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Beach Boys The Beach Boys were the quintessential California group, creating song after song about the beach, the sun, surfing, fast cars, girls, and fun, fun fun. The original members of the group were three brothers, Brian, Carl and Dennis Wilson; a cousin Al Jardine; and a school friend, Mike Love. Over the years, however, they toured with many variations in personnel. The Beach Boys' music was startling in its originality, featuring memorable melody lines, and wonderful vocals with stunning harmonies. (Both Brian and Carl had perfect pitch.) The list of their hits is a long one including Surfer Girl, Barbara Ann, California Girls, Do You Wanna Dance, Fun Fun Fun, Good Vibrations, Help Me Rhonda, I Get Around, Little Deuce Coupe, Sloop John B, 409, Surfing Safari, Surfing USA, Wouldn't It Be Nice and Kokomo. The guiding genius behind the Beach Boys was Brian Wilson, who suffered from mental illness for many years, but has since recovered to begin touring with his own band. (One time, years ago, I was backstage at a rock festival where the Beach Boys had performed, and I got to talk to one of them. I asked him, "Why didn't Brian perform with you?" and I will never forget his answer. He looked me straight in the eye and said, "Because he didn't want to.") Regardless, Brian and the boys were able to create a unique sound that has endured for decades, and I, for one, do not want to even imagine a world without their music. (Trivia: Of all the Beach Boys, only Dennis actually surfed. Brian didn't even like the water.) Web:
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Beatles Unless you were there (in the early Sixties), it's impossible to understand. The rise of the Beatles -- John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr -- as a worldwide musical phenomenon was unprecedented in the history of mankind. For years, their music demonstrated a consistent level of skill and creativity that has yet to be duplicated within the popular culture. Even today, you can listen to their albums and still be amazed how good they were. In the early Sixties, something special happened, but I do understand that you get sick of hearing your parents talk about it. Unfortunately, if you are under 45 years old, you don't understand and you never will. Web:
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Berry, Chuck Chuck Berry (1926-) was one of the founding pioneers of rock and roll. Berry blended R&B, country, swing and blues, and branded it with his unique touch. He was one of rock and roll's first great lyricists, and was also the first to create some of the more enduring guitar sequences, such as the ones used in "Johnny B. Goode". His other popular songs included "Roll Over Beethoven", "School Day", "Rock & Roll Music", "Sweet Little Sixteen" and "Reelin' and Rockin'". With his trademark duckwalk and his long string of hits, Berry became an influential icon in the 1950s music scene. As John Lennon once said, "If you tried to give rock and roll another name, you might call it Chuck Berry." Web:
Doors The Doors was a vehicle for singer/poet/composer Jim Morrison (1943-1971). The group, which played together from 1965 to 1973, consisted of Morrison (vocals), Ray Manzarek (organ and organ bass), Robbie Kreiger (guitar) and John Densmore (drums). Their name was chosen by Morrison, who was inspired by a quote from William Blake, "If the doors of perception were cleansed, every thing would appear as it is, infinite." I once saw The Doors in concert at an outdoor rock festival. I still remember them playing a long version of their closing song, "The End", as I sat under the stars, listening to Morrison's plaintive voice ("...Lost in a Roman wilderness of pain, and all the children are insane..."). Morrison wrote and sang many soulful and beautiful songs including "Light My Fire", "Break on Through", "Hello, I Love You", "People Are Strange" and "Riders on the Storm". Morrison was an iconoclast with a serious drug habit, who occasionally got himself into trouble for his on-stage antics. However, he was a true genius, one of the few rock performers who could write serious poetry and make it come alive on the stage. Web:
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Dylan, Bob Robert Allen Zimmerman (1941-) was born in Duluth, Minnesota. In 1960, at the age of 19, Zimmerman hitchhiked to New York, where he began to perform in various Greenwich Village coffee houses. Within a short time, Zimmerman had changed his name to Bob Dylan and had developed a solid reputation as a folksinger. In 1962, he put out his first album, "Bob Dylan". In 1963, his second album "Freewheelin' Bob Dylan" established him as a highly creative folk/protest singer, a role he was to fill for many years. Dylan is important to the development of modern music for several reasons. First, he popularized the idea of incorporating poetry into folk/rock music, becoming the epitome of the politically sensitive singer and songwriter. Second, as a composer, Dylan broke new ground again and again (and again). Over the years, his work has been recorded by many different singers and bands. Third, as a performer and recording artist, Dylan had a long, enduring career, during which he created over 40 albums and gave literally hundreds of concerts. Bob Dylan was the person who, single-handedly, changed popular music from mere sound into a force with intellectual content, one that could change the thinking of his audience. Dylan's most popular songs were Like a Rolling Stone, Blowin' in the Wind, Rainy Day Women No. 12 & 35, All Along the Watchtower, Knockin' On Heaven's Door, Lay Lady Lay and Mr. Tambourine Man. As for his singing, well, the only thing I can say is that it's better than it sounds. Web:
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Franklin, Aretha Let's face it. Aretha Franklin does not have a great voice. (Sorry, but it's true.) What Franklin does have is soul: in her words, "the ability to make other people feel what you're feeling." Franklin (1942-) was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and raised in the tradition of gospel singing: a passionate, joyful music that originated in the black Protestant churches of the southern United States. In 1967, at the age of 24, Franklin recorded her first hit album "I Never Loved a Man", containing unusually vibrant and earthy tunes, including her most famous song, a cover of Otis Redding's "Respect". "Respect" was the first in a long series of very successful songs, making Franklin one of the most renowned singers of the 1960s, and earning her the title of "Queen of Soul". In later years, the quality of Franklin's work was inconsistent, as was her popularity. However, in 1987, she was honored by being the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Franklin is important because she is one of the two singers most responsible for introducing the gospel sound into popular American music (the other singer being Ray Charles, who began fusing gospel with jazz and blues in the mid-1950s). Web:
Grateful Dead Somebody recently asked me, why were the Grateful Dead so popular? The answer is, they made good music and they loved their fans. In so many ways, the Dead were unlike any other musical group in history. For example, during their concerts, they allowed people to use their own tape recorders and make personal tapes. During the Dead's years on the road, this peripatetic band created a subculture that defies understanding: music, art, clothing, culture (including drugs), and a collection of the most loyal musical fans ever seen on Planet Earth. True, Jerry Garcia has slowed down somewhat since his demise, but I bet he's still grateful. Web:
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Hendrix, Jimi Jimi Hendrix (1942-1970) lived a bit less than 28 years, and was a major performer for only four years, but in that short time he established himself as one of the most remarkable guitarists and musicians in the world of rock. In the mid-sixties, Hendrix began to play with two other musicians, Noel Redding (bass) and Mitch Mitchell (drums), a group that became known as "The Jimi Hendrix Experience". At the end of 1966, they released their first single, "Hey Joe". In May 1967, they released their first album "Are You Experienced", which became one of the most popular rock albums of all time, featuring "Purple Haze", "The Wind Cries Mary", "Foxey Lady", "Fire", and "Are You Experienced?". In 1969, he gave a seminal performance at Woodstock, including a never-to-be-forgotten instrumental rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner". Hendrix was a master guitarist (although he couldn't read or write music); an innovator who used distortion, such as fuzz and feedback, to create a unique sound; and a showman who was not above burning his guitar on stage. Although his recordings have become immensely popular and influential, the important part of his career lasted only three and a half years. Hendrix had serious drug problems, and in 1970, he died of suffocation after overdosing on pills. Web:
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Jackson, Michael There's no denying that Michael Jackson (1958-) is very strange. There is also no denying that the one-gloved, crotch-grabbing singer and dancer is a major, major star. Jackson started his career as a 5-year-old, singing with his older brothers as part of the Jackson 5. In 1969, when Jackson was 11, they signed with the Motown label and his career as a performer began in earnest. The Jackson 5 was successful, having four consecutive #1 hits and becoming one of the most popular groups of the seventies. In 1978, Jackson branched off on his own, starring as the scarecrow in "The Wiz", and creating a unique assortment of trademark dance moves including the moonwalk. In 1982, he released the album "Thriller", which became the best-selling album of all time (over 50 million copies sold worldwide). To accompany the singles from "Thriller", Jackson created innovative short films that established him as a music video pioneer. In 1987, he released the album "Bad", which produced five consecutive #1 singles (another record). However, as talented as Jackson is, he is just as famous for his bizarre behavior (including his strange marriages) as for his superb music, dancing and performance. Web:
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Madonna Madonna Louise Ciccone was born in Bay City, Michigan, on August 16, 1958. For 25 years, things were relatively quiet. But then, in 1983, she released her first album, and the world has never been the same. Since then, the Material Girl has managed to insinuate herself into the hearts and minds of our culture in a way that almost defies description. And just when you think she is ready for the Where-Is-She-Now Club, Madonna reinvents herself and makes us all sit up and take notice. The next time you find yourself in a trivia competition, use your knowledge of Madonna and ask the other person which female vocalist has the most solo gold singles. (Is this book educational or what?) Web:
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Mitchell, Joni Joni Mitchell was born in 1943 in Alberta, Canada. Mitchell started her career as a singer before most of today's popular musicians were even born. Over several decades, she has created a vast body of original composition, and became the inspiration, mentor, and matron saint of the current wave of powerful young female singers and songwriters. Mitchell's most famous songs are "Big Yellow Taxi", "Woodstock", "Chelsea Morning", "The Circle Game" and "Both Sides Now". However, to really enjoy Mitchell's work, you need to explore her albums. My advice is to start with "Blue". Web:
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Music Performers Talk and General Discussion There are many discussion groups devoted to popular musicians and music groups. Tune in for the latest in concert appearances, reviews, opinions and esoterica. Look for your favorites. Usenet:
Presley, Elvis Since his untimely death, Elvis Aron Presley (1935-1977) has, through the miracle of modern marketing, achieved a degree of fame that eluded him throughout much of his career. Personally, I love old Elvis movies. Maybe I should make one of my own... Elvis is a poor but honorable working boy, polite to the extreme. He has a girlfriend, but, unfortunately, the course of love hits a bump because of a misunderstanding. Elvis runs into a cute little kid, who hangs around being precocious. A bad guy does something or other, putting Elvis in a bad position. Elvis gets into a fight (although it's not his fault; he is defending the honor of a lady). Then he jumps up on the stage and sings a song or two. Finally, through immense integrity and personal charm, Elvis solves his problems, vanquishes the bad guy, and settles his misunderstanding with the girl. (You know, except for the cute little kid, the whole thing is a lot like my life.) Web:
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R.E.M. R.E.M. consists of Bill Berry (percussion, vocals), Peter Buck (guitar), Mike Mills (bass, keyboards, vocals) and Michael Stipe (vocals). They first started to play together as students at the University of Georgia. Over the years, R.E.M. has toured and recorded tirelessly, creating a large group of fans around the world. Their hits include "Shiny Happy People", "Losing My Religion" and "Everybody Hurts". Here are two bits of interesting R.E.M. trivia you can use to impress your friends. First, the name R.E.M. doesn't mean anything in particular. Second, the tattoo under Michael Stipe's right upper arm is a picture of Ignatz Mouse and Krazy Kat (characters from a very old comic strip). Web:
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Rolling Stones This band has endless energy and will probably outlive most of us and be recording their last albums from the wing of a hospital for the Geriatric Rich and Famous. These Web pages and Usenet group are the hot spots for all things Stones. Web:
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Who, The Without a doubt, The Who was the best band ever to watch live. They were consummate musicians and performers, who energized an entire generation of angst-filled adolescents caught on the cusp of the widest generation gap in modern history. The leader of The Who was Pete Townshend (1945-), a creative genius who wrote virtually all their material, and whose skills at composing, guitar playing, and performing dwarfed his contemporaries. The other members of the group were lead singer Roger Daltrey (1944-), bass and horn player John Entwistle (1944-2002), and drummer Keith Moon (1947-1978). After Moon's death, he was replaced by two other drummers, first Kenney Jones, and then Zak Starkey (Ringo Starr's son). The Who's raison d'être was articulated in their early (1965) song My Generation, in which (talking about the older folks) Townshend wrote, "Things they do seem awful cold / Hope I die before I get old". The theme of teenage alienation was to recur many times in Townshend's work, in songs such as Baba O'Riley (which lamented a "teenage wasteland") and in the rock opera Quadrophenia. In the mid-1960s, the band toured America, creating a cult of followers transfixed by The Who's virtuoso performances and high-energy antics, including Townshend's windmill-like guitar playing and his habit of ending concerts by destroying his instrument. The Who's most important studio albums were Tommy (1969), Who's Next (1971) and Quadrophenia (1973). Their album, Live at Leeds (1970), is, arguably, the best live rock album in history. Web:
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