60's and 70's Rock

For some reason my Dad likes The Beach Boys...

The Celebration of the Lizard

On this day, 8th December, in 1943, Jim Morrison was born. The little boy who would later become the self-entitled Lizard King had a relatively rough childhood, moving from town to town and feeling out of place anywhere he went. The teenager Jim (or Jimbo, as his friends would call him) seemed to be a full-out prankster, always joking fooling around – a period followed by what is now legend.

Being incredibly well-read and highly intelligent, Morrison’s big dreams and high hopes of finding like-minded people in the beat culture that dominated the era led him to leave home and hitchhike through America and reach the west coast: Los Angeles. Here, it all started and happened for Jim, who started a band on a beach with his good friend  Ray Manzarek. Listening to the soulful lyrics when Jim sang ‘Moonlight Drive’ a capella in front of him, they both decided then and there to try to create meaningful music – which they did so well.

Let’s swim to the moon, uh huh
Let’s climb through the tide
Penetrate the evenin’ that the
City sleeps to hide
Let’s swim out tonight, love
It’s our turn to try
Parked beside the ocean
On our moonlight drive

This is how it all started for Jim Morrison – courage and talent seemed to take him  a long way. But what is much more interesting about his story is the strange mix of darkness and hope in his view of the world – seeing everything as being doomed and still wanting to enjoy life like a true hedonist. The legend of Jim Morrison will live on and on to remind people to ΚΑΤΑ ΤΟΝ ΔΑΙΜΟΝΑ ΕΑΥΤΟΥ. 

The Appeal of Rockstars

Ah, even the fangirls were better in the ’60s. Strange as it may seem, they have always existed (yep, even Beethoven had women swoon) and will always exist – rockstars seem to touch a sensitive chord in the hearts of women and make them unconditionally love the band. Even if not for the best reasons.

The problem with the kind of fans who faint of sheer excitement and emotion when they meet artists is that they don’t really focus on the music – not really. Everyone knows that a pretty face will sell albums, but that doesn’t mean that the band is good or bad; it just means that its members are attractive. Thus, it doesn’t really say anything about the quality of the music if the band has many fangirls. Sadly, in the case of bands such as The Beatles, when the music is also good, the message seems to be lost somewhere along the lines.

This is what is, to some extent, infuriating even to the artists themselves; it would be only natural that if one loves the music, they would also get attached to the people who produce it, but when it comes to screaming and going in a full out frenzy, the line is crossed. Obviously,the philosophy of each to himself is available: if you want to, you can be a fangirl. By all means. But what needs to be understood is that the music, the message, the art that is indeed created is much more important than one person or another – and that should never be neglected.

Jimi Hendrix – The Modest Genius

Knowing Jimi (n.b. very limited experience from interviews and his music), I can already imagine him looking down and saying “Noooo….” after reading the title. Seeing how truly immensely talented he was at playing guitar, one would think that he would not be reticent in accepting the level of his skill and taking compliments, but that is not really the case. The legendary guitarist was actually a very shy person and, even though it may be hard to believe, he didn’t consider himself to be such a great guitarist – very modest, kind and calm, he was not what you would expect a star of his scale to be. And that is what makes him so charming.

Even though it may seem like a funny interview, you can see right away how shy he gets, immediately lowering his head and shifting in his chair. He doesn’t seem to be joking either – but we know better than to trust him. The following video of him playing one of his most well-known songs, “Hey Joe” immediately removes all doubt that he is an incredibly skilled guitarist. Who else have you ever seen playing the instrument with their tongue, or at their back?

Roger Waters The Wall Live – Mindblowing Experience

One thing not many people can boast on is seeing the legend that is Roger Waters performing the legend that is The Wall live – check. I think I can say without being pretentious that was it a life-changing experience not only because of the mindblowing music, but also because of the sense of community in the crowd – but I’ll get into that later.

Firstly, the scene was absolutely incredible: seeing the wall gradually being built throughout the show and then its iconic tearing down, Roger’s singing, the guitar solos, inflatables and overall concept was a little bit too much to handle for a hardcore fan such as myself. The concert was very well thought through, I seriously don’t know how it could have been made better. Every little detail was though of – the lights, the sound, the visuals (simply staggering). Overall, the experience was incredible and more than I could have ever thought it could be.

Now, the crowd. Seriously, I would not exaggerate if I was to say that it was quite an important component that added to the whole concert. Most people were 40+ and you could see in their eyes the excitement of seeing this magnificent piece of music that really meant something to it live. When the iconic album was released, Romania was a communist country and such music was censored – so one could immediately imagine why the experience of seeing this concert would mean a lot to people living in that period.

The Rolling Stones – Panache and Charisma

Mainly a cover band in their beginnings, the Rolling Stones slowly but surely developed into what would later become one of the greatest rock bands of all times. Hits such as “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction”, “Angie” or “Sympathy for the Devil” have that certain something that makes one instantly recognize the fact that the band has what it takes to make history. They didn’t get it right the first time, though – just like any other band, they had to struggle and make their own way through the crowd of similar (but not quite) bands.

Being an aspiring rock star with big dreams and high hopes can, indeed, be disappointing. Not managing to reach your goals can be depressing, as everyone can tell you (we have all failed at one point or another in our lives), but when it is good, it is spectacular. Mick Jagger’s life is something that he probably never would have thought he would achieve – perhaps something even him would not have hoped to get in his wildest dreams. But worldwide recognition and love can certainly not be reached by being discouraged from the start. Just like the Rolling Stones themselves stated: You can make it if you try.

Masterpiece – THE WALL

In the ’60s, the hippie movement was just beginning to take form and the legendary band, Pink Floyd, was developing into what would be, just a few years later, the iconic band of the psychedelic era. After almost two decades, The Wall was created, a music piece which would later become a movie and a legend.

Based here in London in ’63 (two of the longest running members met while studying at the Regent Street Polytechnic – now Westminster University) and iconic for psychedelic rock, Pink Floyd has a legacy which will surely live on for many years – even now, over five decades from their conception as a band, albums like The Dark Side of the Moon or The Wall are still regarded with awe. But what makes Pink Floyd what it is today? Why does the work of Waters, Gilmour, Mason, Wright and, for a too short period of time, Barrett seem so far ahead of the competition? The question is hard to answer, but considering the many political and social ramifications of the music and lyrics written by the members (mostly Roger Waters), a factor contributing to their enormous success must surely be complexity.- however, at the start of the Roger Waters led era in ’78, their iconic album, The Wall, was released. Even when it first appeared, it shocked the public as being symbol laden, containing a narrative which followed little Pink, a boy who struggled through maturity with several issues.

The movie Pink Floyd – The Wall clarifies the idea behind the album; containing parts from the lives of both Roger Waters, who wrote the whole concept album, and Syd Barrett, former band member who had to leave because of his deteriorating mental health, the story of Pink shows him developing from being a frightened boy, scared by the death of his father in the war, to being a wrecked rock star, drug addicted and oppressed by his own thoughts. The story builds until Pink becomes a megalomaniac, having built the metaphorical Wall between him and the outside world – and in the end, after lyrics and scenes full of political innuendos (mostly addressed to fascism and capitalism), the Wall is tore down. Thus, at the end of the epic psychedelic journey, we find that Pink has finally gotten over his mental issues and decided to open himself to the outside world, allowing himself to feel, react, interact – be human.

The album singlehandedly became immensely popular when it was released, but combined with an elaborate live show created especially for it and a movie that emphasised its main points it gained a monumental importance. The materialisation and slow tearing down of the metaphorical wall on the stage, the projections, the inflatable figures (the pig floating above the audience for the whole show, the terrifying teacher), the crashing plane  and the wonderful sound of the music itself have made an impact on the audiences and struck each individual as complex and meaningful.

The movie, released in 1982, also combined strong imagery with the great impact of the lyrics; the image of identity stripped children absentmindedly walking into a meat grinder while the words “All in all you’re just another brick in the wall” are sung in a choir surely left an impact on all viewers. The political messages are to be found in every part of the movie – the moment during In The Flesh when Pink suddenly turns fascist and belittles the audience with rude remarks makes a strong statement regarding intolerance: “There’s one in the spotlight, he don’t look right to me, Get him up against the wall. (…) If I had my way, I’d have all of you shot!”

All in all, The Wall is both a musical and a visual masterpiece, a complex intertwining of many platforms, ideas, styles, issues and stories. Attacking problems still relevant to today’s day and age, Pink Floyd’s concept album will surely have a impact on many generations to come.

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The Endless River – Pink Floyd & Its Evolution

The legendary rock band Pink Floyd has surely infiltrated in the lives of each and every one of us – be it by our own choice or simply by chance. “Another Brick in the Wall Pt. II” or “Wish You Were Here” are some of the epic songs which we all know and instinctively start singing along to, even though we do not remember when we heard them for the first time. Their beginnings have by no means been modest – Pink Floyd is, after all, the most well-known rock band of all time – and their last album, The Endless River, which just came out on the 7th November, is no different.

The band formed by Waters (who later left), Gilmour, Mason and Wright (sadly, the latter passed away in 2008) has followed a sinuous path – the dynamics between the members has always been strange, but they managed to balance this situation with the creation of greatly influential and widely appreciated music. The Dark Side of the Moon or The Wall are two of the most well-known rock albums of all times – and some may consider that that is a tough act to follow up in itself. However, Gilmour and Mason, the last two members of Pink Floyd, decided to supersede themselves and create a new album.

Truth be told, it is not a completely new album, containing pieces of music which they wrote up to 20 years ago and often referencing former albums. However, The Endless River does contain some eerie-sounding music, Gilmour’s guitar playing as perfect as ever, but what it seems to be lacking is a concept – which was usually provided, as everybody knows, by Roger Waters. His absence is what seems to haunt the whole album, as lyrics are sparse and not very meaningful and a central theme seems to be missing. Gilmour argues that there is, indeed, a central theme to the album: the music’s continuity and slow build up. Whilst that may be true and their sound is still on point, the greatness of their prior albums which approached certain themes and exploited them to the point of making their listeners have revelations is clearly lacking.

All in all, the latest Pink Floyd album is dangerously close to being just another brick in the wall; it seems to be haunted by the echoes of their former work but looks into the past with a new, calmer perspective. Their cover art – always iconic for Pink Floyd – seems to suggest the same idea; The Endless River does offer some kind of closure, being that it is probably their final act, as Gilmour himself stated that “This is the last thing that’ll be out from us …” The overwhelming feeling that comes over a Pink Floyd fan when listening to it is, undoubtedly, nostalgia for the times when their albums were not only musically pleasing, but also conveyed a strong message.

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/500-greatest-songs-of-all-time-151127/

That's it. I've had a rough night, and I really hate The Eagles!

credit to Oldrockblog.wordpress.com

Early Rock n' Roll

So what lead up to the late 50's and early 60's revolution in music?

(listen to last 5 or 10 minutes)

The 1950's saw economic stability along with conformity and fear of nuclear annihilation. 
This relative peace came with a price; cold war tension, anti-communist 'House on UnAmerican Activities' Hearings which resulted in the blacklisting of many writers, musicians, and entertainment personalities, and a racial divide somewhat alleviated by the 1954 Supreme Court decision 'Brown vs. the Board of Education' ending school segregation.

The term rock 'n' roll was probably first coined by Alan Freed. In the early 1950s Freed discovered that increasing numbers of young white kids were listening to and requesting the rhythm & blues records he played on his Moondog Show in Cleveland. Freed also promoted concert tours of black artists playing to young mixed crowds. Some early hits were 'Good Rocking Tonight' (covered by loads of people, originally written by Roy Brown).

'60 Minute Man' by the Dominoes was a huge hit in 1951

In 1954 Freed moved to New York radio station WINS and continued to promote black musicians in racially segregated America. A TV show sponsored by Freed was canceled in 1957 after the black teenage singer Frankie Lymon was shown dancing with a white girl. A year later Freed was arrested for anarchy and incitement to riot when a fight broke out at one of his rock 'n' roll concerts in Boston. By the early 1960's Freed was prosecuted for accepting payola - the common practice throughout the music industry of paying bribes to radio disc jockeys to get certain artists songs played more frequently. Promoters like Dick Clark, who promoted mostly white artists, escaped relatively unscathed. Freed was a broken man and died a couple years later.

Other DJs picked up the torch and ushered in the heyday of rock 'n' roll...

with artists like Chuck Berry

Pat Boone

Fats Domino

Wanda Jackson

Ricky Nelson

Janis Martin

The Everly Brothers

Jo-Ann Campbell

Elvis Presley

Before Elvis went completely sideways

Lorrie Collins

Bill Haley and the Comets

Who got big covering  Big Joe Turner

Early Rock and Roll songs on the R & B side...

Little Richard

Chubby Checker

And from the Country side...

Buddy Holly

When it comes to legendary stories, right up there with Robert Johnson selling his soul to the devil at the crossroads, is the story of Buddy Holly's coin flip.

http://www.chimesfreedom.com/2013/01/31/who-flipped-a-coin-with-ritchie-valens-the-day-the-music-died-and-the-coin-toss-controversy/

Notable Mentions....

Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs

The Trashmen

The Righteous Brothers

The Contours

The Marvelettes

Patriots

It is said the American Revolution was fought over a 2% increase in taxes. 'No Taxation Without Representation' was the rallying cry. 

Another rallying cry was 'Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!' made famous by Patrick Henry from a speech he made to the Second Virginia Convention on March 23, 1775, at St. John's Church in Richmond, Virginia.

The question before the House is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country. 

Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. [But] Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it. 

I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to comfort themselves and the House. Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received? Trust it not, sir. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Ask yourselves, are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation; the last arguments to which kings resort. I ask gentlemen, sir, Has Great Britain any enemy, in this quarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies? No, sir, she has none. They are meant for us: they can be meant for no other. And what have we to oppose to them? 

Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years. Sir, we have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of Parliament. 

Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrance’s have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne! In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation? There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free, we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of hosts is all that is left us! 

It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. The war is actually begun! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!

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Declaration of Independence: A Transcription

 

Note: The following text is a transcription of the Stone Engraving of the parchment Declaration of Independence (the document on display in the Rotunda at the National Archives Museum.) The spelling and punctuation reflects the original.

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In Congress, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

The Constitution 

This document, the supreme law of the land, was signed on September 17, 1787, by delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. Under America’s first governing document, the Articles of Confederation, the national government was weak and states operated like independent countries. At the 1787 convention, delegates devised a plan for a stronger federal government with three branches—executive, legislative and judicial—along with a system of checks and balances to ensure no single branch would have too much power. The Constitution is not a document telling the government here's what they can't do, rather it is a list of things that the government is only allowed to do.

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After winning the war against the British, America was governed by the Articles of Confederation which gave states all the power. 11 years later America was in rough shape, owing millions to France and the Netherlands and with federal taxation being only voluntary. So on May 25, 1787, the Constitutional Convention opened in Philadelphia at the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall. There were 55 delegates in attendance, representing all 13 states except Rhode Island, which refused to send representatives because it did not want a powerful central government interfering in its economic business. George Washington, who’d become a national hero after leading the Continental Army to victory during the American Revolution, was selected as president of the convention by unanimous vote.

The delegates (who also became known as the “framers” of the Constitution) were a well-educated group that included merchants, farmers, bankers and lawyers. Many had served in the Continental Army, colonial legislatures or the Continental Congress (known as the Congress of the Confederation as of 1781). In terms of religious affiliation, most were Protestants. Eight delegates were signers of the Declaration of Independence, while six had signed the Articles of Confederation.

At age 81, Pennsylvania’s Benjamin Franklin (1706-90) was the oldest delegate, while the majority of the delegates were in their 30s and 40s. Political leaders not in attendance at the convention included Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) and John Adams (1735-1826), who were serving as U.S. ambassadors in Europe. John Jay (1745-1829), Samuel Adams (1722-1803) and John Hancock (1737-93) were also absent from the convention. Virginia’s Patrick Henry (1736-99) was chosen to be a delegate but refused to attend the convention because he didn’t want to give the central government more power, fearing it would endanger the rights of states and individuals.

Reporters and other visitors were barred from the convention sessions, which were held in secret to avoid outside pressures. However, Virginia’s James Madison (1751-1836) kept a detailed account of what transpired behind closed doors. (In 1837, Madison’s widow Dolley sold some of his papers, including his notes from the convention debates, to the federal government for $30,000.)

The Bill of Rights

In 1789, Madison, then a member of the newly established U.S. House of Representatives, introduced 19 amendments to the Constitution. On September 25, 1789, Congress adopted 12 of the amendments and sent them to the states for ratification. Ten of these amendments, known collectively as the Bill of Rights, were ratified and became part of the Constitution on December 10, 1791. The Bill of Rights guarantees individuals certain basic protections as citizens, including freedom of speech, religion and the press; the right to bear and keep arms; the right to peaceably assemble; protection from unreasonable search and seizure; and the right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury. For his contributions to the drafting of the Constitution, as well as its ratification, Madison became known as “Father of the Constitution.”

Assignment: report back to us on some amendments to the Bill of Rights

https://www.annenbergclassroom.org/constitution/

Folk Music, Folks!

The History of Folk Music

by MB on AUGUST 28, 2007

The term Folk music came from England, where they took the German word “volk”, meaning people, and applied it to mean the common people of England, the illiterate peasants who passed on stories and legends through song as they were unable to publish books. It is generally considered to be an expression of life in the communities in which the music was developed and is a great help to historians in discovering the way of life of a people. The term has been used since the 19th century, but Folk music has existed for hundreds, if not thousands of years.

Folk music was relatively popular at the beginning of the Romantic period. Josef Haydn and Beethoven were two famous composers who made arrangements of Folk music.  Many also composed traditional Folk dances which were virtually indistinguishable from the dances and songs sung by the common people. In recent times, however, Folk music did not have its revival until the 20th century. It is believed that the first Folk music festival took place in 1928, in Asheville, Carolina. Woodie Guthrie was one of the main contributors to the revival of folk music, and as many of the original folk music artists, grew up with Folk music, performing songs his mother had sung to him when he was a child.

Through the 30s and the 40s Folk music continued to rise in popularity. Stars like Jimmy Rodgers in the 30s

and Burl Ives in the 40s

 helped to bring the genre to its peak in the 1950s, with the most popular groups and singers being The Weavers,

 Harry Belafonte and the Kingston Trio.

 Their style was an attempt to honour and reproduce the Folk music of the past. This style was popular until the mid-late sixties, when “folk rock” became popular and the Beatles mania swept the world.

In the 60s, the term “protest music” became popular, in which Folk music singers sang against the ideals of capitalism and the war in Vietnam, and in favour of movements such as the American Civil Rights Movement. Certain people call this type of music “antifolk” based on the idea that liberal politics reduces the importance of ethnicity, which is an essential part of Folk music, and that thus protest music is the opposite of true Folk music.

By 1975, the Folk music revival had mostly died out, and was not rejuvenated until the late 1990s, though that revival was to a much lesser extent than the previous one. Throughout the 70s and 80s, popular bands nonetheless took elements from Folk music, and today all over the world there are Folk music clubs and festivals. England’s Cambridge Folk Music Festival sells out in a couple of days, and Port Fairy Folk Music Festival in Australia is incredibly popular as well.

Folk music, while not in a peak revival stage, is still very popular today, and given as it has already progressed hundreds of years, it is not likely to be a form of music we will see disappear anytime in the near future.

Notable mentions (if time)