Soul and Motown. The 1960’s Time of change – “The 1960’s reflected more intense change in...
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Transcript of Soul and Motown. The 1960’s Time of change – “The 1960’s reflected more intense change in...
Soul and Motown
The 1960’sTime of change –
“The 1960’s reflected more intense change in the United States than any other time since the Revolutionary War.” Charles T. Brown,
The Art of Rock and Roll
60’s cont.1950’s were conservative
(Republican)
1960’s were liberal (Democratic)
Politics based on philosophical values
Much tumult and confusion
Important 60’s personsJohn F. Kennedy
Elected President in 1960 Young, handsome family man Great speaker, held crowds captive Proposed a “New Frontier”
Spread wealth to all America Help in other parts of the world
Administration compared to “Camelot”
Symbol of hope for the young and oppressed minorities
Was not a W.A.S.P. (White Anglo Saxon Protestant)
Assassinated in 1963
Important 60’s personsMartin Luther King, Jr.
Civil rights leader, minister Advocated non-violent change Declared “I have a dream” – famous
speech given in Washington D.C.
Presented optimistic view of social change
View changed with the Watts (part of Los Angeles) riots of 1967
Assassinated in 1968 Changed the face of civil rights movement
Important 60’s personsLyndon B. Johnson
Kennedy’s Vice-President Responsible for legislating most of
Kennedy’s dreams Peace Corps Civil Rights Act of 1964 Nuclear arms limitations
Johnson cont.Viet Nam War escalations caused
him to lose credibilityDid not seek a second term
Also remember – Robert F. Kennedy, Malcolm X (assassinated)
1960’s trends and thingsHippies / flower power / “goin’ to San
Francisco” Haight-Ashbury district
Drugs / counter-culture / “purple haze” LSD new drug
Black Panthers / violent black powerSDS, Weathermen/ violent white groupsSexual revolution / “if you can’t be with
the one you love, love the one you’re with”
Student protests / “four dead in Ohio”Focused on moral, philosophical issues
Draft Viet Nam War Civil rights
Many student protests on college campuses
Some protests became violentKent State University in Ohio
4 students killed by National Guard
Soul Music1964 – Billboard replaced “R&B” with
“Soul” New description for black music Included gospel and blues Early development centered in Memphis
Southern influences
Muscle Shoals Southern recording center Often recorded here for a more “hometown
type of production” Muscle Shoals Sound Rhythm Section
Served as backup band for a variety of performers and styles
Soul style description Blues / shouting / gospel style From Afro-American blues style Call-and-response Emotional and physical (preaching) Harder edge than Motown
Soul PerformersAretha Franklin – “1st Lady of Soul”
Born in 1942 – Memphis Father was a reverend in Detroit Began as a gospel singer 1st solo @ church age 12
Followed career path of Sam Cooke - close friend
Large gospel influencesVery polished sound
Could have been Motown?Big hits
“Respect” – #1 1967 voice for Black Power “Think”
“Natural Woman” “Chain of Fools” many others
Soul performers cont.James Brown – “Godfather of Soul”
Born in Georgia in 1933 Began in gospel choirs Harsh guttural screaming Very physical performer
Gyrating, splits, sweat
Sounds of early funk Choked guitar Staccato bass Full horn section
“The hardest working man in show business”
James Brown Radio1965 bought 1st radio station
WJBE in Knoxville, Tenn.Soul, gospel, jazz formatTraining ground
Advertising, programming, managementTalk shows / editorials
Kids stay in school Parental support
Otis Redding Born in Georgia in 1941 Father was a part time preacher – Otis
sang regularly in church choirs Inspired by Little Richard, James Brown,
Lena Horne Began as a Little Richard impersonator
Appeared at Monterey Pop Festival in 1967; introduced to white audiences
“I Can’t Turn You Loose” “Respect” (Aretha Franklin biggie)
“Dock of the Bay” Last album released Considered the
“Dictionary of Soul”
Established summer camp for underprivileged children
Died in a plane crash 1967 “Dock of the Bay” reached #1 on the pop
charts 3 months later
Other soul biggiesSam and Dave – from Georgia
“Soul Man”Percy Sledge – from Alabama
“When a Man Loves a Woman”Wilson Pickett – Alabama
“In the Midnight Hour”
Soul would continue “. . . there is no question that the
soul/blues/shouting/gospel tradition continued in the funk, rap and fusion music of the 1970’s and the 1980’s” Charles T. Brown
The Art of Rock and Roll
MotownShort for Motor Town (Detroit)
- 535 singles in 1960’s - 357 made charts
- 67% success rate (10% normal)
Doo Wop roots Background vocal groups of 50’s Non-sense words often sung
Motown cont.Berry Gordy, Jr.
Founded and created Motown Born 1929 in Detroit Had vision to create new black music Understood what would sell Maniacal drive to succeed
Opened Motown records in 1960- other black labels folded
- “where it was happening in black music”
Trained his performers in showmanship, musicianship, etiquette, speech, behavior – succeed in white world
Motown styleNot hard edge of soulSmooth and light textureEasily understandable lyricsFew blues tunes used
Chord progressions based on white forms
(style con’t.)Technically precise music
Gordie influence Only the best were released Car radio speaker used to sound test
the song Where most music was heard If it sounded good here, it was ready
Holland-Dozier-Holland“one of the greatest songwriting teams of all time.” Rolling Stone
28 Top 20 hits in a three year span Wrote for many Motown groups (others)
“Heat Wave” “How Sweet It Is to be Loved by You” “Reach Out, I’ll Be There” “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” Many, many others
Motown PerformersSupremes (Diana Ross)
Biggest success of Motown 10 #1 hits from 1964 to 1970
“Where Did Our Love Go” “Love Child”
Marvin Gaye Signed with Motown in 1961 as drummer –
singer in 1962 Early hits
“How Sweet It Is to Be Loved By You” “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” “Can I Get a Witness” more
Style changed in 1971 Gained autonomy over his music
Left Motown in 1982 Began writing his own songs “What’s Goin’ On”
Biggest selling album 1st concept album Dealt with racism, war, ecology, etc.
“What’s Goin’ On” “Mercy, Mercy Me (The Ecology Song)” “Inner City Blues”
Personal problems in later life – drugs, alcohol, marital
Died April 1, 1984 Shot by father during violent argument Father later acquitted (self defense)
Stevie Wonder Started as Little Stevie Wonder Began as Ray Charles impersonator Very popular teen star
(the Rolling Stones were his opening act in 1964 – movie cameos)
“Finger Tips (Part 2)” – 1st hit “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours”
1971 - Gained autonomy over his music 1st Motown artist to do this
“He broke out of the Motown mold to compose and produce a new kind of black music” Rolling Stone
Played most instruments on his recordings
“Superstition” – 1st #1 hit “Livin’ for the City” “You Are the Sunshine of My Life” “Sir Duke”
Other Motown Biggies
The Temptations-”My Girl”, “Get Ready”
Smokey Robinson, Jackson 5, The Four Tops, Gladys Knight and the Pips, etc.
Soul and Motown “Immortals”James Brown #7Aretha Franklin #9Stevie Wonder #15Marvin Gaye #18Otis Redding #21Smokey Robinson #32Michael Jackson #35