Posted on 05/25/2016 7:20:38 AM PDT by Borges
Classifying anyone as the “most successful” at anything tends to reflect more on the source than the subject. So keep that in mind when I make the following statement: John Philip Sousa is the most successful American musician of all time.
Marching music is a maddeningly durable genre, recognizable to pretty much everyone who has lived in the United States for any period. It works as a sonic shorthand for any filmmaker hoping to evoke the late 19th century and serves as the auditory backdrop for national holidays, the circus and college football. It’s not “popular” music, but it’s entrenched within the popular experience. It will be no less fashionable tomorrow than it is today.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
I'm no expert or historian, but what do you suppose produced such excellence in music during that time period?
Elvis!
The newness of electric guitar sound
The cultural influences colliding
Huge receptive boomer market which is the largest proportional generational bulge ever or since
LSD in many instances ....do not doubt me
LSD for better or worse was perhaps the biggest aggravant in the youth culture of those born from 46-64
That and the draft
Freepers here hate admitting it but a LOT of folks at least tried it including of course.....me
A profound impact....the largest artificial impact on my life
Yet I don’t champion it’s use but for those ready
Thanks. That’s a lot in the mix, isn’t it?
Some of the best rock’n’roll musicians had classical music training.
I think that the folk music movement of the late 50s early 60s played a big role. Those musicians had to know their craft, they couldn’t fake it with electronic gimmickry. They mastered acoustic instruments. The singers knew how to sing. They understood harmony. They couldn’t fake having talent, they really had to have it. When they moved on to pop and rock and folk-rock they took their great talent that they had honed along with them.
Plus ‘Boomers were aware of the good music that our WWII parents liked. Big band music, jazz, hit parade music, country, even classical (I like Bach..). It may not have been our music but it was good music played by very talented musicians and we recognized that. Boomer era musicians grew up on that stuff.
And talented amateurs had the chance to get discovered. You had street musicians who invented their own music and were given airplay on local radio. You don’t have that anymore. Radio is owned and controlled by a tiny number of corporations with restricted playlists. New talent doesn’t get an opportunity. Anyway that’s my thoughts.
“I’m no expert or historian, but what do you suppose produced such excellence in music during that time period? “
I will go out on a limb. It was a special time in America. Our music is wonderful, and during that time it evolved fast and very nicely.
Elvis and Buddy
Folk like Kingston Trio,
Surf instrumental
Southern Rock
C & W popularized
British invasion (in part dragging our music back to us)
Chicago/other American blues here
Jazz/fusion
Ballad singers-Sinatra, Striesand, others
Motown/rhythm & blues
Psychadelic (some good)
The Brits have loved American music for example, in all the forms. Jazz, blues, C & W, etc.
I think there is a synergy of music going back & forth across the Atlantic. Brits very good, too.
Agreed. He’s got Celtic soul. A true bard.
“Another artist whom LSD impacted”
Really? For better or worse? I wouldn’t have guessed that.
Winwood is not much older than me, yet he’s been around since I was in Jr High. An amazingly productive and talented musician. And I never, ever tire of:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VT-SFgkVlno
Thanks for all your responses.
Anyone here see the movies “Pirate Radio” and “Cadillac Records”? What did you think? Bit of music history there.
“I think there is a synergy of music going back & forth across the Atlantic. Brits very good, too.”
Good point. Wish I had mentioned it. Beatles, Stones, Spencer Davis Group, Yardbirds, Tens Years After coming our way. Byrds, Dylan, The Band heading back to England. Many more could be mentioned. Lots of cross pollination.
We are overdue for another Golden Age.
Don’t know those. But you would surely enjoy ‘Standing in the Shadow of Motown-the Funk Brothers’ as well as ‘The Wrecking Crew’.
“I wasn’t ever crazy about the Bee Gees, but they did pretty much invent disco. I wasn’t ever crazy about disco, either.”
I know I’m in the minority but I enjoy disco. Not all the time,of course, just when I’m in the mood.
I guess it’s because disco was popular when I was a young child and I started listening to my older Sister’s records. Childhood nostalgia.
I like the early Bee Gees Pre-Disco music too. They wrote some pretty sad songs.
I thought disco was invented in the gay clubs.
I had the pleasure of seeing Van Morrison live in Boston last month at a small venue....Amazing experience. Two highlights for me: he sang “Into The Mystic” & a duet of “Rough God Goes Riding” with his daughter. He’s a musical genius....IMO he stands alone among the artists from the 60s with, perhaps, only Dylan measuring up.
I have seen Dylan many times live. Him live is nothing like his albums though. I saw the Rolling Thunder Tour four times.
Before I doze off, gotta mention Astral Weeks.
“Anyone here see the movies “Pirate Radio” and “Cadillac Records”? What did you think? Bit of music history there.”
Yes to both. I also catch music related documentaries on streaming services. Some of them are very, very good.
One about Muscle Shoals for example.
Also dramatic movies about Buddy Holly, Johnny Cash, etc. I liked them.
When I was about eleven years old, I wore out the grooves on Elvis’ “Love Me Tender.” I couldn’t play or sing a lick, but went around to watch garage bands play.
Dick Dale and the Deltones, Harmony Park Ballroom, Anaheim, about 1963. Some of what became the better known surf bands of the 60s, folk groups like Hoyt Axton, Joe & Eddie, Bob Dylan in 1964.
I’m seeing Dylan this summer in an outdoor venue, can’t wait. Yes...Astral Weeks is a major work. Nothing quite like it.
The Berkshire cottage year after Spenser Davis.....they played small gigs and tripped and wrote plenty big songs including one of LSDs hallmark songs...obviously
Clapton Hendrix...the Who...the Move...lots of visitors
I have an old video on early Traffic
But I need ver knew Winwood played on Ladyland for James Marshall on Voodoo Child
She sings with the voice of an angel.
Velouria - Pixies
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