POP MUSIC – NASHVILLE BECOMES MUSIC CITY, USA

1. POP MUSIC – NASHVILLE BECOMES MUSIC CITY, USA Chapter 13

2. Random Facts about Nashville • Nashville of the 1920s strove for urban sophistication • State capital of Tennessee • Home to many distinguished universities • Two/three of its politicians became presidents – Andrew Jackson, Andrew Johnson, James Polk • In 1920, the city of Nashville built a full-size replica of the Greek Parthenon as a monument to its self-proclaimed title “Athens of the South”

3. Nashville VS Grand Ole Opry • The folksy format of the Grand Ole Opry undermined the image and goals Nashville had for itself • The Grand Ole Opry was successful despite conflicts in Nashville • The show was an embarrassment; artists were presented as hicks

4. Dave Macon • (1870 – 1952) • Competent banjoist, lively comedian and versatile singer • Appeared on the Opry for 26 years, helping to establish a consistency in the show’s presentation • http://youtu.be/jXqk2mPtPo0 “Sail Away Ladies”

5. Grand Ole Opry improves • As the show became more professional, artists were paid for their performances and their acts were more diverse • In the 1930s the Federal Communications Commission began licensing certain radio stations to broadcast at higher wattages. • WSM, the station that broadcast the Grand Ole Opry, increased its power from 1,000 watts to 50,000 watts, allowing them to reach from the East Coast to the Rockies

6. Roy Acuff • (1903 – 1992) • Hosted the Opry from 1939 to 1946 • Sang with a powerful voice that outshone his predecessors • His voice lacked finesse • First real singing star on the Opry; earlier bands had members who sang, but not featured vocalists • Captured the hearts of his audience with his sincere, forceful, and often emotional renditions of old-time ballads and gospel songs • He welcomed southwestern honky tonk, bluegrass and other styles • http://youtu.be/v40r6lcO00w

7. Acuff-Rose Publications • As Roy Acuff’s popularity grew, he began writing songs; but his work was falling victim to piracy by publishers and recording companies • He formed Acuff-Rose Publications in Nashville in 1942 with Fred Rose • First publishing firm devoted solely to country music and one of the first firms associated with the new licensing organization Broadcast Music Incorporated • Acuff-Rose became one of the largest music businesses in the world

8. Acuff-Rose, cont. • It provided publishing opportunities for new country songwriters, many of whom had been previously shunned by ASCAP affiliates • With Acuff-Rose as a catalyst, publishers, agents and other peripheral music businesses came to Nashville

10. Hank Williams (1923-1953) • Born in Alabama • Most legendary figure to come out of Acuff-Rose • He was country music’s most influential musician since Jimmie Rodgers and its first cult figure • Williams successfully blended the elements of blues, gospel, traditional southeastern mountain music and southwestern honky tonk and still managed to win more pop music devotees than any other country music artist up to that time • Was the first inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame along with Fred Rose and Jimmie Rodgers

11. In 1946, Williams went to Acuff-Rose seeking a recording contract but was initially signed as a staff writer With direction from Fred Rose, Hank Williams wrote a body of now immortal country standards Rose also directed Williams’ performing career, and coached his live appearances and recording sessions – this planning allowed him to cross over to the world of pop music

12. HOMEWORK • Tell me the name of a current performer who started out as a writer/composer. Also tell who they wrote for when they were writers. • Email to alaine.bolton@woodbridge.k12.nj.us

13. Williams was gangly but good-looking and always dressed in western wear His stage manner was casual and natural His voice had a break, similar to a yodel, that put a ‘cry’ in his voice He sang his own compositions almost exclusively http://youtu.be/95aP0OWx4jY “Hey, Good Lookin’”

14. By 1950 he was a wealthy superstar He was an emotional wreck scarred by his fatherless childhood He was an alcoholic and drug addict and his love relationships were stormy In 1952 the Grand Ole Opry banned him for drunkenness and unreliability He died on New Years Day in 1953, cause uncertain

15. Country Crossover and the Nashville Sound • During the 1940s country music steadily emerged as a national phenomenon • Shortly after World War II it had become popular enough to merit its own category in Billboard’s magazine, graduating from the “race” category • As country music became more popular, producers softened its sound to reach a larger and more diverse audience • Crossing-over – as in presenting a smoother and more commercial style – wasn’t new to country; Gene Autry had done it in western movies in the 1930s; however no one had done it out of Nashville

16. Eddy Arnold • First Nashville artist to make a significant crossover into the pop field • Sang with a smooth baritone voice that was closer to a crooner than country • Proved to be a great ambassador of country music • http://youtu.be/Qi0Ibs0VofY “Richest Man in all the World”

17. Chet Atkins (1924-2001) • Architect of the most successful crossover formula in country music • Proficient guitarist – one of the most admired and influential in the world • Intricate fingerpicking style allowed a full bodied solo style of guitar playing • In the late forties he began to establish himself as a studio guitarist and a producer for sessions – this role was ensured when he produced “Heartbreak Hotel” by the country artist (as he was then considered)

18. Atkins made a conscious effort to produce an easy-listening style of production for country artists – eventually dubbed the Nashville sound Rhythm sections were toned down Soft background voices and a vibraphone were added Lots of reverb In many cases string arrangements were added

19. Chet Atkins • “Baby’s Coming Home” – instrumental http://youtu.be/RI9HGeQdFq4

20. Women in Country Music Kitty Wells Miranda Lambert

21. Women in Early Country Music • The first 30 years of commercial country music were male-dominated • Female country performers existed, but they either grouped with other women or paired with brothers or husbands

22. One reason for this was the southern idea of womanly virtue Women would have never been tolerated singing a hoboing song like Jimmie Rodgers or a honky tonk drinking song Road life for a woman would have been equally frowned upon The thought of a single woman traveling with a band of men would have been reprehensible

23. Themes of female country songs • Had a liberated feel to the lyrics • Had a woman’s point of view of southern culture • Some song titles: • Don’t Come Home a Drinkin’ (With Lovin on Your Mind) • You Ain’t Woman Enough (To Take My Man)

24. Patsy Cline (1932-1963) • Launched the era of the modern female country singer • Born in Virginia • Appeared on the Grand Ole Opry • Came from a country background but was heavily influenced by pop singers • Died in a plane crash • http://youtu.be/2OVtpnpCOKM “Crazy”

25. Other female country performers were careful to give a wholesome, pleasant presentation, and maintained an emotional distance from their material – they also tended to use the old-fashioned nasal Appalachian vocal style Patsy Cline’s voice was rich and pop-oriented; her renditions of songs were passionate and engaging – she would use crylike breaks, vibrato, growls and a wide range of pitch and volume

26. Dolly Parton • One of the most successful female country musicians • Earned the title “The Queen of Country Music” • 25 number one singles • 40 top 10 country albums • http://youtu.be/mpKAA2VxWY8 “9 to 5”

27. Shania Twain • Canadian • Started her career with more ‘typical’ country music • Successfully crossed over to pop music while keeping country influences (fiddle, steel guitar) • http://youtu.be/ZJL4UGSbeFg “Man, I Feel Like a Woman:

28. Eddy Arnold Dave Macon Dolly Parton Chet Atkins Patsy Cline Hank Williams IDENTIFY