Pop Music In The 50's

Words: 1123
Pages: 5
Open Document
The concept of the synthesizer was conceived long before the 1960’s. Technological advancements were leading towards a commercially available, portable synthesizer from the early 1900’s. They didn’t however, begin their growth in popularity until the decades following the 1950’s, when they became more financially accessible and their designs allowed for greater portability and functionality. The tonal capabilities that these synthesizers were able to produce would inspire the music industry in a way that nothing else could, or arguably has, in the last 50 years. Engineering heavy weights of these groundbreaking instruments such as Bob Moog, Don Buchla, Tom Oberheim and Dave Smith were just a few of the dozens of pioneers helping to create these …show more content…
Arrangement focused crooners like Frank Sinatra were sliding out of favour and being replaced by the story telling and emotional emphasised pop artists like Patti Page and Johnnie Ray, who flooded the musical mainstream for the majority of the 1950’s. The Blues had a constant presence on mainstream popular music throughout the 50’s with artists like Bo Diddley, Fats Domino and Chuck Berry influencing Rock & Roll with their enthusiastic approach to the normal melancholy qualities of the blues. The birth of Rock & Roll in the late 1950’s was a crucial stepping-stone to the introduction of synthesisers in a band setting. As the genre evolved through the early 1960’s, artists were more inclined to step away from the mainstream sound and explore new tonal …show more content…
“Its fathers, Don Buchla and Bob Moog, were dreamers whose workbenches full of circuit boards turned the world music community on its collective ear and spawned a two-billion-dollar-a-year electronic music industry.” (Vail, p.25) Up to the mid 1970’s, there were only two synthesizer giants, Moog And ARP. Robert Moog’s invention of commercially available synthesizers, as Kettlewell (2002) explains, encouraged dramatic change in the world of music and redefined genres that existed prior to their inception. 1967 saw the first recordings of the Moog Synthesizer and, as noted on Moogfoundation.org, the majority had one person in common—musician Paul Beaver. “By late 1966, he and Bernie Krause had pooled their funds to buy a Moog Modular of their own. Beaver was designated as Moog’s West Coast Representative and together, he and Krause operated a company called Parasound that provided consulting, recording, and production services using the Moog Modular and other instruments.” (Moogfoundation, 2013). In April of 1967, he and Bernie were recruited to bring the Moog Synthesizer to a variety of recording sessions. Some of these sessions included bands and artists such as The Doors, The Electric Flag, The Monkees and Mort
Show More

Related Documents: Pop Music In The 50's

50's Cultural Changes

How music changed from the 50’s to the 90’s Many people think that Music has changed a lot since the 50’s. Really look at the era from the 50’s to the 90’s then it will be clear that it hasn’t changed that much. They used the basically the same instruments and despite the addition and subtraction of a couple of genres between those decades. The things that have really changed are the artists who sing the songs. Music in the 50’s The 1950’s were times of change and the music of this decade reflected…

Words 1004 - Pages 5

History: The Great Gatsby, By F. Scott Fitzgerald

1/14/15 20s/30s/40s These decades shaped by 3 crucial events: WWI ended 1918 Great depression 1929 WWII 1939-1945 F. Scott Fitzgerald – Author “ The Great Gatsby” - termed by 1920’s “ The jazz age” Duke Ellington, glen miller, louis Armstrong “roaring 20’s” – women drank, smoked in public, drove cars, motorcycles The Flappers – danced the Charleston – dance craze Oliver Naylor – sweet Georgia brown, 1925 Famous Charleston dance song Duke Ellington – It don’t mean a thing , 1931 Bessie…

Words 448 - Pages 2

Rhetorical Analysis

Machine Kills Fascists” onto his guitar. The “machine” he was referring to, was his music, and the “fascists” he was defying, were the political and cultural power brokers he believed were out to conquer society. What Guthrie was alluding to however, was the notion that music, at its core, was a reflection of political and societal realties and to that effect, had the capacity to reshape the world. Though the use of music as a tool for expressing political rhetoric was by no means a new concept, its…

Words 1660 - Pages 7

Michael Jackson Research Paper

entire life. He began his career as a young child with The Jackson Five and reached stardom before he even reached double digits in age. He remained in the group throughout the 70’s and was a central figure in this group which was made up of Michael Jackson, his brothers: Tito, Jackie, Jermaine, and Marlon. In the 80’s is when Michael Jackson became a full fledge star and this is the decade that he personified and ruled completely during his career. His first solo album Off the Wall was a masterpiece…

Words 701 - Pages 3

The 1960s Essay

The 1960’s The 1960’s were a time of radical change. It was a decade where people began to question authority, and time of confrontation. The decade's radicalism began with the assassination of John F. Kennedy in November of 1963. This event changed the country's idealistic views, and started an upheaval of civil rights movements. Baby boomers started a new perception, and formalized the act of resistance to war. There were also many of whom, turned violent and rebellious; in their effort to fight…

Words 1813 - Pages 8

Michael Jackson Accomplishments

What album has won both eight Grammy Awards and American Music Awards? The album that has won these ground breaking awards is Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”. This particular album is so successful, is said that it sold well between fifty to over 100 million copies. Michael Jackson’s, “Thriller” is definitely worth purchasing, because of its accomplishments and history. To begin with, Michael Jackson was born on August 29, 1958 in Gary, Indiana. His mother, Katherine Jackson, was a homemaker and his…

Words 481 - Pages 2

Essay on Evolution of Music

Due: 9/22/14 Evolution of Music Change is inevitable; regardless of the depth of it. Before we get the chance to take a deep breath, blink our eyes, or finish a sentence, something in the world has changed. Everything from literature to medicine, politics, and to people in general; change allows diversity to emerge and for different types of ideology to take place. Though one of the most apparent subjects to have changed a great deal over time is music; popular music in particular, whether it be…

Words 922 - Pages 4

Entertainment 1950

Grace Standifer Miss Fichtner History p2 4 May 2017 Arts and Entertainment 1950s The 1950’s was the decade right after America survived the Great Depression. Americans were ready for a dramatic change to come in their lives. Some moved across the country just for a change of scenery. As Americans were moving across the country new places raised including chain restaurants, malls, and movie theaters.Americans created a chain reaction of many new businesses and jobs, the work week, standards,…

Words 640 - Pages 3

Country Music History

Country Music The history of Country music is broad, but the impact it has left on so many people, and the amount of artist lives it has changed, may be bigger. The music’s origin is lost in the early stages of colonization (western). It descended from older folk songs, and many ideas were taken from popular songs written by English, Scottish, and Irish settlers (western). The genre really took off in the early 1920’s when the songs recorded became more available in rural areas (Western). With…

Words 1635 - Pages 7

Entertainment Since 1945 Essay

States, and its expectations to change people’s music consumption habits are high. “Beats Music”, created by Dr. Dre along with industry veterans, is a new option that offers a monthly $10 individual plan or a $15 family plan (up to 5 different accounts). Ryan (2014) states that Beats Music expects to make up the difference through a mix of star power, corporate partnerships, and expanded demographics. Are streaming services really the future of music? Although the alternative mentioned previously…

Words 2272 - Pages 10