Classic Rock Performers Who Have Had A Lasting Influence On Music
Aug 5, 2010 music
Classic rock is a fundamental part of American history. Many of today’s leading bands can trace their styles back to the influence of certain musicians. While every song made available to the world has had an impact on the music industry, there are certain performers who will eternally stand at the forefront of music.
From folk rock to psychedelic rock, there have been many groundbreaking sounds and voices. Here are the top ten most influential classic rock bands in history.
Elvis Presley
While Elvis is not traditionally viewed in the classic rock genre, it is impossible to ignore his influence on the world of Rock-n-Roll. As the first to expose mainstream America to something other than traditional family music, he faced a tremendous amount of opposition from the mainstream.
Despite the extreme racism exhibited during the 1950′s, Elvis never hesitated to give appropriate credit to his inspirations. Mainly African-American performers influenced Elvis’ sound and style. Southern radio disc jockeys originally refused to play Elvis’ singles, because they sounded “too Negro” for white stations to air.
It was not just Elvis’ sound, but also his performance, that drew controversy. The movement of his hips in a suggestive manner sparked an entire decade of debate.
Despite the firestorm of criticism that surrounded Elvis’ reign, his continuing popularity has ensured that Elvis’ crown as the King of Rock and Roll would remain valid for decades, even decades after his death.
The Beatles
As the best selling musical act of all-time, it is hard to deny the influence of the Beatles, not only on the musical culture of America, but also on every aspect of human life. The Beatles included John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Star, and George Harrison.
Their innovative style defined the music of the 1960′s — twice. They began their career in England, and when they came to America, they were already a huge success in the United States. In their early years, they had defined pop music for a new generation.
As the hippy days of the late 1960′s began to take hold of America’s young people, the Beatles redefined their music again, with another new style of music lauded by the masses. Their very loud stance on drug use and war made them a controversial group, but their popularity never wavered. Although the Beatles retained the loyalty and admiration of their late 1960′s audiences until the group broke up, the touring days of the Beatles ended in 1966 when John Lennon proclaimed, “The Beatles were more popular than Jesus Christ.”
Bob Dylan
Dylan has one of the most easily recognizable voices in the world. Raspy and full of passion, Bob Dylan’s sound is distinctive. His songs are amazing and defined a generation obsessed with the themes of social unrest, an anti-war stance, and encouragement for the civil rights movement.
A traditional folk singer, Dylan’s works transcended all genres and appealed to countless young Americans. His sincere lyrics spoke to many and made it possible to empathize with his many causes.
Jimi Hendrix
As the undisputed master of the electric guitar, Jimi Hendrix is a classic rock foundation. The self-taught guitar player refused to be limited by many of the conventional views of guitar players.
Prior to Jimi Hendrix’s development as a guitar player, the electric guitar was considered to merely be a louder version of the acoustic guitar. Hendrix embraced the uniqueness of the electric guitar and showed his appreciation for it to the rest of the world.
Pink Floyd
Easily considered the greatest band of all time, Pink Floyd’s unique style and showmanship defined psychedelic rock. Their concept albums were thematic masterpieces that appealed to countless audiences. The Dark Side Of The Moon, Animals, and The Wall each still stand out today as great Rock masterpieces.
The Who
Also known for their thematic records, The Who pioneered the idea of rock opera. Most famous for their collaborative efforts with every major musical figure of their time, Tommy The Rock Opera ensured the longevity of the band into the future.
Their success and fame were not limited to their unique approach to concept albums. Their musical skills are still highly regarded in both mainstream circles and in the entertainment industry. Their music is currently being used as the theme song for at least three of the most popular show on TV on the air today.
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones have easily maintained their position as one of the longest lasting bands in recording history. Like most popular rock bands of the age, they were an England-based band that was more than happy to take on America.
Their grungy unkempt image became so popular; many artists are still attempting to master it. Their unique sound and high quality lyrics have kept them at the top of the charts for almost 40 years.
Cream
Cream, featuring guitarist Eric Clapton, was one of the most technically advanced music groups of their time. Their instrumental techniques became legendary and paved the way for other bands to focus on developing their instrument techniques, in addition to their lyrics.
The Doors
The Doors have always been one of the most controversial bands that had ever existed. Jim Morrison’s wild behavior set the tone for the countless musical bad boys that would follow in his footsteps.
The poetic lyrics of The Doors, as well as their outrageous behavior, made them a crowd favorite.
Led Zeppelin
The road to heavy metal was paved by Led Zeppelin. Their first album was pivotal in its inclusion of distorted amplification techniques. Over the years, their experimentation included mixing acoustic and electric sounds, with the addition of synthesized melodies. The success of Led Zeppelin helped establish a strong base for the development of metal music.
Few people of their generation or the current generation realize that like Elvis, Led Zeppelin took most of their inspiration from African-American performers. As a lifelong fan of Led Zeppelin, it is was oddly fascinating to listen to some of the not-so-famous African-American rhythm-and-blues performers of the 1930′s, and to be able to hear the Led Zeppelin songs we have loved for years in a whole new way.
Final Thoughts
Clearly, these ten bands had a significant impact on the evolution of Rock-n-Roll music through the generations, but it is more difficult to put them into an ordered list of important groups. Let’s just agree that most of us love all ten bands on this list.
Tags: African American Performers, Classic Rock Bands, Elvis Presley, Family Music, Firestorm, George Harrison, Inspirations, John Lennon, King Of Rock, King Of Rock And Roll, Mainstream America, Music Industry, Musical Act, Musical Culture, Radio Disc Jockeys, Ringo Star, Rock Genre, Rock Performers, Southern Radio, Suggestive Manner
Increase Your Value – Get a Reliable Music Marketing Plan
Jun 22, 2010 music
Alright, here’s the deal. You want to get in the music industry and work behind the scenes. You do not care to be an artist, but you would rather work behind all the glitz and glamour to make really honest, or really commercial, music. You will do anything and everything just to land a job at any of the popular record labels in the country. The question is: would they hire you?
More here: Increase Your Value – Get a Reliable Music Marketing Plan
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Minidisc Recorders
Jun 22, 2010 music
There was a time when Minidisc Recorders were tipped for the top. The music industry was changing, and CDs needed a revamp. Over time, discs would get scratched and start to skip.
See the rest here: Minidisc Recorders
Tags: guitar, industry, lyric, minidisc, Minidisc Recorders, music, Music Industry, needed, recorders, revamp, scratched, Seo Services, start, time
Attending Music Schools – A Rewarding Experience
Jun 22, 2010 music
San Francisco shall forever be remembered for the summer of love in the 1960′s that resulted to a music revolution with bands like: Jefferson Airplane, Country Joe and the Fish, Janis Joplin, Grateful Dead and a lot more. People around the world have long been impressed by the music and recording industry.
See more here: Attending Music Schools – A Rewarding Experience
Tags: Country Joe, dead, Dead People, Experience San Francisco, Fish, forever, Grateful Dead, impressed, Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, joplin, Lot, music, Music Bands, Music Industry, Music Recording, Music Revolution, Music Schools, People Around The World, Recording Industry, remembered, resulted, Rewarding Experience, san, Social Bookmarking Tool, summer, Summer Of Love
Rap Music
Jun 6, 2010 music
Rap music was once fresh and new. Rap music was powerful. Rap music was the new music of protest. Rap music was the voice of the abandoned. rap music was dangerous music performed by dangerous people. Rap music was an original art form born of desperation. rap music spoke the pain of the inner city youth growing up in a violent and uncaring world. Rap music spoke truth in the face of lies and hatred. rap music exposed a world no one outside of the inner city even wanted to acknowledge much less deal with. Rap music was raw and real. And even for all of its faults, at least rap music didn’t flinch. The good. The bad. And the ugly rap music said and did it all because that was the reality in which the performers of rap music lived. Of course, that was then. This is now. that was before rap music was co-opted and robbed of its authenticity and drained of its power.
Rap music is now, by and large, a mass produced, mass marketed commodity. Rap music is a multi-billion dollar industry now. Rap music is main stream and mass media. Rap music has been corporatized and rap music has been bastardized. Just like every other valid form of social protest, rap music has now been bought and sold. Rap music itself has been remixed and repackaged and sold by the mass media.
At first, mainstream culture was shocked by rap music. Then mainstream culture was angry about rap music. As soon as the music industry saw that there was money to be made from rap music, the vultures began to descend. and once the entertainment industry, as a whole realized that, there was even more money to be made from a more mass marketable rap music. so rap music had to be cleaned up. rap music had to be made more presentable. Rap music had to be made more acceptable to the mass culture, not just to the sub-culture like it had been earlier. So a pop culture rap music emerges. Rap music, for the masses. But no rap music just for the downtrodden masses. No, rap music for the middle class consumer masses. Rap music for all the suburban youths with the serious discretionary spending dollars. Rap music that still maintained the aura of danger so you could get all the young wannabes to part with their money. Rap music was now a gold mine. Rap music was commercial and owned. Rap music was bought and sold.
Tags: Art Form, Dangerous Music, Dollar Industry, Entertainment Industry, Inner City Youth, Main Stream, Mainstream Culture, Mass Culture, Mass Media, Media Rap, Music Industry, Music Rap, New Music, New Rap Music, Original Art, Pop Culture, Social Protest, Uncaring World, Vultures, World Rap
