late 40s: post-war changes

Question 1

how did the labelling of genres change in 1945?

Answer 1

• race music -> R&B
• hillbilly -> country and western

Question 2

what trend became increasingly popular during this time?

Answer 2

• genre crossover: was popular before but became more intentional as record companies found it to be profitable
• strategy of getting R&B artists to cover country songs and vice versa

Question 3

why did the swing era end?

Answer 3

• change of mainstream taste from brassy instrumental swing to sentimental vocal crooning with orchestral accompaniment
• there was a big strike by instrumental big band musicians protesting record labels (big bands were thus replaced by small bands)

Question 4

what genre dominated the pop charts in the late 40s?

Answer 4

crooning; carried through from the late 20s

Question 5

what genre dominated the R&B charts? define and explain it

Answer 5

jump blues:
- up-tempo, danceable rhythms of hot swing music, with boogie-woogie piano and bluesy sax solos
- smaller ensembles: 1-2 horns + rhythm section + singer (+ sometimes distorted electric guitar)
- mostly male singers with theatrical vocals imitating the powerful expressive quality of classic blues singers
- popular with both Black and white audiences
- most important precursor to rock n roll

Question 6

what two genres dominated the country and western charts? define and explain them

Answer 6

1. western swing: swing rhythms, small jazz bands and fiddle music, adding lyrics to instrumental tunes, smooth crooner voice
2. honky tonk: amplified guitars and pianos, bass but not drums, working class lyrics, emphasized southern accent

Question 7

what major invention changed the game in the late 40s/early 50s? why was it so influential?

Answer 7

• electric guitar (invented by fender, followed by les paul)
• crucial for the intersections of country and r&b in their trajectory toward rock n roll (country + r&b + electric guitar -> rock n roll)
• able to play to bigger crowds