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 ...
"Maddeningly"?
Kieth Richards (and will decline the honor in person)
Bill and Ted.
Ha!
The adverb form of ‘maddening’ is indeed a word.
Yes, maddeningly. When you hate America, any slice of Americana is maddening.
Freddie Mercury of course. Openly gay and died of AIDS. A literal icon.
and Boy George, for being a gender-bending pioneer
I’ve noticed that the younger kids are starting to re-discover the 70’s rock groups as they tire of the hip hop ‘sameness’.
To disagree with the article I consider Paul Simon the greatest songwriter in American history and he will stand the test of time.
Unlike a lot of my fellow Baby Boomers I never really was much of a fan of the Beatles and I suspect The Who and the Stones will age better.
Queen’s music was fantastic and you can throw in Billy Joel, Fleetwood Mac and David Bowie as the names I think will live on for a long time.
Sousa and Scott Joplin are probably the two most enduring American composers of their time.
Elvis
I’m a little bit older than you - my formative Rock years were mid-to-late 60’s. I agree with you about Paul Simon, but until he had his nervous breakdown, I think Brian Wilson (Beach Boys) was his equal. “Pet Sounds” was an incredible album.
Definitely with you on The Who. I bought “Tommy” when it was first released. I remember the band I was in at the time (I played bass) practicing “The Overture” and “The Underture” again and again and again... Didn’t have a French Horn though... :-)
Bob Dylan
But which drummer will be remembered? ;-)
To put things in perspective, I heard on the radio this morning that on this date, 48 years ago, the Rolling Stones released Jumpin’ Jack Flash.
Love Reign O’er Me is maybe the most intriguing rock song I’ve ever heard. I should have also thought about Chicago and Lynyrd Skynyrd too. Skynyrd for the southern rock genre and Chicago for that easy listening rock segment.
25 or 6 to 4 is the one song that ALWAYS gets me to stop the station switching.
Didn’t listen to the Beach Boys enough to know.
“I’ve noticed that the younger kids are starting to re-discover the 70’s rock groups as they tire of the hip hop ‘sameness’.”
My 8 yr old boy loves British Invasion stuff. So far more of a Dave Clark 5 fan than Beatles.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.