Clarence Wilson, a member of the Rock Island Colored Booster Quartet