R&B and the Electric Guitar
Summary
TLDRThe video script explores the evolution of rhythm and blues and country music during and after the Great Depression, highlighting the impact of World War II on the US economy and the rise of manufacturing jobs. It discusses the Great Migration's influence on blues music, leading to the emergence of Chicago Blues and the birth of soul music. The script also covers the role of BMI in promoting these genres, the significance of independent record labels like Chess Records, and the technological advancements in electric guitars that shaped popular music, culminating in the rise of rock and roll with artists like Chuck Berry.
Takeaways
- đ” The Great Depression's economic devastation led to significant social changes, including the rise of Rhythm and Blues and the spread of Blues and Country music due to increased manufacturing and employment opportunities during World War II.
- đ Southern farmers moved to urban manufacturing centers or joined the military, which helped spread Blues and Country music beyond their traditional southern roots.
- đ§ Post-war prosperity allowed record companies to flourish, leading to a softening of genre terms like 'hillbilly' and 'race music' into 'country' and 'rhythm and blues'.
- đĄ BMI, formed as an alternative to ASCAP, played a crucial role in promoting Blues and Country artists, influencing public taste through radio airplay and helping these genres enter the mainstream.
- đïž Chicago became a significant hub for popular music, especially for the African-American community, due to the Great Migration and the demand for entertainment, which led to the emergence of a new, electric style of Blues.
- đž The electric guitar, with innovations like Les Paul's 'Log' and Leo Fender's Broadcaster, revolutionized music and became a staple in Rhythm and Blues and later Rock and Roll.
- đ Independent record labels like Chess Records in Chicago were instrumental in shaping the sound of Rhythm and Blues, with Willie Dixon contributing as a composer and producer.
- đ€ Artists like Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf became emblematic of the Chicago Blues sound, influencing future Rock and Roll musicians.
- đ Soul music emerged as a sub-genre of R&B, blending gospel and blues traditions, with Ray Charles pioneering this fusion and achieving crossover success.
- đ The crossover of R&B into mainstream pop was exemplified by artists like Etta James and Chuck Berry, who mixed elements of blues, country, and pop to create a new sound that appealed to a broader audience.
Q & A
How did the Great Depression impact the music industry and the spread of blues and country?
-The Great Depression led to economic devastation, but as the United States' involvement in World War II increased, manufacturing ramped up, leading to near full employment. This economic turnaround prompted poor farmers from the South to leave their oppressive jobs for better opportunities in urban manufacturing centers or the military, which also helped spread blues and country music.
What was the role of BMI in popularizing blues and country music?
-Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI) was an artist rights group that competed with ASCAP. BMI sought new signees among folk, country, and blues artists, banking on public tastes being shaped by radio airplay. BMI artists like Lead Belly, Hank Williams, and Fats Domino enjoyed radio success, which helped popularize these genres.
Why did Chicago become significant in the progression of popular music in the United States?
-Chicago became significant due to the Great Migration, a massive demographic shift as black workers moved from the South to the North seeking industrial labor opportunities. This led to an increase in popular entertainment demand, resulting in the establishment of numerous cabarets, vaudeville stages, and dance halls.
How did the movement from the Delta to Chicago influence blues music?
-The movement to Chicago transformed blues music into a more modern, danceable, and electric form. This new style, known as Chicago Blues, mixed elements of urban blues with the sounds of declining pop big band music, creating a potent combination.
What was the impact of independent record labels on the music industry during this period?
-Independent record labels like Savoy, King, Modern, Aristocrat (which became Chess Records), Peacock, and Sun Records capitalized on the new style of music. They were innovative in recording techniques and distribution, contributing to the success and evolution of blues, R&B, and eventually rock and roll.
Who was Ruth Brown and why was she significant to Atlantic Records?
-Ruth Brown was a popular R&B singer of the early 50s, nicknamed 'Miss Rhythm' for her performances. She was significant to Atlantic Records as she almost single-handedly kept the label afloat, earning it the nickname 'the house that Ruth Built.'
How did soul music emerge as a sub-genre of R&B?
-Soul music emerged as a sub-genre of R&B by combining the sacred tradition of gospel with secular blues music. Pioneers like Ray Charles fused gospel and R&B, creating a new sound that was both spiritual and secular.
What was the role of Chess Records in transforming popular music?
-Chess Records, founded by Phil and Leonard Chess, was a small independent label that collaborated with black music producers. They innovated in recording techniques and distribution, leading to significant success on the R&B and Rock and Roll charts. Chess Records was a model of the do-it-yourself strategy and helped modernize the blues.
Who were Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf, and how did they contribute to the Chicago blues?
-Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf were legendary blues musicians who contributed significantly to the Chicago blues. Muddy Waters was a master of the electric slide guitar, and Howlin' Wolf was a larger-than-life singer and bandleader known for his powerful performances. Both artists recorded for Chess Records and helped define the Chicago blues sound.
How did the electric guitar influence the evolution of popular music?
-The electric guitar, with innovations like Les Paul's 'log' prototype and Leo Fender's mass-produced models, allowed for greater amplification and a wider range of sounds. This technological advancement dramatically changed popular music, leading to new genres like rock and roll, with artists like Chuck Berry blending country and blues to create a crossover sound.
Outlines
đ” The Rise of Rhythm and Blues and the Impact of World War II
This paragraph discusses the emergence of rhythm and blues and the electric guitar during the Great Depression. The economic downturn led to increased manufacturing and employment in the United States, particularly as the country's involvement in World War II intensified. Southern farmers moved to urban areas for better opportunities, spreading blues and country music. Post-war prosperity allowed record companies to flourish, leading to a softening of genre terms and the rise of subgenres like Appalachian folk and Delta blues. Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI) played a crucial role in promoting these genres, and Chicago became a hub for African-American music, influencing the development of modern blues and rhythm and blues. Independent record labels emerged to capitalize on the new music styles.
đ€ The Evolution of R&B and the Influence of Chess Records
The second paragraph focuses on the rise of R&B and soul music, highlighting the contributions of artists like Ruth Brown and Ray Charles. It details the innovative strategies of Chess Records, founded by Phil and Leonard Chess, which became a model for independent labels. Willie Dixon's role as a composer, producer, and talent recruiter is emphasized, along with the impact of artists like Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters on the Chicago blues scene. The paragraph also discusses the crossover potential of artists like Etta James and the technological advancements in guitar design that influenced the sound of popular music.
đž The Electric Guitar and the Birth of Rock and Roll
The final paragraph explores the development of the electric guitar and its profound impact on popular music and American culture. It covers the innovations by Les Paul and Leo Fender, leading to the production of the Telecaster and the Gibson Les Paul. The paragraph also highlights the introduction of the Fender Stratocaster and its influence on R&B and rock and roll. Chuck Berry's role in blending country and blues to create rock and roll is discussed, as well as the broader implications of these musical evolutions on American culture.
Mindmap
Keywords
đĄRhythm and Blues
đĄElectric Guitar
đĄGreat Depression
đĄWorld War Two
đĄSharecropping and Tenant Farming
đĄAppalachian Folk Music
đĄBMI (Broadcast Music Incorporated)
đĄChicago Blues
đĄChess Records
đĄRock and Roll
Highlights
The Great Depression's economic devastation led to a shift in the U.S. workforce towards manufacturing, influencing music genres.
The movement of people from rural areas to urban manufacturing centers spread Blues and Country music, increasing their popularity.
Post-World War II prosperity allowed record companies to flourish and explore subgenres like Appalachian folk and Delta blues.
By the late 1940s, terms like 'hillbilly' and 'race music' evolved into 'country' and 'rhythm and blues'.
BMI, formed in 1940, competed with ASCAP to represent artists, particularly in folk, country, and blues, impacting their radio exposure.
Chicago became a hub for African-American musicians during the Great Migration, influencing the development of Blues and Jazz.
The demand for popular entertainment in Chicago post-WWII led to the rise of cabarets, vaudeville stages, and dance halls.
The shift from Delta to Chicago Blues resulted in a more modern, danceable, and electric sound.
Rhythm and Blues combined elements of urban Blues with the sounds of declining pop big band music.
New independent record labels like Chess Records emerged to capitalize on the new style of music.
Ruth Brown was a significant R&B singer who helped establish Atlantic Records in the early 50s.
Soul music emerged as a sub-genre of R&B, combining gospel and blues traditions.
Ray Charles pioneered the fusion of gospel and R&B, creating crossover hits that blended these styles.
Chess Records, founded by Phil and Leonard Chess, became a model for the do-it-yourself strategy in music production.
Willie Dixon was a key figure at Chess Records, contributing as a composer, producer, and musician.
Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters were significant artists who helped define the Chicago Blues sound.
Etta James became the female voice of Chess Records, known for her versatility across various music genres.
Technological innovations like the electric guitar by Les Paul and Leo Fender revolutionized popular music.
Chuck Berry's blend of country and blues led to his crossover success and contributed to the emergence of rock and roll.
Transcripts
rhythm and blues and the electric guitar
the country's economic devastation
brought on by the Great Depression began
turning around
with the United States increasing
involvement in World War two the sheer
necessity for supplies ramped up
manufacturing and the u.s. approached a
new level of near full employment poor
farmers from the south left their
oppressive sharecropping and tenant farm
jobs for new opportunity and better pay
in the urban manufacturing centers or by
joining the military the movement of
people also spread blues in country
which had been marked as southern niche
music creating unprecedented exposure
and popularity of these genres after the
war there was a return to prosperity and
record companies which had suffered
through the depression began to flourish
they looked towards these subgenres
Appalachian folk music or hillbilly and
Delta blues or race music by the late
1940s you see a softening of these terms
which could be seen as stereotypical or
discriminatory Appalachian hillbilly
music would become country or country in
western and blues or as it was called
race music would become rhythm and blues
on the charts by 1949
another development that helps blues and
country enter the mainstream was the
formation of broadcast music
incorporated or BMI BMI was an artist
rights group competing with ASCAP or the
American Society of Composers Authors
and publishers since many of the Tin Pan
Alley and pop music stars were already
members of as caps exclusive club BMI
sought new signees among folk country
and blues artists they banked on public
tastes being shaped by what they heard
on the radio and if what they heard or
BMI artists than public tastes would
favor the new music they appeared to be
right as as kept artists were shut out
or diminished in their radio airplay
while BMI artists like Lead Belly Hank
Williams and Fats Domino enjoyed radio
success
Chicago becomes an important landmark in
the progression of popular music in the
United States especially the prominent
african-american community living in its
southside the phenomenon has much to
deal with the after-effects of the great
migration a massive demographic shift
caused by the exodus of black workers
from the south seeking industrial labor
opportunities in the north from 1910 to
1920 the era of World War one Chicago's
black population swells from 44,000 to
110,000 as a result New Orleans style
jazz music flourishes in the city almost
its adoptive home since the early part
of the 20th century again during the era
of world war ii between 1940 and 1950
chicago's african-american population
will swell from 278,000 to almost half a
million the demand for popular
entertainment results in the numerous
cabarets vaudeville stages and dance
halls springing up all over Chicago
including the Black and Tans South Side
cabarets or black and white shared space
the movement from the Delta to Chicago
had a big impact on blues music this new
Chicago Blues was danceable modern and
perhaps most importantly electric rhythm
and blues was mixing the elements of
this new urban blues with the sounds of
the declining pop big band into potent
combinations of blues singers over hot
rhythms produced by stripped-down bands
rhythm and blues features any number of
instruments although it's usually
grounded in the rhythm section of drums
bass and guitar and fronted by a lead
singer the big band orchestra has been
stripped down into a focused and tight
horn section
new independent record labels spring up
across the country to capitalize on the
new style of music these included Savoy
in New Jersey kangin Cincinnati Modern
in LA aristocrat which would become
Chess Records in Chicago peacock in
Houston and Sun Records in Memphis
Ruth Browne was discovered and signed to
the upstart Atlantic Records which had
just been formed by Ahmed Dogan Brown
was one of the most popular R&B singers
of the early 50s almost single-handedly
keeping Atlantic Records afloat it's
sometimes called the house that Ruth
Built echoing the other Bronx bomber
Babe Ruth of the New York Yankees she
was nicknamed miss rhythm for her bluesy
smoky and sassy performances
R&B also spawned a popular sub-genre
soul music which featured a combination
of the sacred tradition of gospel and
the secular blues music
Ray Charles pioneers Souls fusion of
gospel and R&B he had a talent for
mixing popular styles together he
transformed him like hallelujah I love
him so into pop songs hallelujah I love
her so in 1956
Ray had his first hit on the R&B chart
with 1954 s I got a woman in 1959 s what
I say was a crossover success hitting
number one on the R&B chart but making
it all the way to number six on the pop
chart a remarkable achievement in a
country that was still segregated
Chicago's Chess Records was a small
independent record label that would
transform popular music
Chess Records was founded in 1950 by
Jewish immigrants Phil and Leonard chess
who collaborated with black music
producers resulting in tremendous
success on the R&B and eventually the
Rock and Roll charts chess became a
model of the do-it-yourself strategy the
company was run out of a Chicago
storefront with a small recording studio
in the back they had to be innovative in
their recording techniques and even sold
in distributed records out of the trunk
of their car
the most important figure at chest might
just have been Willie Dixon Dixon had a
hand in almost everything coming out of
the record label he worked as a composer
producer talent recruiter bassist and
singer penning hundreds of hits for
other chest artists including Muddy
Waters and Howlin wolf Dixon was able to
modernize the blues infusing it with
this kind of bravado riff in many ways
giving Chicago blues its new sense of
swagger
Hollan wolf was a larger-than-life blues
singer bandleader guitar and harmonica
player standing at close to seven feet
tall
wolf was born in white station
Mississippi and learns blues and guitar
from the legendary Charlie Penn he was
already an established blues musician in
the south in the 1930s and after being
discharged from the Army Howlin wolf
would move to Chicago and begin
recording for chess in the mid 1950s
Hollan wills prefer
rival and label made Muddy Waters was a
legendary master of the Chicago blues
style Muddy Waters was born McKinley
Morganfield a native of the Mississippi
Delta he was discovered and recorded by
Alan Lomax
when Lomax headed south to find the
elusive Robert Johnson although these
recordings have muddy playing an
acoustic country blues style he would
switch the electric guitar in Chicago
money was a master of the slide guitar
and with his harmonica partner Little
Walter the bluesman presented a
formidable duo in the slick urban
Chicago style muddy would continue to be
the touchstone for Chicago blues and
later rock and roll but a guy would come
through his band and the Rolling Stones
took their name from one of his songs
chess records also wanted to cross over
from the R&B charts into the mainstream
pop chart and saw potential in a
crossover pop singer Etta James James
would become the female voice of chess
she could sing pretty much everything
the blues R&B jazz gospel and pop music
in her classic at last you'll hear
orchestrated strings replace the horns
of R&B
this new music was electrified with
technological innovations in the guitar
jazz and country guitarist Les Paul
developed his electric guitar prototype
the log in 1941 it relied on magnetic
pickups translating the vibrations of
the strings into an electrical current
that could be amplified
leo fender applied mass production
techniques to his broadcaster electric
guitar in 1950 it produced a cheaper an
easily duplicated option for musicians
the broadcaster was renamed the
Telecaster and became fenders first
electric guitar model
to compete with Fender Gibson would buy
Les Paul's log design and begin mass
producing the Gibson Les Paul in 1952
another step in the evolution of the
electric guitar was the new design by
fender the Stratocaster that began
production in 1954 Fender Stratocaster
or strat is known for its double cutaway
and contoured body making it easier to
play and it would become a favorite of
R&B surf and soon rock and roll guitar
players the electric guitar would
dramatically change popular music and
thereby American culture
Chuck Berry was born in st. Louis
Missouri
and previously worked in an auto
assembly plant inspired by the guitar
work and showmanship of t-bone Walker
berry travels to Chicago in 1955 where
he meets Muddy Waters and gets referred
to Chess Records Berry was more of a
country singer
but Leonard chess knowing the
difficulties of marketing a black artist
in a white sub-genre imposed more of a
blues R&B sound into Berry's recordings
by mixing country and blues Chuck Berry
became a crossover star in a new genre
rock and roll
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