Selena Quintanilla-Perez was born on April 16, 1971 in Texas to a family of Tejano musicians.[1] Tejano music is a combination of Mexican and Southern Texas music. Although Tejano music started in the 19^th century, it became a hit in the 20^th century due to the emerge of many artists in this genre, one of which was Selena. Selena grew up speaking English, but eventually learn Spanish form her father due to her interest in Latin music.[2]

 

Selena started her passion of Tejano music at home. In 1980, her father opened a restaurant and founded the band “Selena y Los Dino” in which Selena was the lead vocalist, along with the sibling whom played the guitar and the drums.[3] When she started singing in her father’s band, she was only 8 years old. Her family would perform not only at the restaurant, but also weddings, fairs, parties, and pretty much any event they could get.[4] As their popularity grew, Selena become a well-known artist loved by many.

 

Selena recorded her first music Mis Primeras Grabaciones in 1984, at the well-known record company Freddie Label.[5] However, her first few labels, didn’t sell as well. However, instead of giving up she continued to travel all over the stages with her family band.

Selena was first nominated for an award in 1988, as the Female Artist of the Year at the Tejano Music Awards, which she not only won that years, but for the next 7 years.[6] Selena’s first songs to become a hit was in 1991. Her song “Buenos Amigos” which reached number one on the Billboard’s Latin chart.[7]

 

In 1992, she got married to lead guitarist of her band.[8] Even though her songs and Selena had become a hit in Southern America and Mexico, she knew she still had a long way to go. The girl who once used to perform at her family restaurant in front of 10 people, was not performing in front of sixty thousand people by 1994.[9] Due to her outgrowing success, Selena’s album Selena Live won a Grammy award for the best Mexican American album.[10] Selena’s best selling album was “Amor Prohibido” which not only sold a million copies, but also became the top Latin album of the year and album of the year for the Tejano Music Award.[11]

 

Even though, Selena cherished her mother tongue, and most of her songs were in Spanish, she has a dream to reach the same kind of success with an English-language album.

On March 31 1995, Selena was murdered by the president of her fan club.[12] This news shocked and silenced millions of her fans. However, even her death didn’t stop her dream from coming true. Before Selena passes away, she had recorded her English album “Dreaming of You” which contained both English and Tajano music as well. This album became a super hit selling millions of copies and doubling her fan following.[13]  Although Selena lived a short life, she had not only achieved a lot a very young ages, but left behind inspiration millions of people.

 

After the death, Selena’s influence was still alive. She became known as the “Queen of Tejano Music” and more so even as “Mexican Madonna”.[14]  Corpus Christi, Texas is known as the place to go to for Selena fandom. The coastal city is a memorial for her favorite restaurant, memorial, and a museum which is controlled by her family. [15]

 

Selena is considered one of the most influenced Latin musical because she inspired young American Mexican to be proud of their cultural. She was considered the face of American –Mexicans in the time of 1980s when problems such as racism was still very popularly evidence in our society. Being a Mexican-American she had still won the hearts of millions of people. Another big barrier Selena overcame, was being a female singer. In the 1980s when Selena started her singing career, the music genre of Tejano was a male dominating music. Selena had to only work hard on her music, but also work on changing society’s view about a Mexican female singer, which she accomplished greatly. She set a framework for young Mexican girls, that it doesn’t matter if you are a girl or a boy, you too can follow your dreams and reach the top of the Billboard charts.

 

A current famous celebrity to whom Selena Quintanilla is an idol is no other than Selena Gomez.[16] In fact, Selena Gomez was named after no other than the one and only Selena Quintanilla.[17] As being a Mexican-American, Selena Gomez walked in the footsteps of Selena Quintanilla.

 

Although Selena had countless influences on the pop cultural industry, two very important influence include her fashion sense and breaking the barrier for Latins. Selena’s fashion sense is admired by many artists even today, one of many being Lady Gaga.[18] Lady Gaga is famously known for her choice of outfit in her music videos and her concert. Lady Gaga takes inspiration for Selena for her dressing sense. In fact, Selena was not only known for her music but also for her sense of fashion, and makeup choice. She was a true beauty! Another influence she had on the pop cultural was the inspiration she brought to the Latin community.[19] Pop cultural in the 1980’s was dominated by mainly white male singers. Selena changed the standards of the ideal pop artist, but winning the hearts of millions. She inspired children of not only the Latin community, but all minorities to not be bounded by society’s standards. Some of the current artists she greatly influenced include Demi Lovato, Beyoncé, Adrienne Bailon, and Jennifer Lopez.[20]

 

I strongly believe she should be included in our textbook, because of the great role model she has been to not only American teens, but also because she has played a big role in breaking the stereotype of a typical white male becoming a pop artist.  She has defiantly changed and influenced how pop cultural is today, predominantly looking at the wide diversity of backgrounds our signers come from.  Selena was not only an idol to many but a legend who is still alive in the hearts of many.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bibliography

 

 

“A Brief Biography.” Buzzard. Accessed August 10, 2018. .http://umich.edu/~ac213/student_projects05/sa/page8.htm

 

“Selena Quintanilla Timeline.” Timetoast. Accessed August 11, 2018. https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/selena-quintanilla.

 

“Selena Biography.” Encyclopedia of World Biography. Accessed August 10, 2018. http://www.notablebiographies.com/Sc-St/Selena.html.

 

 

“23 Years after Her Death, Selena Remains Relevant, Iconic and Beloved.” NBCNews.com. Accessed August 10, 2018. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/selena-forever-anniversary-tejano-star-stays-relevant-iconic-beloved-n861521.

 

 

“Selena Quintanilla: The Tragic Latin Pop Icon Who Still Inspires.” BBC News. October 05, 2016. Accessed August 10, 2018. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-37563550.

 

Cerón, Ella. “Selena Gomez Opens Up About Meeting Her Namesake’s Family.” Teen Vogue. May 25, 2017. Accessed August 10, 2018. https://www.teenvogue.com/story/selena-gomez-namesake-selena-quintanilla.

 

 

 

[1] A Brief Biography

[2] Selena Biography

[3] A Brief Biography

[4] Selena Biography

[5] Selena Quintanilla Timeline

[6] Selena Quintanilla Timeline

[7] Selena Biography

[8] A Brief Biography

[9] Selena Biography

[10] Selena Quintanilla Timeline

[11] Selena Quintanilla Timeline

[12] Selena Quintanilla Timeline

[13] Selena Biography

[14] 23 Year after Death…NBCNews

[15] 23 Year after Death…NBCNews

[16] Selena Gomez…TeenVogue

[17] Selena Gomez…TeenVogue

[18] Selena Quintanilla Tragic Latin Pop Icon…BBC

[19] Selena Quintanilla Tragic Latin Pop Icon …BBC

[20] Selena Quintanilla Tragic Latin Pop Icon …BBC

The Payola Scandal

 

In today’s generation, any sources of entertainment is readily available to us through the internet. Contrasting, this was not the cast in the 1950s. In the 1950s, a primary form of communication to the American population was through radio station. From political updates to sports update, the radio station was the place for entertainment. One of the most popular programs included the exploration to new music. As time went on, programs shifted form the radio stations to television after it’s invention. As a consequence, disc jockeys began to play a new form of music; roll and rock.[1] This new type of music became greatly popular among citizens, especially the youth. Over time as interest began to grow, which inspired artists to join the revolution of Rock and Roll music.[2]

 

As the market grew, record companies expected more investment. However, there was only one limitation, air time. As fame grew, so did the competition among record companies. The competition of making their record reach heights. One of the key players in this situation were the disc jockeys. As the controller of the radio station, disc jockeys had one job to pick out any label and play it for the public.[3] Which record to play and how many times was all controlled by the disc jockey. Therefore, in order to take leadership, record companies and artist started to pay radio jockeys for their air time.[4] This action became known as Payola. In simpler terms Payola is bribery. Essentially bribing the radio jockey of money or other incentives to have their record played repeatedly.

To a surprise, in the 1950s the practice of payola was not illegal, in fact it had been occurring for many years. [5] Over time the number of radio jockeys, artists, and record companies practicing Payola increase rapidly.Eventually, the audience started to realizing that the jockeys they had blindly trusted were not playing music that was best for the public, but the music that got them the most; be it money or fame. [6]

 

The music they were listening to everyday became a sense of illusion, because they were not hearing what was the best music, but in fact the music that was sold.  Many true artists and music labels were neglected or never been heard of, because they could not afford to pay thousands of dollar to the radio jockeys. [7] A sense of mistrust began to arise within the population.

The practice of Payola had become so common it eventually became a topic of concern even for the United States Congress. One of the main concern for the United States Congress was the fact that even through people in the music industry practice Payola is well known, the money was never declared on DJ’s tax returns therefore was illegal.[8] Furthermore, the government believed that the  it was not ethical to keep the citizen blinded of the practices that happen behind the microphone. Therefore, in 1959, the investigation began. [9]On January 25 1960, it was officially stated that by the National Association of Broadcasters that radio jockeys accepting payments will not only be charged a fine of $500 but also spend one year in prison. [10]

 

Two key jockeys were exposed, DJ Alan Freed and Dick Clark. DJ Alan Freed was known for introducing Rock and Roll. Dick Clark was a television personality host.

DJ Alan Freed was convicted of accepting Payola though out this career as a radio jockey, however he kept on refuse this statement.[11] The radio company he worked at, WABC asked him to sign a contact stating he had never accepted any form of Payola which is strongly refused to do so. As a consequence, he was fired.[12]  Unfortunately, he was not arrested or fined at the moment, as in 1959 laws against Payola were yet to be introduced. However, in May of 1960 DJ Alan Freed was arrest in from commercial bribery and later was charged for 26 other commercial bribery for which he only had to pay the fine. Post investigation, DJ Alan freed was black listed which ended his career.[13] Dick Clark was also a radio jockey was also exposed under the practice of Payola.[14]  It was stated that he held possession in 33 different record labels, distributors, and manufactures.[15] Due to his ownership in these record labels and clearly stating his interest music-related business Congress let Dick Clark pass through without any fines, unlike DJ Alan Freed.[16]

Dick Clark and Alan Freed were just two of the many jockeys investigated under United State Congress, many other jockey’s careers were also ruined under Payola.

 

As a consequence, post the laws stated by the United State Congress, radio jockey’s right to select the music that gets played on the radio was stripped away.[17] It was now up to management, specifically program and music director, of the radio company that selected what music would be played and in which order. [18]

 

In today’s generation by the federal law, broadcast station are certified to receive payment or other consideration in exchange, however this fact must be revealed to the audience prior to the program being aired.[19] The music and programing we are being exposed to had certain names of “sponsors” attached to it, which means rich label companies will get their music heard more often not because it is good but because it is rich. As everyday listener, we tend to forget what a big industry the overall music industry is. Our radio station gives us a framework of “rich music” which we misunderstand to be the only existing music in the world. Other music remains unheard of and get shoved in the dark. As citizen and music listener, one of the wisest steps work be to break the framework set radio companies, and think outside the box which will able us to explore music in its purest form.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bibliography

 

 

 

 

[1] Neria, Bob. “Payola Scabdal Rock 50’s Radio”

[2]  Neria, Bob. “Payola Scabdal Rock 50’s Radio”

[3] Decades TV Network. “1950s Payola Scandal

[4] Decades TV Network. “1950s Payola Scandal

[5] Decades TV Network. “1950s Payola Scandal

[6] Decades TV Network. “1950s Payola Scandal

[7] Neria, Bob. “Payola Scabdal Rock 50’s Radio”

[8] Payola Scandal 1959 Timeline

[9] Payola Scandal 1959 Timeline

[10] Payola Scandal 1959 Timeline

[11] Mariehegwood. “Alan Freed Payola Scandal”

[12]  Payola Scandal 1959 Timeline

[13] Mariehegwood. “Alan Freed Payola Scandal”

[14] “Dick Clark Survives the Payola Scandal”. History.com

[15] “Dick Clark Survives the Payola Scandal”. History.com

[16] “Dick Clark Survives the Payola Scandal”. History.com

[17] Decades TV Network. “1950s Payola Scandal –

[18] Decades TV Network. “1950s Payola Scandal –

[19] “Payola Rules”. Federal Communications Commissions

Josephine Baker #M3Q1

 

Who was Josephine Baker?

 

Freda Josephine Mcdonald was born on June 3, 1906 in St. Louis, Missouri. Throughout her life she was know as a singer, civil rights activist, and a dancer and devoted most of her life to fight racism. She was born in poverty but with her skills as a dancer and a singer in youth she found success on Broadway. To help her family with finical situation, Freda would clean and babysit wealthy white families and that is where she first learned about racism by being treated poorly often by the families. She ran away from home at the age of 13 to pursue her dreams of working in the show business. Josephine Bakwer first marriage was at the age of 13 to Willie Baker whom she divorced shortly. She kept his last name due to her career taking off during the time she married to Willie Baker. She would go on the have three more marriages which all ended in divorces. Her last husband was a French Composer Jo Bouillon. She was also know to be bisexual and having multiple relationship with women throughout her life. Josephine Baker did not have any biological children but adopted 12 children. She wanted to prove that children of different ethnicities and religion could still be brothers and sisters and live in peace. She called her family the “The Rainbow Tree”. Josephine Baker died at the age of 68 on April 12, 1975. She died due to cerebral hemorrhage. At her funeral she received the French military honors and was the only American born women to do so.

 

Early Days

 

Josephine Baker’s musical stage entertainment started around 1920s when she decided to move to France. She took up dancing around this time and displayed her amazing skills in both club and street style performers. Around this time, she also started touring United States with the Jones Family Band and the Dixie Steppers. By 1923 had a role in a musical called Shuffle Along. Her comedic side and her signing made her a crowd favorite. She soon moved to New York city with her sudden fame and was performing in plays such as Chocolate Dandies with Ethel Waters.  In 1925 she performed few plays in France such as La Revue Negre and Danse Sauvage which she made an immediate impression to the French Audience. Due to her success in musical performances, she sang professionally around 1930 in films such as Zou-Zou, Princess Tam-Tam, Siren of the Tropics, and Fausse Alerte.

 

The Charleston

 

Josephin Baker performance was mixture of theatrical glamour and a warmth feeling which focused on her body movement and her voice. She would mix song and dance by singing a line or two and dancing along with the song. Her performances seemed to include the audience and and even had subplots within the plot of the performance.  Baker took the Charleston dance and introduced it in Paris in 1920s. She would grab the attention of the audience anytime she performed.

 

 

 

 

World War 2  

 

During September of 1939 France declared war on Germany and that is when Josephine was recruited by the Deuxieme Bureau as a honorable correspondent. She would gather information on German troops and their location she met at parties. Due to her efforts in helping with the war she was offered Croix de guerre and the Rosette de la Resistance.

 

Civil Rights Activist

 

Josephine Baker was not only a successful musical performer but she was also one on many civil right activists to break the color barrier in the US. Even though France was her home she would often travel to United States for show and would experience hate towards her kind. She would deal with so much hate that she would refuse to perform in venues that only allowed white and not a mixed audience. Even though she was a celebrity she was not immune to racism. She would be refused to hotels and restaurants due to her color of the skin. Due to the fight against racism she was put on the FBI watch list and lost her US citizenship for over a decade. She was allowed to enter the US to speak with Martin Luther King in the March on Washington. She was the only official female speaker at the march.

 

Legacy

 

Josephine Baker has been inducted in the St.Louis Walk of Fame and Hall of Famous Missourians. Place Josephine Baker in Montparnasse Quarter is named in her honor. She was also inducted into the Legacy Walk in Chicago. She was referred to the Beyoncé of her day. She was influence to many modern celebrities even after a century. Her legacy will always be remembered and will live on for days to come for many performers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bibliography

https://www.biography.com/people/josephine-baker-9195959

 

 http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20141222-from-exotic-dancer-to-activist

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/march-on-washington-had-one-female-speaker-josephine-baker/2011/08/08/gIQAHqhBaJ_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.cffc2d75982a

 

http://www.theheroinecollective.com/josephine-baker/

 

https://www.nytimes.com/1973/06/07/archives/josephine-baker-sings-talks-dances-and-captivates.html

 

 

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