R&B and Soul
R&B (Rhythm and Blues) • R&B now and then, use of term • Early characteristics: shouter singing style, boogie-woogie piano Ex: Joe Turner and Pete Johnson – “Roll ‘Em Pete” (1938)
R&B • Fully formed by 1940s • Big band swing dies during WWII, leads to smaller combos • Urban image from swing/jazz origins • Instrument lineup • Sounds like 50s Rock n Roll (black/white) • Fast/lively • fun/party/sex • 12-bar form
Louis Jordan (1908-1975) b. Brinkley, Arkansas (Delta) Father led dance band in Little Rock Alto Sax at 7 1935: NYC, Chick Webb’s band with Ella Fitzgerald • Hollywood • • • •
Ex: Louis Jordan – “Caledonia” (1945)
• Jump blues • Tympany Five: backed Bing, Louis, Ella, etc.
Fats Domino (1928-) • b. Antoine Domino, New Orleans, Louisiana • 1st recording, #2 R&B Ex: Fats Domino – “The Fat Man” (1949) • Commercial peak mid-50s
Fats Domino Ex: Fats Domino – “Ain’t That a Shame” (1955) • Crossover to RnR? (#1 R&B, #10 Pop) • Covered by Pat Boone – white cover versions, success, changes Ex: Pat Boone – “Ain’t That a Shame” (1955)
Little Richard (1932-)
• Richard Wayne Penniman • b. Macon, Georgia
Ex: Little Richard – “Tutti Frutti” (1955) • From nightclub act: Tutti Frutti Good Booty, cleaned up for record Ex: Pat Boone – “Tutti Frutti” (1955) • Outsold original 5:1 • Pat Boone not keen on this cover • Common practice in 40s and 50s
Little Richard • Hollywood • Long career
Ex: Little Richard – “Long Tall Sally” (1956) • Both examples recorded in New Orleans, other recording dates in NO and LA
Gospel • • • •
Fisk Jubilee Singers (1871-2000s) Fisk U, Nashville, est. 1866 European and Northern tours African-American religious songs influenced by Western Classical tradition
Gospel
• • • •
John Alexander’s Sterling Jubilee Singers Continues Concert Spiritual Tradition Gospel quartet sound (but 5) Marketing, crossover both ways
Ex: John Alexander’s Sterling Jubilee Singers – “Jesus Hits Like an Atom Bomb” (late 1940s)
Gospel • • • •
Rev. CL Franklin (1915-1984) b. Sunflower County, Mississippi Started preaching at 16 Detroit
Ex: “Two Fish and Five Loaves of Bread” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLdrFtxKq5s
Soul Music • Starts same time as Rock n Roll • Gospel: Divine love, God • R&B: Human love, sex • Taboo mix of blues and gospel
• Very connected to R&B: labels, audience, performers, and releases and re-releases
Ray Charles (1930-2004) • • • • •
b. Albany, Georgia, grew up in Greenville, Florida Blind by 6 Crooner since late 40s Often credited with starting Soul (“I Got a Woman”) Atlantic, 1954
Ray Charles Ex: Ray Charles – “I Got a Woman” (1954) • #1 R&B, Elvis cover ’55 • Love song version of gospel standard • Speech singing (Preacher style) • Vocables: words and sounds blurred • Melisma: one syllable stretched over many notes
Ray Charles • Heroin 16 years, 50s/60s • 2 country albums, ’62 • Bill Cosby story
Ex: Ray Charles – “What’d I Say” (1959) • #1 R&B, #6 Pop, covers • Composition on stage, 1am
Sam Cooke (1931-1964)
• b. Clarksdale, MS • Chicago 1933 • Huge influence
• Shot to death by motel clerk in LA, no charges laid Ex: Sam Cooke – “Bring It On Home To Me” (1962) • LA studio, orchestral Ex: Sam Cooke – “Bring It On Home To Me” (1964) • Live, Harlem Square Club, Miami – the “real” Sam?
Aretha Franklin (1942-) • b. Memphis, Detroit at 5 • Gospel with Dad • Teen Gospel records • 18: Columbia – lush pop • 1967: Atlantic (grittier, FAME band) Ex: Aretha Franklin – “I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)” (1967)
Etta James (1938-2012)
• • • •
Various genres Chess, early 1960s Heroin FAME
Ex: Etta James – “Something’s Got A Hold On Me” (1962) Chess, genre?