A Music Empire “Hitsville USA!” These are the words the young, arrogant Berry Gordy wrote on the front of Motown's headquarters (Cruz). At the time, this self-appointed title wasn't deserved, but Motown records would soon become a music powerhouse. So, how did Motown grow from it's humble beginnings to “Hitsville USA?” Everyone has heard some of Motown's greatest hits, even if it's origin is unknown to the listener. Berry Gordy built a music empire out of Motown. He didn't have much experience, but he managed nonetheless.
Pink Floyd were influenced by a number of artists throughout their career, helping them towards the sound they achieved on Dark Side of the Moon. Miles Davis, one of the most important musicians of the second half of the twentieth century, helped create modern jazz as we know it. It is reported that Richard Wright would often lose himself in jazz records, particularly the work of Miles Davis, through his hard bop style in the 1950’s, experimental ambient sound in the 1960’s, and his rock and funk records in the 1970’s. Wright has said himself that one of his favourite pieces ever was Miles Davis’ take on Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess from the 1959 Kind of Blue album, which was a key influence to the composition of the chord sequence which forms the song Us and Them from Dark Side of the Moon. The Beatles were a band that influenced Pink Floyd greatly in the lead up to the release of Dark Side of the Moon; most bands were influenced by the Beatles at this time.
Kayleigh Vestal Backing It Up Standing in the Shadows of Motown is a documentary on the Funk Brothers and their influence on the Motown sound, being the backbone behind many of the genre’s greatest musicians such as Stevie Wonder and the Supremes. I personally found the film to be very enjoyable, and the history of the band was fascinating to watch, seeing their connections to these famous players and how their music coincides with the evolving trends of the decades. The show begins with a slow, funky bassline that walks along as the narrator introduces the Funk Brothers by way of floating text. In Detroit, Michigan, 1959, a new record company called Motown records gathered the best blues and jazz musicians the city had to offer. This band would go by the name the Funk Brothers.
In 1989 is when Boys II Men got there big break, they were fortunate enough to go back stage at a Bell Biv DeVoe concert. Boys II Men would sing an acapella song known as “Can You Stand the Rain” by New Edition for Michael Bivins. Bivins offered them a contract right then and there with Motown Records. At some point before the group’s debut album was released, member Marc Nelson decided to leave the group to pursue his own personal solo career. As a group of four now, they wasted no time and entered the studio to record their debut
The Beatles were known as Americans Brittan invasion. Rock and roll has impacted our culture some say that the genre has helped with the civil rights movement because both African American teens and white American teens both enjoyed the genre of rock and roll. A myriad of early rock and roll songs dealt with issues of school, dating ,cars , and clothing the lyrics of the genre described a story with conflicts that the average person back then can relate too. Other topics that were considered “Taboo” such as sex began to be introduced to rock and roll. Taboo was considered that new music that tried to break the rules and express the emotions that younger people were feeling.
There is a similarity between the Greek word “kithara” and the Spanish word “guitar.” Dr. Kasha later than questioned the Greeks on where they got the name “kithara” and realizes that the earliest kithara had only four strings when introduced from abroad. He guesses the Greeks took the old Persian name for a 4-stringed instrument “chartar.” The guitar was invented four hundred years ago and ever since then it has been such a good innovative instrument. The guitar serves as sound, or the heart of a song. It could be used in many different types of music from Heavy Metal and punk music, to Jazz, and Blues it has been the biggest factor in modern music and between acoustic guitar and electric guitar there is a lot of history. The name “guitar” originates from the ancient Sanskrit word for “string”-“tar”.
Elvis Presley was known for changing the music world, and the way people viewed Rock and Roll. Elvis grew up poor in Tupelo, Mississippi, but when he was 13 he moved to Memphis, Tennessee. In August 1953, he went to Sun Records; a record place ran by Sam Phillips and Marion Keisker. There he recorded his first record, and in July of 1954, he made a record which started his success. In 1955, Colonel Tom A. Parker became Elvis’ manager.
James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich have created eleven successful albums with the help of their long-time guitarist Kirk Hammett, their current bassist Rob Trujillo, and previous members Dave Mustaine, Cliff Burton, and Jason Newsted. Metallica’s exploration in new styles and genres along with the dilemma of coming and going band members has left a lasting, but somewhat turbulent, impact on their fans. Metallica started in Los Angeles, California, in early 1981 when drummer Lars Ulrich put an add in a Los Angeles newspaper stating, "Drummer looking for other metal musicians to jam with…” (MTV.com). Ulrich recruited James Hetfield to sing and play rhythm guitar after Hetfield answered the add. Guitarist Dave Mustaine answered another one of Ulrich’s adds.
“We were just the spokesmen for a generation”, answered Paul McCartney when asked about his thoughts on the roles of rock music in the 1960’s (Szatmary 97), “I try to use my music to move these people to act”, said legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix when asked about the motives of his music (Jimi). Both these men were very aware of the influence they held as Rock musicians, and acted upon that knowledge as is evident in their lyrics. There were many other musicians at the time that found themselves in the same position. The position where their music had more value to it than just entertainment, where it could actually bring about change. Rock music brought about the cultural revolutions of the sixties and seventies.
Before the Beatles, the boys were for the most part strangers all looking for a music career. At age 17, John Lennon and his first band, The Black Jacks formed. Soon after they started out they changed their name to The Quarry Men. The band played skiffle music, which is a mix of jazz, blues, county and roots. In 1957, a member of the band introduced John to Paul, who later joined the band in October that year.