R&B and the Electric Guitar

Summary

The 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

• 🎵 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.
• 🚜 Southern farmers moved to urban manufacturing centers or joined the military, which helped spread Blues and Country music beyond their traditional southern roots.
• 🎧 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'.
• 📡 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.
• 🏙️ 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.
• 🎸 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.
• 📀 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.
• 🎤 Artists like Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf became emblematic of the Chicago Blues sound, influencing future Rock and Roll musicians.
• 🌟 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.
• 🌈 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

00:00

🎵 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.

05:05

🎤 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.

10:07

🎸 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.

Keywords

💡Rhythm and Blues

Rhythm and Blues, often abbreviated as R&B, is a genre of music that originated in African American communities in the 1940s. It combines jazz, gospel, and blues influences, characterized by a strong rhythmic groove and bluesy melodies. In the video, R&B is highlighted as a genre that gained popularity and mainstream recognition, particularly through the efforts of artists like Ruth Brown, who was nicknamed 'Miss Rhythm' for her contributions to the genre.

💡Electric Guitar

The electric guitar is a type of guitar that uses an amplifier and a speaker to produce sound. It became a central instrument in the development of popular music, especially in genres like blues, rock, and R&B. The video discusses the role of the electric guitar in the evolution of blues music, with artists like Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf using it to create a modern, urban sound that would influence rock and roll.

💡Great Depression

The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression that lasted from 1929 to the late 1930s. It had a profound impact on the music industry, as mentioned in the video, with many people turning to music for solace during hard times. The economic devastation led to a shift in music as people sought escape and entertainment, which in turn influenced the development of genres like blues and country.

💡World War Two

World War Two, also known as the Second World War, was a global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. The video script mentions the impact of the United States' involvement in the war on the economy and the music industry. The increased demand for supplies led to a ramping up of manufacturing and a rise in employment, which in turn created new opportunities for musicians and the spread of musical genres.

💡Sharecropping and Tenant Farming

Sharecropping and tenant farming were agricultural labor arrangements where farmers worked on land owned by others in exchange for a share of the crops produced. The video discusses how many poor farmers from the South left these oppressive jobs for better opportunities in urban manufacturing centers or by joining the military, which contributed to the Great Migration and the spread of blues and country music.

💡Appalachian Folk Music

Appalachian folk music, also known as hillbilly music, is a genre that originated in the Appalachian region of the United States. It is characterized by its rural themes and traditional instrumentation. In the video, this genre is mentioned as one that was rebranded and popularized during the post-World War Two era, with 'hillbilly music' evolving into 'country' or 'country and western' music.

💡BMI (Broadcast Music Incorporated)

BMI is a performing rights organization that represents songwriters, composers, and music publishers. It was formed as an alternative to ASCAP and played a significant role in promoting the works of folk, country, and blues artists. The video explains how BMI's support for these genres helped them gain mainstream recognition and radio airplay, contributing to the success of artists like Lead Belly, Hank Williams, and Fats Domino.

💡Chicago Blues

Chicago Blues is a distinct style of blues music that developed in Chicago, characterized by its electric sound and urban feel. The video highlights the influence of the Great Migration on the development of Chicago Blues, with many African American musicians moving to the city and contributing to its unique sound. Key figures in this genre, such as Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf, are mentioned as central to the evolution of the style.

💡Chess Records

Chess Records was an independent record label founded in Chicago that played a pivotal role in the development of blues, R&B, and later rock and roll. The video discusses how Chess Records, through innovative recording techniques and a do-it-yourself approach, helped to popularize artists like Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and Etta James, and was instrumental in the crossover of blues and R&B into the mainstream pop charts.

💡Rock and Roll

Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It is a blend of various musical styles, including rhythm and blues, country, and gospel. The video script notes the emergence of rock and roll as a new genre, with artists like Chuck Berry blending country and blues to create a sound that appealed to a broad audience and contributed to the genre's rise in popularity.

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