1. In what U.S. city was J & M Studios located? Describe the conditions present in J & M Studios. Why were studios such as J & M significant during this time period?
2. What music styles and socio/cultural characteristics influenced the music and sound of Fats Domino?
3. What is rockabilly?
4. According to Friedlander, what were some of the important familial, religious, and musical experiences that shaped the life and music of Jerry Lee Lewis?
5. Listen, compare, and contrast the following four examples of the Rockabilly style. How are they different? What do they seem to have in common?
a) Folsom Prison Blues - Johnny Cash
b) Blue Suede Shoes - Carl Perkins
c) Ooby Dooby - Roy Orbison
d) Great Balls of Fire - Jerry Lee Lewis
6. Chuck Berry grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. How did his experience in this particular location affect his musical development? Name three guitarists who were influential favorites of Chuck Berry.
7. As classic examples of the "hybrid" stylings of the great guitarist and vocalist Chuck Berry, listen to:
a) Thirty Days
b) Maybellene
c) Johnny B. Goode
Select one of these Chuck Berry songs that you like (your favorite from this list). What is it about the song you selected that makes it interesting to listen to? Please describe the music (list any musical characteristics you recognize) as part of your response.
8. Songs by the 1960's group The Beach Boys, such as Surfer Girl (and many others) owes its vocal harmonies to those of the 1950's pop vocal group, the Four Freshmen. As you listen to the three Beach Boys selections, do you hear any evidence of other 1950's popular/rock and roll artist(s) coming through the music? Who or whom? a) Surfer Girl b) Surfin' U.S.A. c) Fun, Fun, Fun
9. Who was Les Paul? Why is he significant to the history of rock and roll, and to music in general?
10. Name the Gibson electric guitar that the company introduced in 1952.
11. Name the Leo Fender electric guitar introduced as a response to the Gibson product in the following year (1953).
12. List some of the performing artists and respective styles that influenced young Buddy Holly.
13. What particular make (brand name) and model of electric guitar did Buddy Holly popularize during his career?
14. For whom did the husband and wife song writing team of Boudeleaux and Felice Bryant compose many hit songs for?
15. What were the two primary musical styles present in the formative years of Phil and Don Everly, The Everly Brothers?
16. Describe the music genre known as Doo-Wop. What are its musical roots? What particular species of warm-blooded vertebrae was exploited to the fullest in the numerous related names of the Doo-Wop groups? List three of these groups.
17. Which Doo-Wop group featured a thirteen-year old lead vocalist fronting his own group? Name him and the group. Finally, what was the name of our author's (Friedlander) own Doo-Wop group?
18. Briefly list the contributions, trials, and tribulations of Alan Freed as related to the development of rock and roll.
19. What was world famous classical cellist Pablo Casals' opinion of rock and roll music?
20. One long standing criticism of rock and roll music is that it uses very few chords for its harmony and is therefore inferior to music containing a richer harmonic structure. These critics claim that rock music's harmonic poverty renders it incapable of sustaining interest for any significant period of time. The truth is that the three chords (I, IV, and V) comprising much of rock/pop music actually triple the number of chords used by 20th century composer Karlheinz Stockhausen in Stimmung. Listen to the excerpt of Stimmung. The composition is unique in that there are only five pitches drawn from a single chord. The composition is scored for two sopranos, one mezzo soprano, one tenor, one baritone and one bass voice. The music was composed in 1968. Stimmung is divided into 51 sections, each one introduces a new overtone motive that is repeated several times. Please comment (briefly describe your own feelings and response to this music). Does the absence of chord changes (harmonic movement) make this music less interesting?
21. Read about Little Richard. What musical style was Little Richard heavily involved in during his youth?
22. Listen to the Little Richard classic Tutti Frutti (another "three chord" song). Recount the events that led to the eventual recording of the song. List some of the characteristics comprising Little Richard's "sound." What makes him unique? To further assist you with your response, listen to another selection by the infectious Little Richard, Long Tall Sally.
23. What two major contributors to soul music of the 1960's were members of Little Richard's R & B band The Upsetters?
24. Name the three musicians who died together in a plane crash on the morning of February 3, 1959. According to Don McLean's timeless anthem American Pie, this tragic event was "the day the music died".
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