Quiz #1 Flashcards
Artist
Performer who’s name is on the CD, record, ticket, DVD, etc. Can be a single person or a group of people and has no bearing on the quality of a person’s work.
Manager
Handle the business transactions, arrangements, and other parts of an artist’s job. They are a buffer between artists and other business levels. Ex: Colonel Tom Parker, Brian Epstein
Producers
In charge of recording sessions. Can control every aspect of the recording process or allow the artist more freedom
Songwriters
A person or a team that writes lyrics or melody to songs
Lyrics
Words
Music
Melody and Chords
Song
Words, melody, and chords
Arrangers
Arranges a piece of music based on the requirements of the performer or group of performers Different from composers, who create original music..
Engineer
Operate recording and live sound equipment. Can provide insight to the artist. Ex. Alan Parsons
Tom David
Innovator of multi-track recording and influential in creating the sound of the 2nd half of the 20th century.
Studio Musicians
Not part of set bands, but are hired for recording sessions. They are highly versatile. Ex. Funk Brothers ; The Wrecking Crew
Disc Jockey (DJ)
Referred to a radio personality pre-1970. Ex. Alan Freed & Dick Clark. Club Djs emerged from disco era.
Publisher
Links up new songs by songwriter(s) to suitable recording artists with the intent of creating a hit record.
Verse
The part of the song where the main storytelling takes place
Chorus
Sharply contrasts the verse melodically, rhythmically, and harmonically
Rhythm
Term used to describe how music is organized over time
Beat
Basic time unit of a piece of music; the pulse.
Backbeat
A term applied to accentuate the beats 2 & 4 in a 4/4 measure.
Measure
A group of beats
“Rocket 88” (1954)
The first true Rock’n Roll song. Written by Jackie Bensten and his Delta Cats
The 4 themes that helped to develop Rock & Roll
- Social, political, and cultural issues
- Issues or race, class, and gender
- Development of music business
- Development of technology
Originally music for low income listeners
R & B; country. (Neither originally played on national levels)
Kraft Music Hall
A live, Thursday night variety show hosted by Bing Crosby.
Bing Crosby
The first true pop music star. 38 #1 hits. ovie star from 1944-1948.
“White Christmas” (
Best selling single of all time.
Francis Albert “Frank” Sinatra
Sung with the big bands early on, but went solo in 1943. He became a teen idol and was one of the most successful singers of pop music. His career as a performed lasted into the 1980’s.
Lester Polsfuss (Les Paul)
One of the countries leading guitarists during the bid band era. Innovator of the solid body electric guitar. Invented “The Log” in 1941, which was a railroad tie with a guitar neck, pickup, and bridge attached. He made the sound of Rock & Roll possible. Also the inventor of overdubbing. Died August 13th, 2009.
Overdubbing
One part of the song is recorded and then the other so that the two parts sound together.
Early Country
Songs for the white working class. Had roots in southern folk music, gospel music, Celtic music, and old-time music. Ethnic settlers from Ireland, Spain, Scotland, Africa, Germany, and Britain all helped to influence country.
Instruments of country
Banjo, Violin, Spanish Guitar, mandolin, piano, harmonica.
Ralph Peer
A producer, engineer, and talent scout who traveled in search of “hillbilly” music. Discovered Fiddlin John Carson, Gid Tanner and his Skillet Lickers, the Carter family, and Jimmie Rogers.
Carter Family
One of the founders of country music. Made up of A.P. carter, his wife Sara, and his sister-in-law Maybelle.
Carter Picking
A style of music developed by Maybelle of the Cart Family. It was the dominant technique for decades.
Jimmie Rogers
Father of country music. Fused hillbilly, gospel, jazz, blues, folk, and work chants of the railroad crew. Had a distinct yodeling style, which was important to the lyric of the song. Died May 1933 or Tuberculosis at 35.
Western (Cowboy) music
Focused on the wide prairie of cowboys and romanticized cowboy mythology.
Singing Cowboys
Movie stars who portrayed and sung about cowboys in their films. Ex. Roy Rogers; Tex Pitter
Western Swing
Most eclectic form of country music. Incorporated traditional pop melodies, jazz, and folk. Popularized by Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys.
Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys
Popular band in the 1940’s. A purely country band.
Roy Acuff
The King of country music. Truly embodied country music with his traditional values and beliefs. Co-founded the first major Nashville based country music publishing company in 1942. Was voted the best singer by the troops in 1942.
Bluegrass
Invented by Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys. Used instruments such as the fiddle, mandolin, banjo, guitar, upright bass, slide guitar, and group vocals. Emphasized close instrumental virtuosity and close vocal harmonies.
Hank Williams (Sr.)
A true and pure country boy. One of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. He had a troubled and reckless life, but his songs have become classics. Died at 29 on new years day, 1953 with only 5 years of success.
The Blues
Popular music played by black musicians for black listening audiences. The lyrics and melodies featured sad themes, hard luck, and tough times. Was more of a rhythmic talk than a melody.
12 Bar Blues
The most common form in R&B. Has 3 groups of 4 measures, called a phrase. The first phrase often has a lyric that is repeated in the next phrase.
Riff
A repeated melodic figure. Examples found in “Superstition” , “Smoke on the Water” (Deep Purple), and “Oh Pretty Woman” (Roy Orbison).
Country Blues
Also known as acoustic, rural, or delta blues. Originated in the Mississippi Delta region, which is the land where blues was born. Instruments include vocals, acoustic guitars (bottleneck or slide), and harmonicas.
Charley Patton
The father of Delta blues. He was popular at plantation dances and was known for his showmanship. He was easy to provoke and able to down massive amounts of food and alcohol.
“Pony Blues”
Charley Patton’s first and biggest hit.
Robert Johnson
A singer, composer, and guitarist. He is the most celebrated figure in the history of blues. There is a myth that he sold his soul to the devil. He was an important influence on the 60’s British invasion guitarists of the 60’s. (Eric Clapton and Keith Richards). He died on August 16th, 1938 at age 27.
Urban Blues
Also known as electric blues or Chicago blues. Developed in urban areas as workers migrated North during WWII. Made use of amplification and had a rhythm section backing singers or instruments. Based on 12 bar blues riff.
Urban Blues Instruments
Vocals, electric guitars, amplified harmonicas, bass (acoustic and then electric), drums, and piano. There were also saxophones sometimes.
Muddy Waters (McKinley Morgonfield)
The father of Chicago Blues, he tranformed the sound of the rural south into the sound of the city. He was a product of the Mississippi Delta and the great migration North. He was a huge inspiration for the British beat explosions in the 60’s. Was an artist for Chess Records.
Chester “Howlin Wolf” Burnett
Had a looming physical appearance with a booming voice. He had a unique growl and was a unique entertainer. He was also an artist for Chess Records
Chess Records
America’s greatest blues label. Was started by Phil and Leonard Chess. Had an impressive roster of blues artists including Howlin Wolf, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hocker(Hacker? Should learn to write neater), Little Walter, Bo Diddely, Etta James, and Chuck Barry.
Riley “Blues Boy” King
Hailed as the reigning king of blues. Had a gritty and confident voice with passionate playing. One of the greatest blues artists of all time.
Controversy with R&B
R&B started to become popular with white teenagers, which angered their parents. They disapproved of blues largely because of racial stereotypes and its suggestive themes.
