Led Zeppelin:

I have grown up listening to rock n’ roll and heavy metal. My dad has been an avid fan of both, therefore, it is no surprise that I developed a liking for bands fitting in these genres as well. Led Zeppelin was a staple throughout my childhood. Such songs like ‘Ramble On,’ ‘Immigrant Song,’ and ‘D’yer Mak’er’ are the epitome of Zeppelin, in my eyes.

The evolution of Led Zeppelin, as mentioned in the textbook, evolved from blues (Campbell, 2013). Guitarist Jimmy Page had brought musical influences from such unique styles as flamenco and East Indian music, this has allowed for a unique and distinct sound produced by Led Zeppelin (Campbell, 2013).

One of the main pieces that stuck out for me was when Campbell (2013) stated, “One of the marvels of good heavy metal performances is the tight ensemble of a band as they negotiate challenging and intricate passages.” This resonated with me because I believe this to be valid when evaluating the music of Led Zeppelin. They have “raw emotion” (Campbell, 2013), which allows for listeners to find meaning and a connection within their music. Not to mention the necessity of listening to their songs at a higher volume than an average rock band (Campbell, 2013). This for me, would be a defining factor when classifying Led Zeppelin as heavy metal within their time. Our textbook also defines heavy metal as “distortion, massive amplification, use of modes, pentatonic scales, power cords, basic rhythms, and power trio instrumental” (Campbell, 2013). The power trio instrumental is the bass, drums, and guitar – a large portion of what is portrayed in Led Zeppelin’s music (Campbell, 2013).

The guitar solos and loud drum amplification, especially in ‘Immigrant Song,’ along with the iconic “AAAH AA-AH” at the beginning (I’m sure anyone who has heard this song can picture the exact moment I’m talking about) is one of many reasons to consider Led Zeppelin heavy metal. Although ‘Dy’er Mak’er’ and ‘Ramble On,’ may be ‘easier’ to listen to, it still produces the same quality and amplified sound that is considered, in my opinion, heavy metal.

See ‘Ramble On’ here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3HemKGDavw

See ‘Dy’er Mak’er’ here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTYLz49ALhE

See the LIVE performance of ‘Immigrant Song’ here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlNhD0oS5pk

With their unique style, tight pants, and long hair, Led Zeppelin was the classic band of heavy metal that brought musical influences from other genres and created their own distinct sound.

 

Work Cited:

Campbell, Michael. Popular Music in America: The Beat Goes on. Boston, MA: Schirmer Cengage Learning, 2013.

It all began in the 1950s, when records began to replace live performances as the main way to hear and sell music and labels recognized that popular disc jockeys could influence sales (Hutchinson, 2015).

In 1950, there were approximately 250 disc jockeys in the USA (Hutchinson, 2015). By 1957, the number had grown to over 5,000, this was partially due to the amount of new records being produced, both by major and indie labels (Hutchinson, 2015).

“Pay” and “Victrola” (record player)

Payola referred to manufacturing a popular hit by paying for radio play (History, 2018).

When money changes hands in exchange for radio play, certain artists get more exposure than others (McDonald, 2018). This is the basis that formed Payola. When Payola entered the picture, it was evident that the record label became the decider of which artists failed and which would succeed (McDonald, 2018). The

Aware of their rising status, jocks established flat rate deals with labels and record distributors (Hutchinson, 2015). More influential jocks commanded percentages of grosses for local concerts, lavish trips, free records by the boxful, plus all the swag (Hutchinson, 2015). It was estimated that even mid-level DJs could expect to clear at least $50 per week in bribes, with higher profile jocks commanding much higher prices and much flashier swag (Kelly, 2016).

Alan Freed and Dick Clark both played important parts in the rise of rock ‘n’ roll. And though they both denied ever accepting payola, it’s almost impossible to imagine two young, popular jocks not succumbing to a little temptation.

 

It was Freed who ended up taking the fall for DJs everywhere…

Freed’s family and allies in broadcasting quickly deserted him. And he refused to sign an affidavit saying that he’d never accepted payola (Hutchinson, 2015). WABC fired Freed, and he was charged with 26 counts of commercial bribery (Hutchinson, 2015).

The Legal Side:

As Payola escalated, Variety and Billboard did lengthy features, calling for reform and government intervention (Hutchinson, 2015). ASCAP was also vocal about their opposition to payola, using it as a means to criticize their competitor BMI (Hutchinson, 2015).

Under US law, a radio station can play a specific song in exchange for money, but this must be disclosed on the air as being sponsored airtime (Wikipedia, 2018).  The Congressional Payola Investigations occurred in 1959, after the United States Senate began investigating the payola scandal (Wikipedia, 2018).  February 11, 1960 was when President Eisenhower called it an issue of public morality and the FCC proposed a new law, making involvement in payola a criminal act (History, 2018).

In November of 1959, in closed and open sessions before the USA House Oversight Committee, 335 disc jockeys from around the country admitted to having received over $263,000 in “consulting fees” (Hutchinson, 2015).

Prosecution for payola in the 1950s was in part a reaction of the traditional music establishment against newcomers (Wikipedia, 2018). And hit radio started to become a threat to the wages of song-pluggers (Wikipedia, 2018).

After the initial investigation, radio DJs were stripped of the authority to make programming decisions, and payola became a misdemeanour offence (Wikipedia, 2018).

Payola: an ongoing issue:

The rise of streaming, which delivered 1.6 billion of music industry alone in 2014, has threatened radio’s traditional role as the medium which can make or break a hit record (Sherwin, 2015). This encouraged the music industry to revert to “payola” practices, first exposed by a major Congressional bribery and corruption legislations in 1959 (Sherwin, 2015).

A spot on a playlist with tens of thousands of followers could be bought for $2,000, rising to $10,000 for the most popular playlists in 2015 (Sherwin, 2015).

Getting a song on a “buzz” playlist encourages other listeners to add it and share their selections on social media, generating spikes in the streams (Sherwin, 2015). Radio stations began to use streaming data to help choose which “breaking” songs to add (Sherwin, 2015).

In 2005, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, agreed to pay $10 million and to stop paying radio station employees to feature it’s artists to settle an investigation (Sherwin, 2015).

Work Cited:

Hutchinson, L. (2015, August 24). Alan Freed, Dick Clark and the Radio Payola Scandal. Retrieved July 2, 2018 from http://performingsongwriter.com/alan-freed-payola-scandal/

Kelly, K. (2016, February 14). A Brief History of American Payola. Retrieved July 2, 2018, from https://www.noisey.vice.com/da/article/64y8y9/a-brief-history-of-american-payola

McDonald, H. (2018, June 3). Pros and Cons of Payola. Retrieved July 2, 2018, from https://www.thebalancecareers.com/payola-influencing-the-charts-2460759

Payola. (2018, June 9). Retrieved July 2, 2018, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Payola

Sherwin, A. (2015, August 20). One of music’s oldest arrangements back with a bang on streaming playlists. Retrieved July 2, 2018, from https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/payola-one-of-musics-oldest-arrangements-back-with-a-bang-on-streaming-playlists-10464513.html

The Payola scandal heats up. (n.d.). Retrieved July 2, 2018, from https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-payola-scandal-heats-up

“The things we truly love stay with us always, locked in our hearts as long as life remains.” – Josephine Baker

One of the most successful African American performers in French history:

On June 3rd 1906, Freda Josephine McDonald was born in St. Louis, Missouri (Norwood, 2017). Throughout her young life, Young Baker had to work odd jobs in order to survive, and if she was unable to find work, she would often dance on the streets, collecting money from onlookers (Norwood, 2017). At the age of 15, Baker ran off and began to perform with an African American theatre troupe (Norwood, 2017). She also married during this time, taking her husband’s last name and dropping her first name becoming: Josephine Baker (Norwood, 2017).

“Baker became one of the most sought-after performers due to her distinct dancing style and unique costumes”

Baker’s performances followed  African themes and style (Norwood, 2017). In her famed show, ‘Dance Sauvage,’ she danced across the stage in a banana skirt (Norwood, 2017).  And after a short while, she became the most successful American entertainer working in France, one of the most photographed women in the world, and earned more than any other entertainer in Europe (NewWorldEncyclopedia, 2018).

In 1927, she starred in the silent film, ‘Siren on the Tropics.’ The film was not successful outside of Europe but her acting career continued (TheFamousPeople, 2017). In November, 1935 she played the role of a Tunisian local girl named ‘Alwina’ in the film, ‘Princess Tam Tam’ (TheFamousPeople, 2017).

 

Josephine Baker would go on to star in more films including, ‘Faussealerte,’ and ‘Moulin Rouge’ (TheFamousPeople, 2017). Baker became one of the most sought-after performers due to her distinct dancing style and unique costumes (Norwood, 2017).

Follow the link below and you can see why Josephine Baker became well known for her dancing and overall entertaining personality:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBPHceq_6jQ

Baker was more than just a pretty face:

Josephine Baker joined the fight against the Nazi regime – she aided French military officials by passing on secrets she heard while performing in front of the enemy (Norwood, 2017). She transported the confidential information by writing with invisible ink on music sheets (Norwood, 2017). She also participated in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force, serving as a nurse in the Red Cross, and performing for troops in North Africa and the Middle East to boost morale (NewWorldEncyclopedia, 2018). After war, Baker was awarded the Croix de Guerre and the Legion d’Honneur by General Charles de Gaulle, and the Rosette of the Resistance (NewWorldEncyclopedia, 2018).

After many years of performing in Paris, Baker returns to the United States.

Her return home forced Baker to confront segregation and discrimination (Norwood, 2017). Although she had been based in France, she supported the American Civil Rights Movement during the 1950s (NewWorldEncyclopedia, 2018). She protested her racism in her own unique way, one way was through the adoption of her 12 multi-ethnic orphans, whom she called her “Rainbow Tribe” (NewWorldEncyclopedia, 2018).

In 1951, after she was denied service at the Stork Club in Manhattan, she filed a case of racism against the owner of the club, Sherman Billingsley (TheFamousPeople, 2017).

During the era of the Harlem Renaissance, performed only for integrated crowds (Norwood, 2017). Baker refused to perform in venues that would not allow a racially mixed audience, even in the deeply divided South (Norwood, 2017).

“You know, friends, that I do not lie to you when I tell you I have walked into the palaces of kings and queens and into the houses of presidents. And much more. But I could not walk into a hotel in America and get a cup of coffee, and that made me mad.” – Josephine Baker

Baker’s position against segregation and discrimination was recognized by the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP) (Norwood, 2017). In 1963, she was one of the few women allowed to speak at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom (Norwood, 2017). Her speech, as depicted above, detailed her life as an African American woman in the United States and abroad.

After Martin Luther King Jr’s assassination, his widow, Coretta Scott King, approached Baker in Holland to ask her if she would take her husband’s place as leader of the American Civil Rights Movement (NewWorldEncyclopedia, 2018). After many days of thinking it over, Baker declined, stating that her children were “too young to lose their mother” (NewWorldEncyclopedia, 2018).

Josephine Baker will be forever remembered as a talented, quirky, passionate women. One who had the ability to capture people with her dances and songs, while promoting the right of her people.

 

Work Cited:

Editors. (2017). Josephine Baker Biography: The Famous People. Retrieved on July 2, 2018 from https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/josephinebaker-4908.php.

Norwood, A.R. (2017). Josephine Baker: National Women’s History Museum. Retrieved on July 8, 2018 from https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/josephine-baker.

New World Encyclopedia. (2018). Josephine Baker: New World Encyclopedia. Retrieved on July 2, 2018 from http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/josephinebaker.

 

 

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