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R & B – Soul Music of the 1960s

Explore the groundbreaking genre of R&B and Soul music from the 1960s, its major artists, impact on the music industry, and influence on modern pop culture. Learn about the evolution of R&B, Motown, and its significant figures in shaping the music landscape.

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R & B – Soul Music of the 1960s

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  1. R & B – Soul Music of the 1960s

  2. Progression of Black Music in the U.S. So Far… • African Diaspora especially from West Africa • 1920s early jazz • 1930s Big Band and Swing • 1940s Country Blues and Electric Blues • 1950s Rock N Roll highly influenced by genres above • Now… 1960s comes into play Rhythm & Blues and Soul Music • This will become a groundbreaking genre of music: financially, recording wise, culturally with pop culture status like never before • Will forever change the landscape and influence pop music for decades to come, even to this day…

  3. What and who we’ll be looking at… • How R&B and Soul music came to be • The major artists who highlight this genre • The people behind the scenes, both the business minds as well as the recording of soul music • The impact on the music industry soul music has had… • Let’s take a look at who and how this has influenced…

  4. Just to throw out some names… • Michael Jackson • Stevie Wonder • ALL hip hop and rap artists • Singers like Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, influenced modern female singers like Adele, ErykaBahdu, Beyonce, the list goes on… • The “Boy Bands” like N Sync, 98 Degrees, Backstreet Boys would not have been successful had it not been for The Temptations, The Four Tops, Smokey Robinson, • The New Soul movement is a direct homage to the old style music of the 1960s • The amount of influence this genre has had is more than we have time to discuss in this class…let’s see how!

  5. Rhythm & Blues, Soul & Motown • The term “Rhythm & Blues” describes the cross influences of jazz and blues singers of the 1940s & 1950s • The meaning of the term has evolved to include aspects of African American pop music including: Motown, Soul, Funk, and Hip Hop • The meaning of R & B is given credit to Ray Charles, who as a jazz pianist and singer in the 1950s, began to sing gospel inspired music in blues clubs • Since Ray Charles, R & B has been associated with gospel’s uplifting and “Soulful” singing styles

  6. Major Figures Early 1960s R & B • Ray Charles • "What I'd Say" • Born into poor sharecropping parents • Was educated at prestigious school for the blind where he practiced piano as a young child • As an adult played piano with jazz, blues, and western swing bands • Shaped his own style of mixing jazz piano styles, back beat rhythms, and gospel melodies • This mix would be become to core of “R & B” and “Soul” music for decades to come

  7. Major Figures Early 1960s R & B • Etta James • First woman to write her own material • Signed with Chess Records in 1955 • Famous for magnificent jazz vocal technique and musicianship • Continued to tour and record up until her death in 2012 • "I'd Rather Go Blind"

  8. Major Figures Early 1960s R & B • Sam Cooke • "What a Wonderful World" • Cooke was one of the first successful “singer-songwriter”, and made 29 Top 40 hits in his seven years of stardom • His major hits include, “Wonderful World” and “Twistin the Night Away”, & “Chain Gang” • He was shot and killed at the Hacienda Hotel here in LA on Dec 11th 1964 • The circumstances of his death are still left with mystery and controversy

  9. Berry Gordy and Motown USA • Motown Records • Born into upper middle class Black family- dropped out of HS and pursued business interests • Drafted into Korean War, upon returning to start a jazz record store but failed • Co Wrote some songs for R & B star Jackie Wilson and started “Hitsville USA”, a jazz oriented recording studio

  10. Berry Gordy and Motown USA • Berry Gordy • Black owned jazz studio attracted great talent early on: • Singer/Drummer Marvin Gaye • Singers Mary Wells and Smokey Robinson • Gordy’s success eventually led to “Motown Records” and would eventually feature some of the most renowned Black stars of the 1960s

  11. Hitsville USA- Motown Changes the Scene • The Marvellettes • "Please Mr. Postman" • 1961- “Please Mr. Postman”- first # 1 hit and gold record for Motown Records • Simple back beat complimented by backing vocals influenced highly by Ray Charles and Sam Cooke

  12. The Sound of Motown… • “Postman” set the tone for groups like The Supremes and many others • Early Motown hits focused on simple songs that could appeal to broadening teen market • Mid 1960s- sound revolved around the “Funk Brothers” jazz musicians who focused on precise and skilled arrangements • Songs designed to support singer and work well on the road

  13. The Look of Motown… • "My Girl" • Gordy insisted on code of “conduct” that ALL Motown talent would adhere to • All musical recordings were recorded with live presentation in mind • Always well dressed as ladies and gentlemen in public; performing “All the time” • Motown was an elevation of early Harlem Renaissance Black Culture • The body was important to sell records  similar to Elvis

  14. The Ladies of Soul Music Diana Ross & The Supremes (Motown Records) Aretha Franklin (The Queen of Soul)-Not a Motown artist • "Respect" • "Where Did Our Love Go"

  15. Motown Competitor… • Phil Spector, like Gordy, emphasized high production values, glamor, and efficiency • Unlike Gordy, was not concerned with long term success of band, one hit was enough- “1 Hit Wonder” • Innovated a recording practice called the “Wall of Sound”- making songs sound bigger by using recording techniques- songs sound like they are recorded in big church • Phil Spector in the studio

  16. Spector’s “Wall of Sound”-Examples • "Be My Baby"-The Ronnettes • "Silence is Easy"- Starsailor • "Get Back" • "Get Back" Naked • The Beatles Let it Be Album Controversy • The Beatles were breaking up because of legal issues • When they recorded “Let it Be” Album, they used their usual producer George Martin • They fired him, and hired Phil Spector to re-master album- the result  a Beatles album with wall of sound. They hated it. • In 2003, they released Let it Be –Naked- tracks with0ut “Wall of Sound”

  17. Spector in the news… • Phil Spector was found guilty of murdering Lana Clarkson, a girlfriend of Spector • This was a highly watched murder trial • He was sentenced to 19 yrs to life in prison • Phil Spector in court

  18. The Soul Music Influence-”Neo Soul” • Raphael Saadiq • Adele • Aloe Blacc • Jill Scott • Erykah Badu • The Roots Ft Cody Chesnutt • Leon Bridges

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