Concerts
Check out the links at:
groups.yahoo.com/group/music114
Free concerts:
1. Concert next week in the music bowl:
Jazz Combo
2. Check out the Associated Students link
on the groups page, they have free concerts
almost every week
For the extra credit:
1. Sign-in and out of the event. I will have a sheet there for you to
do so.
2. Then you must also write a 1 page paper on the event,
describing what happened and providing an evaluation.
Questions you should be able to answer about Motown
1. How was Motown a product of its environment?
How was it run?
2. Who was the founder of Motown?
3. What contributed to the “Motown sound?” (specific musicians
instruments, etc.)
4. How did the founder of Motown cultivate his artists sound?
5. In what way was Motown involved or not involved in the Civil
Rights movement?
6. Name two Motown performers.
MOTOWN
Characteristics of Motown Sound:
• Multi-tracked lead vocals
• Gospel harmonies
Berry Gordy,
founder of
Motown Records
• Signature bass lines
• It was danceable, non-theartening sound
• In- house band= the Funk Brothers
How Motown was run:
Similar to an car assembly line, all in-house, fostered artists careers:
gave them etiquette, dance, interviewing lessons
The result of strict controls at Motown=
-- a danceable, “safe” music
-- appealed to a wide audience
-- a sound that was knowable
The Supremes
The Supremes gave Motown its first huge hit in 1965.
Smokey Robinson became VP of Motown in 1972 and
he was also a songwriter, producer at Motown
More Motown artists
• “Little Stevie Wonder” got his
start at Motown,
• helped co-write “Tears of a
Clown” for the Miracles
Stevie Wonder
• Long career, songs often
political and poignant
• Signed to Motown in early
1960s
• was a session drummer for the
Miracles
Marvin Gaye
• Wrote and self-produced
What’s Goin’ On in 1971
Marvin Gaye, cont.
What’s Goin’ On
• A commentary on the political and
social climate of the early 1970s
• One of the first Motown albums to
confront these issues
• A powerful anti-war and Civil
Rights album that had a huge impact
on artists such as Stevie Wonder
In-class writing/discussion
1. How are music and politics connected?
2. Describe a current example: either a band/
song that highlights the music and politics
connection.
Questions you should be able to answer about soul
1. Contrast soul with Motown
2. What was an important soul studio?
3. Name two artists very important to soul.
4. How did soul reflect the black power movement, in
both sound and lyrics?
5. What are the musical characteristics of soul?
SOUL
• Soul music marked a move toward the idea
that “black was beautiful”
• Stax-Volt Studio in Memphis
• in-house band Booker T. and the M.G.s= a
racially integrated band
• The market for Stax were southern, r&b fans
SOUL
• Soul music reflected a turn toward
“black power.”
• A grittier r&b
• Soul references the essence of the
music, back to basics
• Sound of soul= raw, sometimes angry,
much less “produced” than Motown
Aretha Franklin
• Had many hit songs: best known
was “Respect”
• She exemplefied soul: strong, raw,
emotional vocals
• She would eventually be known as “Lady Soul”
James Brown
The “Godfather of Soul”
• James Brown was first an r&b singer,
eventually he came to define soul music
• Seen as a bridge between soul and funk
• A strict band leader
Characteristics of Brown’s music:
• few chord changes
• Rhythmic/ percussive use of horns
• Grooving bass lines
FUNK
Funk
• took the disco style and
• the soul bass groove of Brown’s music
• Slap bass technique became prominent
feature
Sly and the Family Stone
• bassist exemplified the funk sound this his slap
bass technique
• known as a very forward thinking band in terms of
race and gender and social message.