Hailed by many as purely a southern rock band, Lynyrd Skynyrd was not only a success outside the Deep South but gained widespread popularity throughout the country in the 1970’s. Yes, of course much of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s style and sound evolved from there southern roots but that is not strictly who they were or what solely influenced them. After all, it is very difficult to be inducted into the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame if all you appeal to is a very small sect of the music market(Sullivan 1).…
Throughout Zeds Dead’s performance at Ritchie Coliseum, another sense was thoroughly engaged in addition to the auditory element of lyrics and synthetic instrumentals: vision. Zeds Dead performance had several marked features of visuals that exemplified the sensualistic nature of electronic dance music. Accordingly, “…such syntheses and modulations are carried out in the ‘laboratory’ of the club, where in most cases the pitch-black darkness is impregnated by techno music, a few lights, the occasional strobe and artifcial smoke.” (Vitos, 2). To typify this characteristic of EDM, Zeds Dead included many multicolored beams of light rotating over the cloud and flashing lights typically when the beat dropped, in an otherwise dark room. Additionally, there were designed visuals in the background, typically of a “trippy” rotating vortex,…
When thinking of orchestral performances, one possibly thinks of stiff, formal environments that have a dress requirement of dresses and tuxedos. Visions of aloof, almost militant conductors with long tails on their suits also come to mind. However, after attending the Louisville Orchestra’s pops season event “The Music of Led Zeppelin”, it became very obvious that even the prestigious Louisville Orchestra and their devoted following could let their hair down and rock and roll for one evening.…
. Some songs of the period were inspired by the Vietnam War with even the most popular musical artists being influenced by the plight of the soldiers forced into battle. Some of the music written during the 1960s and 70s characterized the discontent of American youth with the escalation of America’s involvement in Vietnam. The rhythms, raw energy, and screaming guitars of rock music reflected the chaos and confusion of the jungle warfare. Since Rock music was the most popular genre at the time with American youth it was also popular among the young American soldiers. To a degree Rock ‘n’ Roll music became an anthem of the American youth demonstrating their anti-establishment anti-war sentiment. Sometimes music defines a generation and the U.S.…
Described as “dual citizens,” the brass band performers have two drastically different identities (5). Although their performances enable them to be “exceptional icons,” these musicians suffer from poverty. They struggle to earn a living, as they are paid with little salaries. Most of the musicians are not full-time performers; in order to keep the livelihood, they cannot focus solely on their career. During the “New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival,” Keith Frazier, the member of Rebirth Brass Band, questions that “‘We know who we are. Do you know who we are?’” (100). The musicians themselves have a clear interpretation of their duality. However, there is a confusion of identities from the outsiders’ view. People focus only on their iconic appearance and hardly notice their poverty. As Sakakeeny remarks, it is problematic that the performers are the one who create the brass band culture, while the “cultural economics ends with these same workers, who are the last to receive any financial return” (86). Sakakeeny illustrates several vivid contrasts about musicians’ life stories. That is, the musicians work too much; however, they receive too little. Additionally, their second-line performance exhibits an up-beat tempo and mobilizing atmosphere, while the musicians endure an insecure and tragic life. In order to provide a…
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942 – September 18, 1970) was an American musician, singer, and songwriter. Although his mainstream career spanned only four years, he is widely regarded as one of the most influential electric guitarists in the history of popular music, and one of the most celebrated musicians of the 20th century. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame describes him as "arguably the greatest instrumentalist in the history of rock music".[1]Born in Seattle, Washington, Hendrix began playing guitar at the age of 15. In 1961, he enlisted in the US Army; he was granted an honorable discharge the following year. Soon afterward, he moved to Clarksville, Tennessee, and began playing gigs on the chitlin' circuit, earning a place in the Isley Brothers' backing band and later with Little Richard, with whom he continued to work through mid-1965. He then played with Curtis Knight and the Squires before moving to England in late 1966 after being discovered by bassist Chas Chandler of the Animals. Within months, Hendrix had earned three UK top ten hits with the Jimi Hendrix Experience: "Hey Joe", "Purple Haze", and "The Wind Cries Mary". He achieved fame in the US after his performance at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967, and in 1968 his third and final studio album, Electric Ladyland, reached number one in the US. The double LP was Hendrix's most commercially successful release and his first and only number one album. The world's highest-paid performer, he headlined the Woodstock Festival in 1969 and the Isle of Wight Festival in 1970 before his accidental death from barbiturate-related asphyxia on September 18, 1970, at the age of 27.…
Until the British invasion, the transatlantic trade in popular music flowed one-way. Much of American popular culture – including Rock ‘n’ Roll – transmitted by American troops during…
Music in the 1960s, especially folk music and psychedelic rock, created a stronger connection with listeners than ever before. New genres of music were being explored and music was becoming more individualized than ever before. Folk and psychedelic rock both strongly influenced American culture of the sixties, and the following decades, despite having few similarities. Folk music connected people to civil rights and anti-war movements and psychedelic rock connected people to each other; both genres caused major influence on musical performance and methods of recording to the present day.…
is one of the very few local groups that can play music from the 50's, 60's, 70's & 80's,…
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of predominantly African-American genres such as blues, boogie woogie, jump blues, jazz, and gospel music, together with Western swing and country music. Though elements of rock and roll can be heard in blues records from the 1920s and in country records of the 1930s, the genre did not acquire its name until the 1950s.…
The success of British acts time lead American garage rock bands to change their sound and style to match. The most famous example of this was the Monkees; an American made carbon-copy of the Beatles that were formed simply to capitalize off the British Invasion craze.…
System of a Down (System) is an Armenian metal band that formed in the early 90 's. When System first formed they became incredibly popular among teenagers. System is also widely known for their controversial and political songs. The current members of System are Serj Tankian, Daron Malakian, Shavo Odadjian, John Dolmayan.…
This essay looks at musician Jimi Hendrix's musical reactions to the American involvement in the Vietnam War. This research has taken place as part of a larger piece of work examining the links between the Vietnam War and Music in the U.S.A.…
Louis Armstrong, arguably the greatest entertainer, and trumpet player during the renaissance era. Louis Armstrong was inspired by people such as Joe the king Oliver, Lil Hardin, and Peter Davis. Louis Armstrong was one of the most famous and influential performers in the entire history of jazz. Louis Armstrong began to be noticed by important people in the 1920’s and the early 1930’s.…
Hard Rock started as a London Café serving classic American food. It became a “theme” chain selling memorabilia in tourist destinations. From there the company adopted many more transformations including adding stores, upgrading its menu, moving to places that are not typical tourist destinations, and most effective of all, including live music and rock concerts into the overall customer experience.…
