Blues Jazz and Rock
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These are my rough unedited class notes representing general ideas and concepts for class lectures.
Please ignore the many sentence fragments.
The African-American culture of the southern plantation influenced the birth of the blues through the adaptation of their African musical heritage. Based upon a call and response structure, one slave worker would call or play a lead and the fellow workers would respond with the same phrase or an embellishment of that phrase. The music involved predictable repetitions and were designed to ease the boredom of working in the fields as well as using music to retain memories of their past. This was important to the slave who were accustomed to dancing and singing to the beat of African drumming which emphasized rhythm over harmony. Drums were outlawed by the plantation owners so slaves often substituted clapping or slapping their bodies to establish a rhythmic pulse. The black churches of the south used music to enhance their worship services. Even today, black church services traditionally extend many hours into the afternoon and sometimes resemble a community talent show with congregation members performing all sorts of energetic music.
During WWI many southern A-As brought the blues to northern cities especially Chicago. The AA population grew from 40,000 in 1910 to 240,000 in 1930. Many left the plantations to flee from discrimination and to seek better paying jobs in the northern factories. From 1940-1950 220,000 southern African-Americans fled from the southern plantations to Chicago with nearly half coming from the Mississippi Delta region.
Muddy Waters (McKinley Morganfield)
Singing in church
“I was a good Baptist and got all my moaning and trembling going on for me right out of church.”
First guitar at 13
Sold last family horse for $15 Gave grandmother half and order a Stella guitar from Sears and Roebuck for $2.50
1943 moved to Chicago to make a start in the music business.
Wanted to leave
Had older blacks believing that they could not make it away from the plantations.
Bought first electric guitar from Leo Fender.
Muddy Waters
Im Your Hoochie Coochie Man
Steppenwolf
I Just Want To Make Love To You
Howlin Wolf
(Chester Burnett)
Muddy Waters Rival at Chess records of Chicago
Willie Dixon songwriter and talent scout. Wrote songs for Waters and Wolf.
Lived on plantation in Mississippi.
Decided to imitate the yodeling style of white singer Jimmy Rogers but never quite mastered the technique. Ended up sounding like someone howling and hence the name stuck.
Howlin Wolf
Backdoor Man
Killing Floor
The Lemon Song
Led Zeppelin
Bo Diddley
(Ellas McDaniel)
Moved to Chicago with family and started playing music in the streets at 15
Singed with Chess records in 1955
Distinctive vocal sound with fast quivering vibrato.
Bo Diddley
Im A Man
Who Do You Love
Sonny Boy Williamson (Rice Miller)
Blues harpist took 1962 hit Booker T and the MGs Green Onions
“Help Me”
Rock and Roll was African American euphemism for intercourse.
Chuck Berry
Brick house, tree lined street in middle-class St. Louis.
Family lived a block from church and musical roots originated in the church service.
Chuck Berry
Roll Over Beethoven
Rock and Roll Music
Johnny B. Goode
Back in the USA
Decca vs. Sun
Signed Bill Haley and the Comets
Shake Rattle and Roll
Rock Around the Clock
(appeared in 1955 movie Blackboard Jungle)
See You Later Alligator
Much more restrained style on stage as opposed to Elvis. In a jab at Elvis he said that a lot depends on the entertainer and how he controls the crowd. The music is stimulating enough without creating additional excitement. Its worth mentioning that Elvis was a young handsome hip swiveled while Haley was a pudgy, balding and 32 years old.
During the same time Decca discovered Charles Holly, a skinny teenager with thick horn rimmed glasses from Lubbock Texas. Buddy Holly was greatly influenced by country music especially bluegrass and western music pulling inspiration from artist such as Hank Snow and Hank Williams. By 16 Buddy had started to consider making a career in country western music.
That changed in 1955 when Elvis arrived in Lubbock for an performance at the Cotton Club. Holly and his friend Bob Montgomery drove Elvis around town and spent that evening with him at the concert. Buddy was surprised that Elvis was normal and said he was really a nice guy. The next day Holly and his group backed Elvis at the grand opening of a Pontiac dealership. After that weekend, Buddy started singing Elvis songs. His friends said his was on an Elvis kick and it started to shape the new rock and roll sound of Buddy Holly. Buddys big claim to fame releases were:
Peggy Sue
Thatll be the Day
Party Doll
In a moment of insanity Sam Phillips accepted a 35,000 offer from RCA Victor for the exclusive rights to Elvis contract and all of his recorded materials. Phillips said he need the money to get out of a real bind. He claimed not to be broke