“GOOD VIBRATIONS”: AMERICAN POP AND THE BRITISH INVASION, 1960s
Important Names and Brief Bios
Chubby Checker (Ernest
Evans, 1941–):
Singer who became famous for his cover version of “The
Twist” by Hank Ballard.
Dick Clark (1929–):
Host of the popular teen-oriented television show
American Bandstand.
Phil Spector (1940–):
Dubbed the “first tycoon of teen,” his studio production
techniques are known as the “wall of sound” because of
his utilization of dense orchestrations, multiple
instruments, and heavy reverb.
Wrecking Crew:
The studio musicians who worked regularly with Phil
Spector at Gold Star Studios.
Berry Gordy, Jr. (1929–):
Founder of Motown Records.
The Supremes:
Black female vocal group who were featured artists with
Motown Records in the 1960s. Their song “You Can’t
Hurry Love” was a Number One hit in 1966.
The Temptations:
Black male vocal group featured with Motown Records
in the 1960s. Their song “My Girl” was a Number One
hit in 1965.
William “Smokey” Robinson
(1940–):
Performer, songwriter, and producer; he worked with
Berry Gordy Jr. at Motown Records and was the lead
singer for the Miracles.
(Eddie) Holland–(Lamont)
Dozier–(Brian) Holland:
Songwriting team at Motown Records. They wrote and
produced “You Can’t Hurry Love,” a Number One hit for
the Supremes.
Funk Brothers:
The studio musicians of Motown’s house band; included
the bass player James Jamerson, the drummer Benny
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“GOOD VIBRATIONS”: AMERICAN POP AND THE BRITISH INVASION, 1960s
Benjamin, and the keyboardist Earl Van Dyke.
Diana Ross (1944–):
The lead singer for the Supremes. After leaving the
Supremes in 1970, she became a successful solo artist.
Beach Boys:
Founded in California in 1961, they popularized the
“California sound” in the early 1960s. Their hit songs
included “Surfin’ Safari,” “Surfer Girl,” “California
Girls,” “Surfin’ USA” and “Good Vibrations.”
Brian Wilson (1942–):
The leader and guiding spirit of the Beach Boys during
their first decade. He wrote and produced many of the
Beach Boys’ biggest hits, including “Good Vibrations.”
The Beatles:
Rock group from Liverpool, England, who dominated
American popular music during the mid-1960s and
started the “British Invasion.” The band included John
Lennon and George Harrison on lead and rhythm guitars
and vocals, Paul McCartney on bass and vocals, and
Ringo Starr on drums and occasional vocals.
The Rolling Stones:
A British rock group who cultivated an image as “bad
boys” in deliberate contrast to the friendly public image
projected by the Beatles.
Ramon “Mongo” Santamaria
(1917–2003):
Cuban-born New York musician who recorded
“Watermelon Man,” the biggest hit of the bugalú/Latin
soul genre.
Ray Barretto (1929–2006):
New York–born musician and bandleader of Puerto
Rican descent whose recording of “El Watusi” was a
major bugalú/Latin soul hit.
João Gilberto (1931–):
Musician most often credited with initiating bossa nova.
Antônio Carlos Jobim (1927– Composed the first recording of the bossa nova genre, a
1994):
version of the song “Chega de Saudade.”
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“GOOD VIBRATIONS”: AMERICAN POP AND THE BRITISH INVASION, 1960s
Stan Getz (1927–1991):
Californian saxophonist whose album with João Gilberto,
Getz/Gilberto, included “The Girl from Ipanema,” the
biggest hit of the bossa nova era.
Herb Alpert (1935–):
Los Angeles–born trumpet player and songwriter. With
his band, the Tijuana Brass, placed 10 albums in the
Billboard Top Ten between 1965 and 1968. Hits include
“The Lonely Bull” and “A Taste of Honey.”
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