Soul and Motown

1. Soul and Motown

2. The 1960’s • Time 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

3. 60’s cont. • 1950’s were conservative (Republican) • 1960’s were liberal (Democratic) • Politics based on philosophical values • Much tumult and confusion

4. Important 60’s persons • John 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

5. 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

7. Important 60’s persons • Martin Luther King, Jr. • Civil rights leader, minister • Advocated non-violent change • Declared “I have a dream” – famous speech given in Washington D.C.

8. 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

10. Important 60’s persons • Lyndon B. Johnson • Kennedy’s Vice-President • Responsible for legislating most of Kennedy’s dreams • Peace Corps • Civil Rights Act of 1964 • Nuclear arms limitations

12. Johnson cont. • Viet Nam War escalations caused him to lose credibility • Did not seek a second term • Also remember – Robert F. Kennedy, Malcolm X (assassinated)

14. 1960’s trends and things • Hippies / flower power / “goin’ to San Francisco” • Haight-Ashbury district • Drugs / counter-culture / “purple haze” • LSD new drug • Black Panthers / violent black power • SDS, Weathermen/ violent white groups • Sexual revolution / “if you can’t be with the one you love, love the one you’re with”

15. Student protests / “four dead in Ohio” • Focused on moral, philosophical issues • Draft • Viet Nam War • Civil rights

16. Many student protests on college campuses • Some protests became violent • Kent State University in Ohio • 4 students killed by National Guard

17. SoulMusic • 1964 – Billboard replaced “R&B” with “Soul” • New description for black music • Included gospel and blues • Early development centered in Memphis • Southern influences

18. 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

19. Soul style description • Blues / shouting / gospel style • From Afro-American blues style • Call-and-response • Emotional and physical (preaching) • Harder edge than Motown

20. Soul Performers • Aretha 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

21. Followed career path of Sam Cooke - close friend • Large gospel influences • Very polished sound • Could have been Motown? • Big hits • “Respect” – #1 1967 voice for Black Power “Think” “Natural Woman” “Chain of Fools” many others

23. 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

24. Sounds of early funk • Choked guitar • Staccato bass • Full horn section • “The hardest working man in show business”

25. James Brown Radio • 1965 bought 1st radio station • WJBE in Knoxville, Tenn. • Soul, gospel, jazz format • Training ground • Advertising, programming, management • Talk shows / editorials • Kids stay in school • Parental support

27. 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

28. 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”

29. 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

31. Other soul biggies • Sam and Dave – from Georgia “Soul Man” • Percy Sledge – from Alabama “When a Man Loves a Woman” • Wilson Pickett – Alabama “In the Midnight Hour”

32. 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

33. Motown • Short 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

34. 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

35. 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

36. Motown style • Not hard edge of soul • Smooth and light texture • Easily understandable lyrics • Few blues tunes used • Chord progressions based on white forms

37. (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

38. 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

39. Motown Performers • Supremes (Diana Ross) • Biggest success of Motown • 10 #1 hits from 1964 to 1970 • “Where Did Our Love Go” • “Love Child”

41. 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

42. 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”

43. Personal problems in later life – drugs, alcohol, marital • Died April 1, 1984 • Shot by father during violent argument • Father later acquitted (self defense)

45. 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”

46. 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”

48. Other Motown Biggies • The Temptations -”My Girl”, “Get Ready”

49. Smokey Robinson, Jackson 5, The Four Tops, Gladys Knight and the Pips, etc.