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R & B – Soul Music of the 1960s

R & B – Soul Music of the 1960s. Progression of Black Music in the U.S. So Far…. African Diaspora especially from West Africa 1920s early jazz 1930s Big Band and Swing 1940s Country Blues and Electric Blues 1950s Rock N Roll highly influenced by genres above

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R & B – Soul Music of the 1960s

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  1. R & B – Soul Music of the 1960s

  2. Progression of Black Music in the U.S. So Far… • African Diaspora especially from West Africa • 1920s early jazz • 1930s Big Band and Swing • 1940s Country Blues and Electric Blues • 1950s Rock N Roll highly influenced by genres above • Now… 1960s comes into play Rhythm & Blues and Soul Music • This will become a groundbreaking genre of music: financially, recording wise, culturally with pop culture status like never before • Will forever change the landscape and influence pop music for decades to come, even to this day…

  3. What and who we’ll be looking at… • How R&B and Soul music came to be • The major artists who highlight this genre • The people behind the scenes, both the business minds as well as the recording of soul music • The impact on the music industry soul music has had… • Let’s take a look at who and how this has influenced…

  4. Just to throw out some names… • Michael Jackson • Stevie Wonder • ALL hip hop and rap artists • Singers like Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, influenced modern female singers like Adele, ErykaBahdu, Beyonce, the list goes on… • The “Boy Bands” like N Sync, 98 Degrees, Backstreet Boys would not have been successful had it not been for The Temptations, The Four Tops, Smokey Robinson, • The New Soul movement is a direct homage to the old style music of the 1960s • The amount of influence this genre has had is more than we have time to discuss in this class…let’s see how!

  5. Rhythm & Blues, Soul & Motown • The term “Rhythm & Blues” describes the cross influences of jazz and blues singers of the 1940s & 1950s • The meaning of the term has evolved to include aspects of African American pop music including: Motown, Soul, Funk, and Hip Hop • The meaning of R & B is given credit to Ray Charles, who as a jazz pianist and singer in the 1950s, began to sing gospel inspired music in blues clubs • Since Ray Charles, R & B has been associated with gospel’s uplifting and “Soulful” singing styles

  6. Major Figures Early 1960s R & B • Ray Charles • "What I'd Say" • Born into poor sharecropping parents • Was educated at prestigious school for the blind where he practiced piano as a young child • As an adult played piano with jazz, blues, and western swing bands • Shaped his own style of mixing jazz piano styles, back beat rhythms, and gospel melodies • This mix would be become to core of “R & B” and “Soul” music for decades to come

  7. Major Figures Early 1960s R & B • Etta James • First woman to write her own material • Signed with Chess Records in 1955 • Famous for magnificent jazz vocal technique and musicianship • Continued to tour and record up until her death in 2012 • "I'd Rather Go Blind"

  8. Major Figures Early 1960s R & B • Sam Cooke • "What a Wonderful World" • Cooke was one of the first successful “singer-songwriter”, and made 29 Top 40 hits in his seven years of stardom • His major hits include, “Wonderful World” and “Twistin the Night Away”, & “Chain Gang” • He was shot and killed at the Hacienda Hotel here in LA on Dec 11th 1964 • The circumstances of his death are still left with mystery and controversy

  9. Berry Gordy and Motown USA • Motown Records • Born into upper middle class Black family- dropped out of HS and pursued business interests • Drafted into Korean War, upon returning to start a jazz record store but failed • Co Wrote some songs for R & B star Jackie Wilson and started “Hitsville USA”, a jazz oriented recording studio

  10. Berry Gordy and Motown USA • Berry Gordy • Black owned jazz studio attracted great talent early on: • Singer/Drummer Marvin Gaye • Singers Mary Wells and Smokey Robinson • Gordy’s success eventually led to “Motown Records” and would eventually feature some of the most renowned Black stars of the 1960s

  11. Hitsville USA- Motown Changes the Scene • The Marvellettes • "Please Mr. Postman" • 1961- “Please Mr. Postman”- first # 1 hit and gold record for Motown Records • Simple back beat complimented by backing vocals influenced highly by Ray Charles and Sam Cooke

  12. The Sound of Motown… • “Postman” set the tone for groups like The Supremes and many others • Early Motown hits focused on simple songs that could appeal to broadening teen market • Mid 1960s- sound revolved around the “Funk Brothers” jazz musicians who focused on precise and skilled arrangements • Songs designed to support singer and work well on the road

  13. The Look of Motown… • "My Girl" • Gordy insisted on code of “conduct” that ALL Motown talent would adhere to • All musical recordings were recorded with live presentation in mind • Always well dressed as ladies and gentlemen in public; performing “All the time” • Motown was an elevation of early Harlem Renaissance Black Culture • The body was important to sell records  similar to Elvis

  14. The Ladies of Soul Music Diana Ross & The Supremes (Motown Records) Aretha Franklin (The Queen of Soul)-Not a Motown artist • "Respect" • "Where Did Our Love Go"

  15. Motown Competitor… • Phil Spector, like Gordy, emphasized high production values, glamor, and efficiency • Unlike Gordy, was not concerned with long term success of band, one hit was enough- “1 Hit Wonder” • Innovated a recording practice called the “Wall of Sound”- making songs sound bigger by using recording techniques- songs sound like they are recorded in big church • Phil Spector in the studio

  16. Spector’s “Wall of Sound”-Examples • "Be My Baby"-The Ronnettes • "Silence is Easy"- Starsailor • "Get Back" • "Get Back" Naked • The Beatles Let it Be Album Controversy • The Beatles were breaking up because of legal issues • When they recorded “Let it Be” Album, they used their usual producer George Martin • They fired him, and hired Phil Spector to re-master album- the result  a Beatles album with wall of sound. They hated it. • In 2003, they released Let it Be –Naked- tracks with0ut “Wall of Sound”

  17. Spector in the news… • Phil Spector was found guilty of murdering Lana Clarkson, a girlfriend of Spector • This was a highly watched murder trial • He was sentenced to 19 yrs to life in prison • Phil Spector in court

  18. The Soul Music Influence-”Neo Soul” • Raphael Saadiq • Adele • Aloe Blacc • Jill Scott • Erykah Badu • The Roots Ft Cody Chesnutt • Leon Bridges

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