MUH 2017
“Survey of Rock Music”
(Summer “B” 2012, Class # 50585)
Instructor: Scott Warfield, Assoc. Prof.
Classroom Building 1, Room 121
8:00 am-9:50 am (Mon-Tues-Wed-Thurs)
Reminders: Some Important
Web Pages
• My home web page :
Scott Warfield's Home page
• MUH 2017 home web page :
MUH 2017 - Survey of Rock
(see especially “Daily Assignments”)
• Newcomers bookmark and read these pages
United States mid-20th Century
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1914-18 – World War I
1920s – “Roaring Twenties” “Jazz Age”
1929 – Stock Market Crash
1930s – “Great Depression”
1941-45 – World War II
1945-60s – “Baby Boom”
- Korean War (1950-55)
- “Cold War”
- War in Vietnam (1960s-70s)
Oldsmobile “Rocket 88”
(1950 model)
The “first” Rock ‘n Roll Song
• Textbook: “Rocket 88”
• Jackie Brentson & his
Delta Cats
• Recorded in 1951 by Sun
Records (Memphis)
• Probably composed by
Ike Turner
• See textbook, pp. 8-9-10
• Ex. : rocket 88 "Jackie
Brenston & His Delta
Cats" - YouTube
Before Rock ‘n Roll? (pre-1950s)
• Regional (fragmented) markets (local tastes)
- reflects limited travel
- no simple, unified distribution system
• Three major styles lead to Rock ‘n Roll
- “Popular” (White, urban, Northern)
[descended from European high styles]
- “Country & Western” (White, rural, Southern)
[derisively – “Hillbilly”]
- “Rhythm & Blues” (Black, all types)
[also known as “Race records”]
Tin Pan Alley
• Sheet Music Industry
• New York City
• Popular Music aimed at
mass-distribution of
product
• “song pluggers” sell to
performers in theaters, etc.
• Home market based on
popularity of performers
• Standard “verse-chorus”
format
“After the Ball”
• 1st to sell “millions”
• Emphasis on the
performer (Libby)
• A Trip to Chinatown
(Popular show in
1880s/90s)
• Songwriter is
secondary (Harris)
• Ex. Charles K. Harris After the Ball YouTube
Early Recording Technology
Edison Cylinder (c. 1890s)
Edison Film and Sound: The History of
the Edison Cylinder Phonograph
(Library of Congress)
Cylinder Preservation and
Digitization Project (UCSB)
Victrola (1910s)
Radio
“Crystal” Radio (1920s)
Home Radio (c. 1930s)
Tin Pan Alley → Broadway &
Hollywood
• Songs sung in theaters, revues, shows, etc.
• Motion Pictures emulate
- live music during “silent era” (pre-1929)
- recorded sound after 1930
• Example (textbook, pp. 42-43) :Judy Garland with Victor
Young & His Orchestra - "Over The Rainbow" – YouTube
• Ex. : Judy Garland - Over The Rainbow (Subtitiles) –
YouTube (from The Wizard of Oz)
• Use of A A B A “Song form”
• European Harmonies, Forms, Instruments
• Aimed at Urban, White (European) Audiences
Unifying the Distribution Chain
• Pre-1920s Local & Regional producers
dominate (sheet music & “do it yourself”)
• Radio – commercial broadcasts begin 1920s
- local broadcasts of live (local) musicians
• Development of “Networks” (late 1920s-30s)
- shared feeds via land lines
• “Clear Channel” stations (50,000 watts)
- licensed as only station on a frequency (night)
- high power = extreme range
- South of the border [Mexican] “X” stations
Singers & Big Bands
Glenn Miller
and his
Orchestra
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National Tours, Network Radio Broadcasts, Records
“Tin Pan Alley” songs arranged for particular bands
Emphasis on the instrumental sound
Singers as “featured” (small break from instruments)
More Big Bands
Duke Ellington and his Orchestra
Benny Goodman and his Orchestra
• Ex. YouTube - Benny Goodman Orchestra Sing Sing Sing from
Hollywood Hotel
• Ex. Duke Ellington Orchestra "Take The A Train" 1943 - YouTube
• Ex. Glenn Miller LIVE - "In The Mood" - '41 - HQ - YouTube
• Ex. YouTube - Chattanooga Choo Choo - Glenn Miller Orchestra
Singers step up
• Singers become important as
personalities w/ solo careers
• Ex. BING CROSBY 1930
FIRST RADIO
APPEARANCE.wmv YouTube
• Ex. White Christmas - Bing
Crosby - YouTube
• Ex. YouTube - Martha Tilton "Love Turns Winter to Spring"
(1941)
• Ex. Tommy Dorsey - "Oh
Look At Me Now" - vocals Frank Sinatra,Connie Haines,
& The Pied Pipers - YouTube
Bing
Crosby
Martha
Tilton
Frank
Sinatra (rt)
& Tommy
Dorsey
Vocal Groups
• The Andrews Sisters
• Emphasis on harmony
(part singing)
• Ex. The Andrews
Sisters - Rum and Coca
Cola - YouTube
• Ex. YouTube - Andrews
Sisters' "Boogie Woogie
Bugle Boy Of Company
B“
Country
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Rural, Southern Music
Made at home – Traditional, Folk, Religious, etc.
Unschooled performers
Recorded in 1920s-30s by Northern Companies
for regional distribution (“Hillbilly”)
• Example: YouTube - The Carter Family- Bury me
under the Weeping Willow Tree.
• Example: YouTube - Jimmie Rodgers - Blue
Yodel No 1 (T For Texas)