History of Rock and Roll Test #2

Shirelles

"(Will You Love Me) Tomorrow," First Number one hit by a girl group, written by Carole King and Jerry Goffin

Ray Charles

"Genius of soul" started playing and touring in the late 40's. In 1952, Atlantic Records bought his contract. Came out with hits in 1953, "Don't you know" "I've got a woman" finally hit the billboard top 10 in 1959 establishing himself as a major R&B figure. Mixed the blues with spirituals.

Stevie Wonder

Born Stevland Hardaway Morris. Blind. Reinvigorated sweet soul sound. "Fingertips (Pt. 2)"

Maxine Powell/ Cholly Atkins

Both were grooming experts for the female artists within Motown. Taught them how to dance and move in an elegant fashion. Atkins = choreographer. Powell turned them into "ladies."

Brian Wilson

Co-founder of Beach Boys. Singer, producer, arranger, and songwriter. Huge success. Inspired by The Four Freshman

Isaac Hayes

Composer. Wrote the hit song, "Respect" for Aretha Franklin

"Funk Brothers"

Consisted of Earl Van Dyke (piano), Benny Benjamin (drums), James Jamerson (Bass), Robert White and Joe Messina (Guitar). Were often heard collaborating with other artist as the band in the background.

Buddy Holly

died in plane crash near Mason City, Iowa, along with Bopper and Valens. Plane crash sparked a reeling in rock (known as "Day that Music Died"). Rockabilly singer from Texas. Sang "Everyday" and "Peggy Sue"

Righteous Brothers

example of Wall of Sound. "You've Lost that Lovin' Feelin'" (written by Greenwich)

Beach Boys

family group. "Surfer Girl," "I Get Around," "Good Vibrations." Father was pushy and abusive. Huge success until the Beatles. First song was "Surfin", auditioned for Hite Morgan and within hours were producing the song.

Allen Ginsberg

famous poet. Beat generation. Wrote "Howl." Influenced Bob Dylan.

Four Tops

Became a slick act that appealed to both white and black audiences due to Gordy.

Lesley Gore

"It's My Party" (produced by Quincy Jones; about cheating); example of female agency. "You Don't Own Me" (powerful different message, not as light as "It's My Party." Later became a feminist in her career

Aretha Franklin

"Lady Soul" "Queen of soul" daughter of minister. James Cleveland (a gospel great) was the first to teach her. "Respect" "Think" "Chain of fools" "I never loved a man (the way I love you)"

Connie Francis

"Lipstick on Your Collar;" 1st of the female rock and roll stars

Simon and Garfunkel

"Sounds of Silence"

Eddie Cochran

"Summertime Blues," died in car accident in England

Dion and the Belmonts

"The Wanderer"; rock and doo wop

Temptations

"The Way You Do the Things You Do". Shaped by Berry Gordy

Otis Redding

"The king of soul". Was the son of a minister. Discovered while chauffeuring Johnny Jenkins and the Pinetoppers. Sang "These Arms of Mine" in studio and then got a deal from Jim Stewart, Stax president. "Respect"

Ronettes

"Walking in the rain," one of the premier African-American girl groups. Recorded by Phil Spector. go-go dancers before hitting it big in music

Frankie Lymon and the Tennagers

"Why do Fools Fall in Love"; Lymon only 12 years old. None of them could or originally read sheet music

Smokey Robinson (and the Miracles)

American R&B/pop singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Band shaped by Berry Gordy.

Chubby Checker

Another Philadelphian discovered by Clark. Helped spark the "twist" dance craze after performing "Twist" on American Bandstand

Sam and Dave

Dave Prater and Sam Moore. "Double Dynamite" soul duo from Miami. Originally discovered by Atlantic who let them record with Stax. "I Thank You" "Hold On, I'm Coming"

Neil Sedaka

Discovered by Don Kirshner. Started out as just a songwriter but began performing them himself. Wrote with Howie Greenfield. Dated Carole King in high school.

Wilson Pickett

Discovered by the Falcons, later joined their group. "Wait in the midnight Hour"

C.L. Franklin

Father of Aretha Franklin. Pastor. Taught her about the world, didn't shelter her.

Sharon Sheely

First great woman composer. Cochran's girlfriend, also lived through car accident. Subsequently wrote many of Ricky Nelson's hits

Joan Baez

Folk singer and activist, Dylan's female counterpart in folt protest. Guitar and voice. Refused to go on "Hootenanny" b/c it blacklisted Pete Seeger. Fought racial discrimination. "How Sweet the Sound.", was discriminated herself because she had dark skin, composed few of her own songs, but always topical songs

Pete Seeger

Folk singer. Roamed countryside to sing songs to and about the Amer. worker. Founded the Almanac Singers w/ Woody Gurthrie. Formed the Weavers. Both groups sang for peace and civil rights. Disappointed when Bob Dylan turned electric. "If I Had a Hammer"

Fabian

Philadelphian. Discovered in the last 50's by Bob Marcucci, Chancellor Records. Marcucci was impressed by his resemblance to Elvis. Discovered after father had a heart attack. Eventually got on Dick Clark's American Bandstand, but only lip synced, "Turn me loose," "Tiger," "Hound Dog Man"

Don Kirshner

Founded Aldon (a music publishing company) w/ Nevins. Aldon hires many songwriting duos. Really helped spark the romanticized view of music that gave hope and promise to a lot of young musicians

Al Nevins

Founded Aldon (a music publishing company; across the street from Brill Building) w/ Kirshner

Martha and the Vandellas

Girl group recorded by Berry Gordy Jr. "I'll Let You Know". Martha Reeves started as secretary at Motown and convinced them to use her group. "Dancing in the Street" (positioned Motown as a major source of the girl group sound)

Phil Ochs

Got music topics from the NY Times. "Talking Vietnam", "Thresher" (nuclear ship that sank), 'singing journalist', "No Christmas In Kentucky"

James Burton

Guitarist. "Master of the Telecaster"

Alan Freed

Hit harder than most Disc Jockeys during "Payola Scandal." Was quoted, "What they call payola in the disc jockey business they call lobbying in Washington." Freed ended up broke after being charged with commercial bribery and tax evasion. Ended up in the hospital in 1964 for alcoholism. He died the next year.

Big Bopper

J.P. Richardson, Disc jockey, known for his 1958 hit "Chantilly Lace", Dick Clark introduced him on his show (when rock and roll was being tamed)

Roger Christian

LA disc jockey who was tagged "Poet of the Strip". Helped surfer bands write songs, such as Beach Boys (Brian Wilson), especially regarding cars (the mechanical aspect). Also wrote for Jan and Dean.

Al Bell

Producer. Worked at Stax and then became president of Motown Records.

Coasters

R&B/rock and roll group. Records frequently imitated, so important part of doo-wop history. "Young Blood"

Berry Gordy, Jr.

Record producer and songwriter. Vision and objective = creation of a major crossover to white audiences. Viewed it as a good way to make $$. "Motown" Sound. Founder of Motown record label. Made certain that the song matched the artist. Founded Hitsville USA (Motown headquarters). wants to make "The Sound of Young [Black] America". Legitimizes black population to white audience. Concurrent to Civil Rights movement.

Jan and Dean

Recorded teen ballads. "Baby Talk" got involved with surfing music because of the Beach Boys. Partnered with Beach boys at concerts and also in the studio. "Surf City"

Marvin Gaye

Romantic balladeer who had sung doo-wop and later joined Motown. Martha and the Vandellas sung backup to him for some songs. Also known as the "Prince of Motown" and "Prince of Soul"

Bobby Darin

Singer, songwriter, actor. "Splish-Splash", "Mack the Knife", "Twist with Bobby Darin," Afflicted with a heart condition, Married to Sandra Dee

Gerry Goffin

Songwriter. Married to Carole King for 10 yrs. Co-wrote "(Will you Love Me) Tomorrow" for the Shirelles

Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry

Songwriters. Teamed w/ Spector. Wrote "Be My Baby" (Ronettes) and "River Deep-Mountain High" (Ike and Tina Turner).

Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller

Songwriters. Wrote many songs recorded by Elvis and Coasters.

Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil

Songwriting duo for Aldon. Wrote a lot of songs for the Ronettes and the Crystals. "Uptown" "He's sure the boy I love"

Kingston Trio

Started the folk revival. Projected a safe, corporate image (encouraged other clean-cut folks to start groups). "Tom Dooley"

Booker T and the MGs

Stax house band. Backed virtually every group act that recorded there. Originally consisted of several high school friends, one of which was Estelle Axton's son.

Donovan

The "Dylan of the UK". "Catch the Wind"

Jackson Five

The Jackson brothers formed a group known as the "Jackson 5" and was lead by the young and talented Michael Jackson

Ritchie Valens

aka Richard Valenzuela, seventeen-year-old sensation, known for "La Bamba" and "Donna",

Dick Dale

b. Richard Monsour. "King of the Surf Guitar." Tried to recreate wave sound in music. Middle East background. "Miserlou." One of the 1st and original surf guitar players. Dick Dale and the Del-Tones created surf music by taking surfing and guitar and fusing them. Worked closely with Leo Fender

Shangri-Las

badass female group; "Leader of the Pack"; charted with often heartbreaking teen melodramas

Bob Dylan

born Robert Allen Zimmerman. Was isolated and inhibited due to being only Jewish person, so turned to music. Idolized bluesman and early rockers. Influence of Guthrie (mimicked his accent), Rimbaud (poet), Ginsberg, social criticism (especially civil rights struggle), "finger pointing". "Blowin' in the Wind" (death of JFK), "Oxford Town" (James Meredith, 1st black in University of Mississippi), "Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" (Cuban Missile Crisis), "Talkin' WWIII Blues" (nuclear holocaust), "Masters of War", "Talkin' John Birch...", "The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll" (Civil Rights); "A Pawn in Their Game" (death of Medgar Evers), "The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll" (plight of African Americans, 1963 killing of back barmaid by a white guy who only got 6 months in prison). Upset traditional singers (i.e, Pete Seeger) when went electric. Impressed by Byrds (electrified his music) and Animals. Albums: Bringing It All Back Home (1 side acoustic, other electric); Highway 61 Revisited (all electric). Newport Folk Festival (practically booed off stage). Was known as the "Voice of the Generation," which caused a lot of stress in his young life. Blonde on Blonde and the Band. Death of JFK caused an introspection in Dylan. Wanted to marry Mavis Staples.

Phil Spector

famous producer. Created "Wall of Sound" (lots of instruments crowded in a small room). Referred to his records as "Little Symphonies." Philles Records = record company. Currently in prison for killing actress.

Carole King

famous songwriter. King and Goffin write first smash hit for Aldon, "(Will You Love Me) Tomorrow."

Peter, Paul and Mary

folk-singing trio. "Leaving on a Jet Plane"

Drifters

formed by Clyde McPhatter (The Dominoes)

"ho-dads"

non-surfing beach bum

The Supremes

polished black group that sang gospel-based pop to both blacks and whites (Gordy's dream). Diana Ross a member. Holland-Dozier-Holland wrote many hits for them ("Where Did Our Love Go")

Ricky Nelson

rockabilly. Played himself in TV series The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. Teen idol at the time. "Be-Bop Baby", "Travelin' Man" "Poor Little Fool"-(composed by Sharon Sheely)

Stax Records

signed Staple Singers and Otis Redding. Brother-sister combo of Jim Stewart and Estelle Axton. Originally started in 1958 as Satellite records in Memphis. Renamed Stax in 1961. Producer.

"polys"

slang for surfboards used by surfers, since they were made of polyurethane

Roy Orbison

song "Claudette" after his late wife (written before her death). "Pretty Woman", "Crying," Greatest voice in rock 'n' roll according to Elvis

Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman

songwriters; "Turn Me Loose"

Holland-Dozier-Holland

songwriting team. "Where Did Our Love Go". Wrote many #1 hits for the Supremes ("Stop! In the Name of Love")

"in the soup"

surfer is in the white foam of the wave after the wave has broken

Gene Vincent

was in same car accident with Cochran but lived (badly injured). accident destroyed Vincent's career because he never went back to music. Sang "Rip It Up". Influenced by surf music