Rock Roots 4: Gospel, Tin Pan Alley, and the “Latin tinge”

Gospel Combination of blues + spirituals + European hymnsCombination of blues + spirituals + European hymns Emerges as separate genre (category of music) c. 1930Emerges as separate genre (category of music) c First songs in genre by Thomas A. Dorsey, aka Georgia Tom (“It’s Tight Like That)First songs in genre by Thomas A. Dorsey, aka Georgia Tom (“It’s Tight Like That)

Gospel Quartets Gospel songs often performed by small ensemblesGospel songs often performed by small ensembles Quartets developed unique soundQuartets developed unique sound –a capella (unaccompanied) singing –one person sings melody –others accompany by imitating instrumentsimitating instruments vocalizing with ooohs, shoo-bops, or other soundsvocalizing with ooohs, shoo-bops, or other sounds

Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet - Golden Gate Gospel Train backing vocalists imitate train - “vocal percussion”backing vocalists imitate train - “vocal percussion” swinging, eight-beat feelswinging, eight-beat feel riff-based accompanimentriff-based accompaniment highly syncopatedhighly syncopated call and response between lead and backing vocalscall and response between lead and backing vocals

Soul Stirrers, Jesus I’ll Never Forget More pop music influenceMore pop music influence Rhythmic freedom of vocal lineRhythmic freedom of vocal line –Flourishes = melismas = more than one note per syllable of text –Signature of gospel style Instrumental accompaniment - voice and pianoInstrumental accompaniment - voice and piano Clear blues influenceClear blues influence

Mahalia Jackson Vocal style clearly influenced by bluesVocal style clearly influenced by blues Blue notes, pentatonic (five-note) scale, and Western harmoniesBlue notes, pentatonic (five-note) scale, and Western harmonies Accompanying instrumentsAccompanying instruments –electric keyboard –Hammond organ - typical “gospel sound” Ex. Move On Up A Little HigherEx. Move On Up A Little Higher

Folk Music Old-time, mountain music doesn’t catch on commercially in same way Old-time, mountain music doesn’t catch on commercially in same way Re-emerges as folk music Re-emerges as folk music Begins early 1930s Begins early 1930s

Rise of folk music due to: Public works project in Depression Public works project in Depression John Lomax and son Alan record African- Amercian folk songs in south John Lomax and son Alan record African- Amercian folk songs in south Union building activities, labor rallies in NYC provide audience Union building activities, labor rallies in NYC provide audience

Woody Guthrie Combined country music, old-time music, pop songs, cowboy songs into new musical style Combined country music, old-time music, pop songs, cowboy songs into new musical style Topical lyrics in pop music framework Topical lyrics in pop music framework Plain singing style Plain singing style

Tin Pan Alley New York center of music publishing business (near 28th St.) beginning c. 1880sNew York center of music publishing business (near 28th St.) beginning c. 1880s Professional songwriters employed in “factories” to turn out songsProfessional songwriters employed in “factories” to turn out songs

Tin Pan Alley Initially songs in the mold of Stephen Foster hits (Old Folks at Home, Camptown Races)Initially songs in the mold of Stephen Foster hits (Old Folks at Home, Camptown Races) Incorporated whatever styles rose to popularity - vaudeville, Broadway reviews, jazz, ragtime, blues, etc.Incorporated whatever styles rose to popularity - vaudeville, Broadway reviews, jazz, ragtime, blues, etc.

Popular Song to 1950 gently flowing, “conversational” melodiesgently flowing, “conversational” melodies melody + accompanimentmelody + accompaniment lightly syncopated, jazz/blues inflected singing or playinglightly syncopated, jazz/blues inflected singing or playing conversational lyricsconversational lyrics influence of dance rhythmsinfluence of dance rhythms

The “Latin Tinge” Jazz, later rock, contain hints of Latin American musicJazz, later rock, contain hints of Latin American music Themselves fusions of European music, African music, native musics of Central and South American countriesThemselves fusions of European music, African music, native musics of Central and South American countries Main types: rumba and mamboMain types: rumba and mambo

Rumba Dance popularized in 1930sDance popularized in 1930s Introduced by Cuban bandleader Don AzpiazúIntroduced by Cuban bandleader Don Azpiazú Injected into American musical mixInjected into American musical mix –Afro-Cuban percussion: conga drums, bongos, maracas, claves –Clave rhythm

Clave rhythm Pattern of accents that are contrary to beatPattern of accents that are contrary to beat Analogous to backbeat in African-American influenced musicAnalogous to backbeat in African-American influenced music C C C C C C C C C C Ex. El ManiseroEx. El Manisero