Quiz 3 History of Pop Music

Stevie Wonder

Born blind, amazing instrumentalist, played with motown records. Still alive.

Brian Wilson, "Surfin USA"

Brian Wilson was heavily involved in the production of this Beach Boys album. He is the co-founder of the Beach Boys.

Paul Anka

Canadian-American singer/songwriter. Wrote "Put Your Head on my Shoulder" which we listened to in class.

Jackson Five

Child group, competing with white child group The Osmonds. Started Michael Jackson's career.

Soul

Combines elements of gospel, jazz and thythm and blues. Big during the civil rights era.

Motown

"Motor City", Detroit. Was a recording studio. Owned by Berry Gordy.

Teen Idol

A celebrity with a large teenage fan base. Usually younger type of person that appeals in many different ways to younger generations.

Payola Scandal

A scandal which was mainly focused around radio stations taking money to give specific bands more airtime.

"My Girl"

A song performed by "The Temptations". Number one on the charts.

"Pet Sounds"

A theme album put together by the beach boys that was the first album to put sounds at the beginning and end of each song to put together a better flow to the next song.

West Coast Pop Rock

Also known as surf rock. It was what was being developed during the big rock movement on the East Coast

Phil Spector

American record producer who produced the term "Wall of Sound". Acknowledged as one of the most influential figures in pop music history.

Theme album

An album or record that combines all the songs for a deeper meaning instead of just each individual song.

The Ronettes, "Be My Baby"

Another popular girl group. Helped produced by Phil Spector. Considered the ultimate embodiment of the Wall of Sound.

Twangy Guitar

Popularized by Duane Eddy. Plucking the strings on a guitar very close to the bridge.

Reverb

Created when a sound is reflected, like the sound is bouncing everywhere.

Wall of Sound

Developed by Phil Spector. Also called Spector Sound. Going for a full rich sound, lots and lots of instruments. Sound would carry the records, not the material.

Alan Freed

Disc-jockey famous for playing a lot of blues, country, and rhythm and blues. Career destroyed by Payola Scandal.

Otis Redding

Example of a popular Memphis Soul artist. His death in a plane crash devastated Stax records.

Ed Sullivan

Famous for hosting the Ed Sullivan show which did the same thing as American Bandstand, just not as popular. Was originally named the Toast of The Town.

Ritchie Valens

Forefather of the Chicano rock movement. "La Bamba". He died in a plane crash when he was 18 on "The Day the Music Died"

Beach Boys

Popular surfer rock. Formed by three brothers in California.

Girl Groups

Groups of girls who sang in harmony together, were popular during this time period. Influenced by doo-wop style.

Ray Charles

He was blind. Was also very famous through his use of call and response. Also combining many different music styles.

Marvin Gaye

Helped to shape the sound of Motown. "Prince of Motown" "Prince of Soul"

"Please, please, please"

Known as the signature song of James Brown and the Famous Flames.

Memphis Soul

Memphis, Tennessee was an important center of rock and roll. They began taking on the gospel flavour.

Dick Dale "Misirlou"

Misirlou is a traditional song the the middle east. Dick Dale recorded this on the Electric guitar, popularizing it in the west.

The Temptations

One of Motown's most popular male groups. Called themselves the Elgins and then the Primes. Performed hit "My Girl"

Aretha Franklin

One of the biggest hit artists of Memphis Soul. Sang with Atlantic Records. Was influenced a lot by Gospel.

"Pop" Music

Originated as a softer form of Rock and Roll. Pop and rock were the same thing for a while until they started to be used against each other.

Dick Clark

Radio and TV personality best known for hosting American Bandstand. Still famous for New Year's Eve special.

Brill Building Pop

Similar to tin pan alley as this was a place many songwriters worked on formulas for girl groups and teen idols in order to sell #1 hits.

The Osmonds

Started as Barbershop music. Performed many variety shows as a group. White group trying to compete with the Jackson Five.

James Brown

Started singing just to live. Sang with the Swanees as a background singer. Later became the lead singer and changed band name to: James Brown and the Famous Flames

American Bandstand

TV show hosted by Dick Clark. Featured teenagers dancing to top 40 hits introduced by Dick.

The Shirelles "Will You Love me Tomorrow?"

This was the first song in America by an all girl group to hit number one. Many of this groups songs had sexual themes.

Frankie Avalon, "Venus"

Venus was Avalon's first #1 hit. Avalon was a teen idol

Pat Boone, "Tutti Frutti"

Was a cover of Little Richard's song. Was more popular some say due to the toned down beat and lyrics, as well as the fact that Pat Boone was white.

Surf Rock

Was the West Coast Pop Rock. Was different because it wasn't based on crooner tradition and the band all used their own instruments. Return to older rock.