When they first started, they rehearsed in places with great acoustics, like their school bathroom. Their greatest inspiration was the R&B group New Edition. One day, they were backstage at a New Edition concert and got the opportunity to sing their version of a New Edition song a cappella. Michael Bivins, the New Edition Member they met, was immediately impressed and shortly after had them signed to Motown Records. Shortly after being signed, Marc Nelson left the group so he could pursue a solo career.
At an early age he got married to a Virginia Travis who was 16 at the time. Virginia and their first born son passed away during childbirth. “It all started because of Johnson's uncanny mastery of the guitar. A small-boned man with long, slightly webbed fingers, Johnson earned respect and kept fights at bay with his astonishing musicianship. Johnson may have had eidetic memory for music -- the ability to hear and then recall music with unusual precision.
Liz Winquest May 27, 2011 3rd hour Elvis Presley’s Rise to Fame This project gave me the opportunity to research the rise to fame of the legend of rock and roll, Elvis Presley. Elvis Presley has always captured my attention with his music, his handsome looks, and his famous dancing. Before this project I knew a lot on Elvis Presley but after this project I learned so much more about his journey and how he became the legend he is today. When Elvis Presley was born on January 8th, 1955 he suffered the loss of his twin brother at birth. Elvis would live his life feeling guilty for the loss of his brother and some of his music reflected that.
The group continued on for On Air in 1996 and The Time Machine in 1999. During that time, the first of the "Alan Parsons Live Project" toured around sold-out performances to audiences around the world. After Alan's move to California, a new version of the Live Project band was created in 2003, then again in 2010. Today’s band is made up of Alan on acoustic guitar, keyboards, and vocals; P.J. Olsson on vocals, Manny Foccarazzo on keyboards, Guy Erez on bass, Alastair Greene on guitar, Danny Thompson on Drums, and Todd Cooper on sax, percussion, and
I could not believe that a person was able to play the guitar with such perfection. When I got home I researched about John Mayer’s mastery of the guitar. I discovered that John Mayer heard a Stevie Ray Vaughan cassette when he was a kid and fell in love with the guitar. Therefore, John spent the rest of his life determined to conquer the
Guitar Research Paper By: Arman Setser The famous guitarist I am researching is Jimi Hendrix. Jimi Hendrix is widely considered one of the greatest musicians and songwriters of all time. He is well known for his work with his group “The Jimi Hendrix Experience”, headlining the 1969 “Woodstock Festival”, and the 1970 “Isle of Wight Festival.” He was born in 1942 in Seattle, Washington. He got his first guitar for $5 from one of his dad’s friends. He learned to play by practicing for several hours a day and watching others play.
“Greatest Hits” by Bruce Springsteen Bruce Springsteen was born in Freehold, New Jersey on September 23rd, 1949. Having a fond interest in the music world, Springsteen, began learning how to play the guitar in his high school years. He developed his skill as a guitarist and eventually became what he is today. Bruce was a quick learner and because of this success he joined quite a few bands in his early days. First, he joined semi-professional bands such as “The Castiles” and “Steel Mill,” but he wanted to start his own band and write his own songs.
Many people that Elvis’s early years drove him to be a success as to ensure that he would always care for his family. As a young man in high school his music teacher told him that he could not sing. She gave him a C in music. Elvis often said he was too shy to sing in school. He never received any other professional training in music but he always knew he wanted to sing.
He was quoted saying that, “Nathaniel had a lot of innate talent. Many students of mine ended up becoming lawyers and doctors, but he loved music with a passion.” (Patricia, 2009) Although Mr. Ayers was offered a scholarship to attend music school at Ohio University and Ohio State, he aspired to attend Julliard School of Music in New York City. He was accepted to the school on a full scholarship as a double bassist. Unfortunately, during his third year at Julliard’s, he suffered a mental breakdown and had to be institutionalized. There was some speculation that Mr. Ayers felt extreme pressure to prove himself as one of the few African American students in the highly competitive school.
I never knew that so many bands were formed during this era and that each one had very talented musicians from all walks of life. I enjoyed reading about Lester Young whose father was a minstrel-show musician. Lester Young played with Walter Page’s “Blue Devils” and “The Bennie Moten-George Lee Band”. Some of Young’s idols growing up were Frankie Trumbauer and Bix Beiderbecke. Lester Young joined the Fletcher Henderson orchestra to replace Coleman Hawkins but didn’t stay very long due to his lack of loud, resonant, and vibrato-laden tone that Hawkins displayed as referred to on (p.265).