Music of the Ages by Kim Joyner

MUSIC OF THE AGES From NORTH AMERICA to EAST ASIA:

The Exotic Musical Contrast

A Look Through Time:

Music Throughout American History MUSIC LEGENDS:

Freddie Mercury! Elvis Presley! The Rolling Stones!

WOODSTOCK : THE IC ONIC INFLUENC E Spring 2016

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS

Dear Reader, In this magazine, we hope to enlighten you on all things music related. Our articles range from musical legends to music that is created and listened to all around the world. We worked tirelessly on this magazine, and we hope you enjoy it!

Sincerely, Blake Adkins, Holly Mattox, Xaylen Lanier, and Catherine Sexton

BIOGRAPHIES BLAKE ADKINS is a sophomore at WCHS and is for the

most part uninteresting, but he loves to make and hear jokes. The first thing on his bucket list is sky diving, and one of his favorite past times is putting pencils in Xaylen’s hair when he falls asleep in AP psychology.

HOLLY MATTOX is a sophomore at WCHS and was

raised in Lexington. She enjoys watching television, collecting records of all kinds, and hiking. She also enjoys going to concerts and local shops. Holly’s most prized possesion is her “Top Gun” soundtrack.

XAYLEN LANIER could possibly be the most insane-

ly masculine entity in the entire universe. On the second day of the first month of the second millenium arose Xaylen. He was deemed a man the minute he made his mighty exit out of the womb. If there was a Greek god of soccer, Xaylen would be that god. To this day, only a select few in the modest village of Versailles truly know the extent of his insurmountable glory.

CATHERINE SEXTON is a sophomore, and she is

a member of the tennis team. She enjoys listening to all kinds of music, being outside, and going places with her friends. Catherine also enjoys rock climbing, hiking, and playing the piano.

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Around the Page

Book Photo by: Javier Garcia Prince Photo by: Jodie Dee Photoshoped by: Blake Adkins

5-8 Photo by: Minestrio De Cultura

The Universal Langauge of Music

9-14 From Woodstock to Now

Photo by: Kevin Worchester

15-20 The Evolution of Music

Photo by: Brian P.

21-26 Who are our Music Legends?

Photo by: Eleni Vraka

Music, a Unified Language By: Blake Adkins

While you are making fun of and banning Justin Bieber from your home over 3 million fans around the world who disagree with you are listening to his song love yourself daily. So if everyone is so invested in music how do they listen to it? Here are a few of the many the ways to listen to music, the internet, casette/cd/vinyl, concerts/live performances, and radio. Vinyl records or phonographic records have spiral etchings on the surface of the disk that allow the phonograph’s needle to travel along it and make vibrations, or what you hear music.the phonograph was primarily used from the late eighteen hundreds up until the late nineteen hundreds, and is still used commonly today. The men and women who used to exchange records at a club or party earned the title “disk jockeys”. Vinyl records have recently regained so attention, infact vinyl sales have surpassed 9 million dollars in sales for the first time in twenty years! Which is particularly interesting when you consider how some people see going back to records as a sign of regression. The reason people have become more interested in records or vinyl is because of the high quality of the sound and the feel that they give off due to the friction between the needle and the grooves of the record. Multiple vinyl enthusiasts and customers like Keith Nelson Jr. have commented on the fact that “Vinyl has always offered a more intimate experience” and they say that

Photo of Xaylen Lanier enjoying the judist priest concert of 1988

the just audible scratches that age old records produce “add texture and warmth” to music. Another popular and fun way to listen to music around the world are live performances, live performances attracted 44.75 million people last year bringing a revenue of approximately three thousand one hundred ninety three billion dollars, that’s on tickets alone. So how come concerts bring such an attendance? According to Issabella Goulden it’s because concerts are “amazing and invigorating” from the atmosphere to the people, anticipation, and the memories that last forever. However concerts can be a major stress to deal with when it comes to planning and advertising so please be considerate and give some respect to the big man running the show.

Judas Priest in San Antonio Photo by Gary Miller and photoshopped by Blake Adkins

Lastly we have the broadcasted radio and internet radio, the broadcast radio was created by Guglielmo Marconi using extremely advanced radio signals or Hertz waves to carry a signal sent from a “console” to receivers. Currently 93% of North America tunes into their favourite radio stations weekly. Also rising in popularity since the 1990’s is the well known internet or online radio attracting 58.36 million listeners as of spring 2015 and pulling in 827 million dollars worldwide.

The extensive bredth of Spotify’s online radio network Photo courtesy of Spotify

Marketers are becoming increasingly aware of the profit to be made in music stations such as pandora, spotify, and iHeart Radio other top radio stations, but what money is to be made in podcasts?

to the weekly broadcast of his journey. Serial became the fastest podcast to reach 5 million as of fall 2014, listeners and allowed room for other podcasts to make waves in the world of internet based media.

NPR’s podcast made $43 million in its 2014 fiscal year, and even smaller podcasts have gained in popularity such as the podcast serial.

What do they listen to? currently the top 6 global artists according to the latest spotify charts consist of a Rihanna and Drake’s hit feat Work which is played around the world 4,868,227 times in a single day! English song writer and former one direction member ZAYN Malik with his sudden spur hit PILLOWTALK, Justin Bieber adding another popular hit Love yourself in his new album purpose released as of november 2015 by Def Jam records.

Serial carries you through the journey of a real life character per episode, for example, this season, season two, is set in a black ops perspective of afghanistan while being held a prisoner of war after his helicopter escaped, so as to not ruin or spoil the story for you though I suggest that you listen

The ever increasingly popular Twenty one Pilots with their sensational hit stressed out. Which happened to get approximately 112 million views on youtube. Lukas Graham’s hit single playing seven years leaving some listeners awestruck, youtube user cabunaenglish commented “Beautifull song...i am 44 years old,leaving far away from my family...i couldn’t have children....this song makes me cry but it’s the 3rd time in a row i watch the video and listen to the lyrics …”

While these musicians are the world’s top musicians what you listen to is all a matter of personal opinion; music is one of the fundamental elements of ours society and our future, it can be used to personalise your playlist, to party and have fun, and even to convey a message just as the captivating and brilliant John Lennon did with his works.

Spotify charts estimate that 7 years old will increase in daily plays during the next few weeks.

From Holly Mattox

to Now

The year is 1969. You’re on a small farm in New York, in a sea of 400,000 strangers from all over the country. You’re sweaty, despite the rainy, cool August weather. It’s your third and last day here, and you’re loving every second of it. You’re at Woodstock. Little did you know, these few days would become iconic to music forever. Woodstock was a massive music festival held in upstate New York. Not only did it welcome over 400,000 people, but countless artists came from around the world to perform for them. It was three days of continuous peace, love and music. There is no doubt that Woodstock had a massive impact on the music industry and the nation in general. Woodstock is still regarded as one of, if not the most, iconic music festivals in history. People still talk about it as if it happened yesterday. Woodstock featured reputable acts such as Joan Baez, Santana, Janis Joplin, The Grateful Dead, The Who, Jimi Hendrix, and even more. These artists performed for an exuberant amount of adoring hippies.

The artists that performed at Woodstock make the festival extremely special. Although the featured acts had not yet reached the iconic stardom they have today, they were all on their way to being majorly popular. For example, the years surrounding Woodstock were big for Jimi Hendrix. According to Wikipedia, in 1968, Rolling Stone called him Performer of the Year. In 1969, Disc and Music Echo called him the World Top Musician and in 1970, Guitar Player named him the Rock Guitarist of the Year. The years surrounding Woodstock were also monumental for Santana, having just finished their debut album merely months before the music festival occurred. 1969 was the year that sparked Santana’s rise. Another artist at Woodstock was Grateful Dead. 1969 was the year Grateful Dead released their live album, “Live/Dead,” which has been regarded as the essence of their music. These are only three examples of the many artists whose careers were at a high around the time of Woodstock, but the same goes for almost every musical act that was featured at the festival. There has not since been a gathering of so many musical legends.

Not only did the musical acts affect the experience, but the environment at Woodstock made the event all the more spectacular. As mentioned before, it was held in 1969, right after some of the most violent years in post World War II history (woodstockpreservation.org). Accordingly, these years were the most hippie-rearing years of all. The want for peace was at an all-time high, and an event like Woodstock brought everyone together in a way that nothing else could. From the musical acts there wishing everyone peace and happiness to the fans coming together and swaying to the tunes of their favorite artists, everyone was promoting peace and having a good time. There was no room for negativity or sadness, only peace and love. There isn’t one picture from Woodstock containing a frown or a bad time, and that’s because no one was focused on violence or worries. It was a crowd full of peace, acceptance, love, and music, and that was all everyone really needed. Although Woodstock is one of the most renowned music festivals, it certainly wasn’t the first. Music festivals date as far back as ancient times, when festivals were held as competitions. One of these festivals, which went by the name of “The Pythian Games,” was held in Delphi, Greece in 582 BC and featured musical acts. It is specified as one of the earliest known music festivals.

As for America, however, the first familiar music festival was in 1967, a mere two years before Woodstock. Tens of thousands of people from the Bay Area of California came together in Marin County for what is regarded as the first U.S. rock festival. This gathering was held only one week before the Monterey Pop Festival. The Monterey Pop Festival was held in 1967 in Monterey, California and featured acts like the Mamas and the Papas, Simon and Garfunkel, and the Jimi Hendrix Experience. It seems that these festivals preceding Woodstock had an effect on the attendees and ideas

of the reigning festival. The Monterey Pop Festival was home to the first major performances by Jimi Hendrix and The Who, Janis Joplin and Grateful Dead. Sound familiar?

As for the prices, attendance to Woodstock did originally come with a price. However, when word got out about it, thousands of people swarmed the New York farm, tore down the fences and surrounded the stage. Once this happened, the concert was made free to the public. In the modern world, however, things are very different. A single ticket to a music festival nowadays can range anywhere from $100 to over $500, depending on the festival--and this is excluding expenses like travel, food, drinks, hotel rooms you may need to book, and more. After everything, the price of a single day at a music festival could end up being well over $900. According to those who have stayed overnight at a popular music festival Bonnaroo in Tennessee, you’re charged $10 simply for a shower. According to Wikipedia, Woodstock, the setup included only two stages built a few days previous to the

festival, one for the main acts and one for “alternative performances (not only music).” In the majority of modern music festivals, there are multiple stages, varying in size. Usually, the headliners at a festival will perform on the biggest stages, while lesser known bands will perform on the smaller stages. These performances are scheduled at specific times with little time to allow you to take a breather. At Woodstock, every musical act performed on the one grand stage right after the other, encompassed with some 400,000 empty pocketed people awaiting their favorite artist. Nowadays, you virtually must show up with a meticulously planned out day and $200 in hand, ready to give it away for a bottle of water and a t-shirt. Although continuous days of sweating, loud music and spending hard earned money may sound horrible to some, music festivals provide some of the best days of other’s’ lives. The undeniable appeal

vorite bands perform. You, too, can get that feeling, as thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a music festival for any type of music you would like. Not only is there diversity among the types of festivals, but also among the people there. Music has no rules and no limits, so there are endless numbers of people you meet at music festivals. Festivals are known for their welcoming atmosphere and accepting crowds. With the warmth and happiness of the crowd around you, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no confusion to why music festivals are often described as feeling like home.

there is to music festivals is the choices you get. Some music festivals are tailored to certain types of music and people, while some are a sort of free-for-all. For instance, Rock on the Range is a music festival held in Columbus, Ohio in midMay. Rock on the Range exclusively features rock artists, such as Five Finger Death Punch and Disturbed. Bonnaroo is a music festival held in Tennessee in mid-June that features alternative artists like Saint Motel and Two Door Cinema Club. Looking at a list of some of your favorite bands playing at a music festival near you makes the excitement bubble up inside of you. Once the date finally arrives, you show up to the venue and watch your fa-

Some recent music festivals have taken the world by storm just as much as Woodstock did. One example is Coachella, an alternative music and arts festival held in Indio, California. Coachella features acts ranging in genre from Ellie Goulding (pop), to A$AP Rocky (rap), to Sufjan Stevens (indie), so thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a musical act for everyone. Not only does Coachella feature musical acts, but it also involves the arts. It has hot air balloons, a ferris wheel, and installation art and sculptures. The allure of this event brings around 180,000 each year and a whopping $67.2 million from ticket sales. Another music festival mentioned previously is Rock on the Range. Rock on the Range is a purely rock music festival held in Columbus, Ohio. Its popularity has grown tremendously since 2012, now getting around 120,000 people in

attendance as opposed to some 70,000 people in previous years. While these festivals are attended by about half of what Woodstock had, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re still impressive in their numbers and show the diversity and appeal festivals have for many people. Woodstock is regarded as one of the most iconic music festivals in history, and for good reason. It was several artists boost up on their rises to fame, it created an atmosphere of peace in the nation after a time of violence and unsettlement, and it has become completely unforgettable for everyone who has had the chance to know about it. Woodstock has set precedent for every music festival that has followed in its footsteps, and in every music festival to come.

Generating New Genres By: Xaylen Lanier

Music fuels our lives, music is as old as time. For as long as 60,000 years ago, the incorporation of an instrument in a world of evolving cultures was quite a large advancement. Music was created to provide entertainment, to influence desired emotions, and to make history within our many developing societies. The art of perfectly choreographed sounds has made an impact in our world even to this day, whether it leads to powerful controversies or equal inspiration for all. Significant music in America relative to our pop culture dates back to the 1920’s in our timeline. Other famous crafts of music such as those composed by Beethoven or Mozart will not be physically included in the timeline, but the same principles do apply. The iconic musical and cultural transitions are frequently referred to as dedicated decades such as the hard rock 80’s or the disco 70’s. Music since the 1920’s has been primarily influenced by national and worldwide events leading to either a subtle or abrupt change in our auditory culture; such events would be from major wars, social injustices, or technological innovations.

1920’s

Best Selling Albums Throughout the Decades 15

Remarkable people within America have come together to make a symbolic statement through the messages in music, whether it be protesting a war of any kind, forging new trends, or defending your personal interests. We begin our timeline in the 1920’s, the prime of the Great Depression. The theme of the music in this depressing decade was dread and despair along with the contrast of igniting new hopes for their struggling future. This decade sourced an explosion of jazz, and with that, many bands arose to claim their fame. The Jazz during the 1930’s influenced booming movie production and the development of new dances. Iconic people of this era include Fred Astaire, Billie Holiday, and Shirley Temple. The music in particular prompted the mood of luxurious parties and “no worries” during the Great Depression. As we transition into the 1940’s, this decade still focuses on famous jazz bands. One addition to this decade however, would be the integration of what’s called “crooner age”. The term “crooner” means a subtle and soft voiced male singer, typi-

1940’s

1930’s

1960’s

1950’s

The music history of this radical decade is also symbolically represented by the king himself, Elvis Presley. This era was also the first introduction to the genre of Hard Rock n’ Roll and the Blues. The music during this time of our history was also seen controversial because of how some people neglected the fact that segregation was still practiced in America and how the civil rights of AfricanAmericans were being oppressed. People brought this issue to attention through the art of music and it changed the chain of events leading to the Civil Rights Movement.

Elvis Presley cally alone in their performances accompanied by a private jazz group of course. The music in this era had the most impact on major events such as World War II. Important figures of this age would be people like Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie for their grand contribution to our musical history. The 1940’s also permeated a romantic and comical vibe to the listeners of our ever-altering culture. The 1950’s, an abrupt but positive change in American history occurred. In this decade, the traditional music taste for American society came to an end and the new age arose. Many people think of the movie Grease when the 1950’s come into mind.

1980’s

1970’s

Entering the 1960’s, the “British Invasion” and the creation of Soul music took control in this decade. The Beatles and soul music artist Jimi Hendrix, being the most iconic in this era, influenced many fashion styles and cultural shifts within America. The term “psychedelic” was also heavily used to describe nearly everything through its time. Other historical events occurring throughout the 1960’s was the Civil Rights Movement. Soul music had quite an impact on the African-American lives allowing them to hold strong to their resolve and prompting them to keep pushing. Another event that was important and made its way into the music industry was the Vietnam War;

2000’s

1990’s

Modern

with all of these social hardships developing within this era, music caused inspiration and hope for the people of America, allowing them to express themselves whichever way through the arts of music. With so many events and changes in the previous decades, the 1970’s serve as a unification era between differing cultures within America. The distribution of music was emphasized through records during this time period. Big groups during this era would include Earth Wind and Fire, The Jackson 5, and the works of Diana Ross. The development of “Soul Train” was also influenced by this musical evolution within the 1970’s. Much discrimination was still looming within America, social groups such as the Black Panthers and the KKK were in their prime to fight for their ideologies about the world. The music in this era not only had an impact on social issues, but also felt/velvet fashion and voluminous afros. N.W.A

The 1980’s was an era of using technology and electronics to the benefit of music. Popular groups such as U2, Wham!, Duran Duran, and Whitney Houston all left their mark in this influential decade. Fashion trends were impacted by the music in this time period, such trends consisted of big neon clothing and other articles that expressed visual statements. The 1980’s also introduced an age of classic Hip-Hop into the mix as well. Relating topics that come to mind to describe the time of this era would be Vice City and bright neon arrays of entertainment. This decade also included famous rock bands such as Judas Priest and Metallica. Sticking to the patterns of developing new ideologies through music, the 1990’s comes into play with insight and meaningful trends. Remarkable events such as gang rivalries influence an adaptation of a previous genre and turns it into “gangster rap” including legends such as Tupac, Biggie Smalls, Warren G, Dr. Dre, and Snoop Dogg. Music creations arose such as grun-

ge rock and the works of other groups such as the Spice Girls, The Backstreet Boys, and Nsync. All of these inspirations had impacts on our developing society in America. Music in the 1990’s such as the works of Marilyn Manson and Britney Spears was considered art before its time through the views of many people that were affected by their tones and messages. Nearing the end of our timeline, the early 2000’s was seen as a blend of preceding decades through the collaboration of mixed artists to obtain new music wonders. The incorporation of auto-tunes was heavily used in developing music during this time period and became used by many just out of curiosity. The music in this age coupled with the booming technology sourced entertainment such as American idol and Guitar Hero in the later 2000’s. The cultural shifts in this era were primarily impacted by events within America

such as 9/11 and our reaction as a nation. With that, patriotism was seen as a recurring theme in music for a while. It is difficult today to put a theme or remarkable name to our decades now because of how brief our trends are. As opposed to something lasting approximately ten years, our fashion and other cultural changes last for about six months to a year before they abruptly change into something more fitting. From the 2000’s to our modern day and age, music has made little change to dignify it with its own iconic decade. Many bands and groups have rose and fallen to make such meaningful contributions to our developing society. Because America is ever so diverse, some genres of music seemed as though they have never “died” out before transitioning into something new based on people’s differing interests. Music in the past couple years of 2014-15 and the rest of 2016 primarily resemble messages within our society that conflicts with our social standing as a nation. Sen-

sitive topics such as religious tolerance, gay marriage, or global issues are being pacified through the art of music. Being able to listen to something that represents the expressed feelings of others, something that tells a story, or a creation of your own allows the world to cope with the ignorance surrounding them. From the 1930’s to present day, music interpretation has remained the same. Although the analyzation of music may have been dependent on differing issues due to historical events, the meaning of music all serves the same purpose nonetheless. The timeline of our auditory innovations has made a fascinating journey, but it doesn’t stop here. Music is as old as time, and time never stops. Our future holds technologies that make nearly every aspect of life more efficient, with that, music may become an entirely different concept from what we listen to and enjoy today. Music today serve more purposes than just mere entertainment. Due to our medical advancements, we have developed music therapy for psychological disorders such as dementia or alzheimer’s. It’s not inconceivable to think that in our distant future, music might not be anything to deliberately listen to for entertainment at all.

Music is Art 27 string guitar-

A guitar that covers the treble and bass staffs with an insane amount of strings.

Singing Ringing Tree-

A statue of specifically arranged pipes that manipulate the currents to create woodwind sounds.

Cheese Drums-

A drum set that is primarily composed of Cheese! The composition of the mass of cheese allows the percussion like effect.

Theremin-

The instrument that creates extraterrestrial sounds through the use of frequency movements. 20

MUSIC LEGENDS by: catherine sexton

It’s a hot summer day in July of 1972, and you’re lying on your plush carpeted floor listening to a vinyl recording of The Beatles. The smell of your sweat mixed with the lingering scent of incense fills your nose, and when you close your eyes, you are transported to a concert with the feeling of thousands of sweaty bodies pressing tightly against you. The sound of the music keeps you grounded with the gentle sway of the crowd, and you lose yourself in the beat of the bass drum pounding through your chest. One of the most popular artists in history is Elvis Presley. Elvis was born in 1935 and released his first song in 1953. Often called the “King of Rock and Roll,” Elvis set a precedent for many years to come . Some of his most famous songs include “Heartbreak Hotel”, “Hound Dog”, and “Rubberneckin’”. Elvis was not only a very well-known singer, he was also an actor. Although the films he starred in were not very popular overall, they were still fairly well-known purely because he was in them. Elvis’s apperance on the Ed Sullivan Show was a huge scandal, but also a huge debut for him. During the 21

show, the camera stayed above his hips because his dancing was considered scandalous - something that may seem like even less than just regular dancing in today’s world. However, many many people were listening to the show, and this is where Elvis got many of his first offers. Elvis Presley shaped the view of rock and roll for the rest of time, and as Robert Christgau once said, “I know he invented rock and roll, in a manner of speaking, but ... that’s not why he’s worshiped as a god today. He’s worshiped as a god today because in addition to inventing rock and roll he was the greatest ballad singer this side of Frank Sinatra—because the spiritual translucence and reined-in gut sexuality of his slow weeper and torchy pop blues still activate the hormones and slavish devotion of millions of female human beings worldwide.” The Beatles are perhaps the most influential band in history. They influenced many bands and artists including One Direction. The Beatles began as a band in 1960, and came to America in 1964. They rocked America with their new version of a mixture of rock and roll and pop, and they appealed to everyone. The Beatles’ seem to have a certain energy that can only be found in their music. The Beatles also made an appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, and it was an immense deal. Fans were trying to stay in the same hotel as them, trying to camp out in front of

Elvis Presley graffiti 22

The Rolling Stones began their career in 1962 in London, England. They were a part of the “British Invasion” of bands in the 60’s, and often coincide with the youthful and rebellious culture of the 1960’s. The Rolling Stones continue producing music today, and are still considered one of the top bands of the 20th and 21st centuries. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards remain the foundation of the band, and Mick Jagger is one of the most detectable and prominent British musicians of the modern era. Michael Jackson started out his career in the band the Jackson 5, and continued to go solo in the 70’s and 80’s. He is often referred to as the “King of Pop” because he paved the road for future pop artists, and changed the media’s view from rock to pop and R&B. Michael Jackson’s death in 2009 caused a huge outpour of mourning from the United States and many other countries as well. Countless websites and apps crashed for hours due to the millions of people searching his name. Queen was a band that formed in London in 1970. Their song “Bohemian Rhapsody” is regarded as one of the most popular songs of all

Mick Jagger

their hotel, and were even waiting for them at the airport when they landed. The Beatles had 27 number one hits in the United Kingdom, and released hundreds of songs throughout their time as a band. The Beatles are regarded as one of the most popular bands of all time, and they are still very famous today.

time, and was voted the UK’s favorite hit of all time in 2002. They have released 18 number one albums and 18 number one singles and they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001. Two more of their most popular songs are “We Will Rock You” and “We Are the Champions” and both songs were drafted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and “We Are the Champions” was voted the world’s favorite song in a global music poll. Bob Marley, a Jamaican reggae singer and songwriter, lived from 1945 until 1981. His 1977 album, “Exodus,” made him one of the best-selling artists of all time. He popularized reggae music around the world, and his music was filled with a sense of spirituality. He was well known for campaigning for social change, but at the same time, his music allowed his fans to forget their troubles and just dance. Although he never won a Grammy award during his life, Bob Marley was awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement award in 2001. He was

Statue of Elvis Presley in Montreux, Switzerland

inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994, thirteen years after his death. Time Magazine named his album “Exodus” the Album of the Century, and the BBC named his song “One Love” the Song of the Millennium. Madonna was born in 1958 and is a singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman. She is often referred to as the “Queen of Pop”, and she became popular by using imagery in her music videos, which MTV showed many times on their channel. Copious amounts of music journalists, critical theorists, and authors consider Madonna one of the most influential female recording artists of all time. Possibly one of the most influential artists of the 21st century is Beyoncé Knowles. She is a singer, songwriter, actress, dancer, and

Beyonce

business woman. Once described as “the most important and compelling popular musician of the twenty-first century…” by “New York Times” music critic Jody Rosen, she began her career as lead singer for theband Destiny’s Child. Beyonce has been one of the most admired artists for almost a decade, and it seems as though she will be for a very long time. Music legends can come from a variety of backgrounds, but they all have one thing in common: their passion for making music. In today’s world where all it takes is a simple YouTube video for you to rise to stardom, it is much easier to become a mega star. It takes devotion and perseverance to achieve your dreams, and all of these stars possess those qualities.