1950’S-1960S FOLK
MUSIC
1950S FOLK
 The Kingston Trio
 “In 1957 The Kingston Trio emerged from San Francisco’s North
Beach club scene to take the country by storm, bringing the rich
tradition of American folk music into the mainstream for the first
time. During the late 50s and early 60s, the Trio enjoyed
unprecedented record sales and worldwide fame, while influencing
the musical tastes of a generation.”
1950S FOLK
 Kingston Trio
 Bob Shane-guitar (1934-present), Nick Reynolds-guitar, percussion
(1933-2008), Dave Guard-banjo, guitar (1934-1991)
 Met at Menlo College (California)
 Played together on and off
 Finally, in 1957, became The Kingston Trio
 Could be considered the American “Beatles”
 “The music was rooted in American Popular culture, but performed
with a refreshing style that now seems timeless.” ( kingstontrio.com)
 Influenced the music industry after the Folk Revival (started in 1940s
and peaked in 1960s)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBkW3Q
bq2Dw
1950S FOLK
Interview
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
XHIE
 “Odetta” Holmes (1930-2008)
 Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Raised in Los Angeles
California
 American folk, blues, jazz and spirituals
 Influential to Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Janis Joplin, and many
others
 Time (news magazine) stated that Rosa Parks was her #1 fan
and that Martin Luther King Jr. called her queen of American
folk music
 Beads= “third eye of vision”
Roberta
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3AH3Zf
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ANTI-WAR MOVEMENT
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Vietnam War 1959-1975
Commitment of half a million Americans
58,500 deaths
Younger generation involved in the anti -war movement
1960S FOLK
 Pete Seeger (1919-2014)
 Born: NY, Died: NY
 Played the banjo, guitar, recorder, tin whistle, mandolin,
piano, ukulele
 1960s- prominent singer of protest music
Turn, Turn, Turn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
2uT0w
1960S FOLK
The Byrds
 1964-2000 (on and of f)
 1964- formed in Los Angeles, California
 Started as a trio (Jim McGuinn, Gene Clark, David Crosby) with
roots in folk music
 Members in 1965: David Crosby, Gene Clark, Michael Clarke,
Chris Hillman, Jim McGuinn
 Most influential in Folk -Rock music
Turn, Turn, Turn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4ga_M
5Zdn4
FOLK ROCK
1960S FOLK-ROCK
 What is folk-rock music?
 Folk Revival and Folk -Rock birthed out of:
 Urban vocal groups of the Folk Revival
 Folk-protest singers/song writers
 Revival of North American Rock and Roll from the British Invasion
“Originally the term referred to a genre that arose in the US and
Canada in the mid- 1960s. The sound was epitomized by tight vocal
harmonies and a relatively “clean” approach to electric instruments,
while the repertoire was drawn partly from traditional folk sources, but
even more from folk-influenced singers/songwriters.”
URBAN VOCAL GROUPS OF FOLK REVIVAL
 Almanac Singers
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1940-1943
15 members (in and out)
Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger
Specialized in topical songs: anti-war, anti-racism
Popular front
 Political group
 Alliance of liberals
 Vowed to put differences aside in order to promote religious and racial
inclusiveness in workers’ rights
I DON’T WANT YOUR MILLIONS- ALMANAC
SINGERS
I don't want your millions, Mister,
I don't want your diamond ring.
All I want is the right to live, Mister,
Give me back my job again.
Now, I don't want your Rolls-Royce, Mister,
I don't want your pleasure yacht.
All I want's just food for my babies,
Give to me my old job back.
We worked to build this country, Mister,
While you enjoyed a life of ease.
You've stolen all that we built, Mister,
Now our children starve and freeze.
So, I don't want your millions, Mister,
I don't want your diamond ring.
All I want is the right to live, Mister,
Give me back my job again.
Think me dumb if you wish, Mister,
Call me green, or blue, or red.
This one thing I sure know, Mister,
My hungry babies must be fed.
Take the two old parties, Mister,
No difference in them I can see.
But with a Farmer-Labor Party
We could set the people free.
So, I don't want your millions, Mister,
I don't want your diamond ring.
All I want is the right to live, Mister,
Give me back my job again
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7V
AYHUFQ&list=PLQHbCqFi89N14zXq2J2vJQptgthZPM4v
1960S FOLK-ROCK
 Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
 David Crosby (The Byrds) , Stephen Stills (Buf falo Springfield),
Graham Nash (The Hollies), Neil Young
 1968-present
 Inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrWNTq
bLFFE&feature=kp
WOODSTOCK-CROSBY, STILLS, NASH AND
YOUNG
Well I came across a child of God, he was walking along the road
And I asked him tell where are you going, this he told me:
Well, I'm going down to Yasgur's farm, going to join in a rock and roll band.
Got to get back to the land, set my soul free.
We are stardust, we are golden, we are billion year old carbon,
And we got to get ourselves back to the garden.
Well, then can I walk beside you? I have come to lose the smog.
And I feel like I'm a cog in something turning.
And maybe it's the time of year, yes, and maybe it's the time of man.
And I don't know who I am but life is for learning.
We are stardust, we are golden, we are billion year old carbon,
And we got to get ourselves back to the garden.
By the time we got to Woodstock, we were half a million strong,
And everywhere there was song and celebration.
And I dreamed I saw the bombers jet planes riding shotgun in the sky,
Turning into butterflies above our nation.
We are stardust, we are golden, we caught in the devil's bargain,
And we got to get ourselves back to the garden.
REVIEW
1. What did you find important in this lesson?
2. What place did folk music hold in history? (Why was folk
music significant in history?)
3. What are you thoughts on how folk music started?
4. What changes have you noticed in folk music throughout
time? (original folk music compared to folk music in the
1960s)
5. Name 2 folk musicians/bands from 1950s -1960s