TheRootsofRock
•Thelate1920stomid-1930swereyearsofextremefinancialpressure.- TheGreatDepression- Affectedbothrichandpoor- 25%unemployment- 60%dropinthepriceofcrops
WorldWarII
•The1940swereconsumedbythemostdestructivewartheworldhaseverknown.•Over30countriesand100millionpeopleinvolved•Over61millionpeopleperished
SwingMusic
•UsedsimilarformstoBlues•Soughttomakepeopleforgetthetrialsofwar•Theintroductionofsolosections(furtherexpansionoffreedom)
SomeofthePositiveSocialInfluencesofthe1950s.
•Post-Warpeace(family,college,career)•RiseoftheMiddle-Class(Homeownership,autoindustry•Television(moremusictimeforradio)
R&Bvs 1950sPop
•Duetosegregation,musicalstyleswerealsokeptseparate.•Rhythm&Blueswasonetrack•TookthemusicalelementsofGospelandturnedthemintoasecularwork•1950sPopwastheothertrack
CharacteristicsofRhythm&Blues
• Bandsusuallyconsistedofpiano,oneortwoguitars,bass,drums,andsaxophone.• Arrangementswererehearsedtothepointofeffortlessnessandweresometimesaccompaniedbybackgroundvocalists.• Simplerepetitiveparts,rhythmicinterplayproducingmellow,lilting,andoftenhypnotictextures.
1950sPopMusic
• SimilarqualitiestoBluesbutwithlighterlyrics• Dealtwithtopicsofinnocentboy-girllove;nonthreatening.• Popsoughttobecomfortable,pleasant,righteous,andexcesswasavoided.• Completelyignoredtheturmoil,controversyofpreviousdecades.
OutsideHelp
•TwostylesofmusichelpedspreadRock&Roll
•TinPanAlley(Broadway/Vaudeville)•Country&Western
TinPanAlley
•Startedasearlyasthelate1800sandcontinuedwellintothe1950s•AgroupofMusicPublishersandSongwritersinNewYorkthatdominatedthepopularmusicscene.•Responsibleforthedisseminationofsheetmusicforpopularmusic.
CharacteristicsofTinPanAlley
•NonControversiallyrics•Straightuncomplicatedrhythm– keptinthebackground•BroadwayorMoviesongsadaptedtopopularstyle
ImportantNamesinTinPanAlley• IrvingBerlin– GodBlessAmerica•GeorgeGershwin- Summertime•Hoagy Carmichael– GeorgiaonMyMind
Country&Western
•UnlikePopMusic,Country&Westernhadasmallbutwelldefinedaudience•TheGrandOleOpry,NashvilleScene,etc.•BirthofsmallIndielabels(HugeforRock&Roll)
CharacteristicsofCountry&WesternMusic
•Consistsofavocalist,vocalbackup,electricpedalsteelguitar,piano,violin,acousticbass,acousticorelectricguitar•Nodrums8(earlycountry)– Basssettherhythmwithslapbeatsuntilthemid-1950s•Alsousedvocalinflections- yodel