On the eve of November 23rd 2015, I interviewed my grandfather, Benny Reno Emerson, on the influence of music in his life. During the interview we talked about how long music has been a part of his life and how it has shaped who he is today. We also touched on three songs that meant the most to him. The three songs that he claimed to be the most significant to him were “K.T.”, “Kill the Pain”, and “I’m a girl watcher”; all songs that he has performed live, at stages across the Midwest, including the well know Wisconsin summer musical festival Summer Fest. This is a picture of Benny Reno Emerson at age 32
Benny Emerson is an African American Male who was born in Stephens Arkansas in 1939 to mother Virginia Emerson and father Simmie Emerson. With his parents being musicians, Benny was introduced to the world of music very early on. Growing up Benny participated in the church choir with his parents which is where he obtained his vocal experience. Singing wasn’t enough for Benny though, he needed something he could play. By the time Mr. Emerson was fifteen years old, he had purchased his first musical instrument- a trumpet. Benny would spend hours on end playing his trumpet, playing any sheet music he could get his hands on.
After a few years of playing Benny uncovered a hidden talent of his. Since he had begun playing, Benny had only played music that he had the written versions of. He learned to play by reading the notes, not knowing that he could actually hear the notes.
After watching “The Language You Cry In” in class, I found myself reflecting on how music has impacted my life and with whom I have shared it with. It’s truly incredible how a simple, 5 line chorus ultimately allowed this woman to discover her history as it traveled from Sierra Leone all the way to the Gullah society in Georgia. The really displays the power that music can have over not only individual societies, but over the globe. No matter what political movements were occurring and throughout the immense inequality and slavery that was being faced, music has always remained reliable. This song brought people together and allowed them to embrace their heritage even in the worst of times, and I believe that this is still true today.
Hank Snow was a popular and important musical artist, active before 1960, who is not included in the Dalhousie University 2017 - 2018 Popular Music until 1960 course. Hank Snow’s, “country standard I’m Movin’ On, a twelve-bar blues, came out before 1960. ” In this paper I will argue that Hank Snow and his song I’m Movin’ On must be a required listening in this course as he has had historical significance, has influenced musical artists (several that are covered in this course) and most importantly he is a Nova Scotia native with a successful musical country career on an international scale. I will provide relevant background information on Hank Snow as well as proof of his importance in the areas of historical significance, musical influence
Ives, a concert pianist. His mother was the child of a wealthy family. She had
Perhaps one of the strongest demonstrations of the power of music in “Sonny’s Blues” is the street revival. Everyone has seen these types of revivals before. Every song has been heard by the crowd, but when the music starts everyone stops, watches, and listens. “As the singing filled the air the watching, listening faces underwent a change, the eyes focusing on something within; the music seemed to soothe a poison out of them; and time seemed, nearly, to fall away from the sullen, belligerent, battered faces” (57). The music from the street revival helps lifts the hopelessness from the crowd and provides a sense of relief. Music is able to bring people from all walks of life together. It gives them a sense of calm and ease, an assurance that something is there to help. Music listens.
It is uncommon for an American singer to decry Billie Holiday’s art of music considering that many cite the influence of her career not only on jazz but also on other American music. The distinctive phrasing,
Thanks to the critically acclaimed “Muscle Shoals” documentary, music lovers are finding their way to the small town in northwest Alabama where some of the world’s greatest hits were recorded. This was the very town where, at Rick Hall’s FAME Studios and the rival Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, Aretha Franklin found her groove, Paul Simon developed “Kodachrome” and Wilson Pickett cranked up “Mustang Sally.”
From the creation of harmonies to singing to instruments, music has been an abstract form of human expression. Although an auditory collection of pitches and volumes, musicians can manipulate the same notes and bring them alive for their audiences. The true emotion and energy that’s felt in music really comes from the player as feelings are transferred to and through the listener. This interaction between performer and the house is catharsis, the complete release of strong repressed emotions. Thanks to the musician, music has the ability to grasp people and cause them to sense emotions and feelings without lyrics or images even being necessary. Although it’s believed we can only hear with our ears, something about music makes it emotionally if not physically tangible. In James Baldwin’s short story “Sonny’s Blues,” a narrator certainly unaware of the impact of music invites himself to experience jazz for the first time. Baldwin uses the final scene of his story to argue that music has an effect on those who are able to experience it. Baldwin does this in one single moment by letting the fixed, practical minded, “well-intentioned” narrator experience catharsis from jazz as his growing, free-spirited brother communicates with him through jazz.
Throughout African American history, especially during slavery music has been used as a coping mechanism to assist one with enduring hardship and opposition. Music specifically jazz and the blues can have many boundless effects on one’s life. In this case, in Sonny’s life, music was his only source of hope and strength to redemption.
At the young age of seven, Duke’s musical career was beginning to show its head, his parents placed him into piano lessons. He did not too much care for music at the time and would have rather played sports. He later found out that he did not desire to play the piano, often missing most of his lessons, but later on he would come to realize he loved the instrument. He did not know how to read music or write it
From 1919 to 1965, a man lived and forever changed the music industry to become what it has become today with his amazing piano playing and smooth voice. The man’s name was Nathaniel Cole, but he is better known as Nat “King” Cole. From Cole’s early jazz music in his early life and his singing in the rest of his life advanced music in jazz and pop. With his great influence and legacy in music, many people would use the name of one of Cole’s most popular songs, “Unforgettable”, to describe the man himself.
He was an African American man from New Orleans, Louisiana, who could play the trumpet, cornet, and sing. Listening and dancing to jazz was a favorite pastime for a lot Americans in the 1920’s.
Songs like “Ain’t no mountain high enough”, “My Girl”, and “ABC” have shaped American history in ways that people don’t even realize. We wouldn’t be listing to artist like Beyoncé, Drake, and John Legend if these former artists didn’t write and/or perform these songs. They have allowed African American music to blossom to what it is known for today. If these artists did not continue to write and produce music, they would have never gotten anywhere and we wouldn’t have the African American artist we love today. This paper will now go into more specific African American singer, songwriters, and composers.
musical talent came honestly. His father was a mellophonist and his mother was a pianist.
Throughout its history, music has permeated the significant events of American history. Its effect on American society and the way the American people cope with each event has only grown as popular music evolves and new genres reach more and more individuals. People can remember where they were and their exact surroundings to amazing detail when asked about life-changing events in history. Older generations will remember the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Their children will remember when Kennedy was assassinated and when man walked on the moon. Their grandchildren will remember much of the turmoil of the ‘70s and ‘80s and their great grandchildren grew up in the world impacted by the events of September 11, 2001. Even one’s surroundings during the start or end of a relationship or personal events such as graduation, getting a driver’s license, or getting married can all be paired with the music that was popular at the time.
In 1973, exactly twenty-five years prior to my birth, my parents were just in elementary school. They told me stories about their lives back then but none contained any traces of music. The only stories about music back in those years were from my grandmother. Back then, my parents grew up in Viet Nam in a poor family with no televisions so they couldn’t really listen to any music growing up. Although my parents could not listen to music on television like how we can now; they were able to come to live performances by local artists held at the district’s performance center every other month because the shows were free. My grandmother told me that the music back then was really different than how it is now. The songs served many purposes to the citizens, it was an encouragement to soldiers at war, it was the rhythm that put kids to sleep, it was the comfort food for everyone who listen. Grandma told me the style