Pop Music

1960’s

60s Evolution of Rock• Pop music in the form of pop and rock and roll

of the 50s managed to continue in some respect

• Music in the sixties began to evolve from rock and roll to something more variant and international

• Known simply as “Rock”.• Had several different styles

Styles of Rock

• Psychedelic rock• Blues rock• Folk rock • Progressive rock• Beat • Pop rock

• Surf rock• Garage Rock• Roots rock

• There was also a growing trend in folk music and country music brought on by singer-songwriters.

• R&B and Soul became popular during this decade as well

Notable Pop Music Artists of the 60s

• Janis Joplin

• Rolling Stone

• The Monkees

• The Beatles

Janis Joplin

• American singer-songwriter

• Lead singer of Big Brother and the Holding Company– Also notable as a solo artist

• Popular act in the Monterey Pop Festival, Woodstock Festival, and the Festival Express Tour

Janis Joplin• Grew up in Port Arthur, Texas

• Known as the Queen of Psychedelic Soul

• Joined the Big Brother And the Holding Company in 1966

• Began a solo career backed by the Kozmic Blues Band in 1969

• In addition to singing, she played the guitar, auto-harp, harmonica, and piano

Rolling Stones• English rock band formed in

London in 1962

• Part of the British Invasion

• Started with Brian Jones (guitar), Mick Jagger (lead vocals), Keith Richards (guitar and backing vocals), Bill Wayman (bass), and Charlie Watts (drums)

• Notable albums are Beggars Banquet (1968) and Let it Bleed (1969)

Rolling Stones

• Essential in making blues a major part of rock and roll

• Received as symbols of rebellious youth• First album was titled The Rolling Stones (1964),

second was The Rolling Stones No. 2 (1965)• The golden age for this band was 1968-1972• Known for playing blues rock, rock and roll, and

rhythm and blues

The Monkees

• American Pop/Rock band

• Members are Peter Tork, Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, and Michael Nesmith

• Known for being one of the bands to dominate the 60’s

• Started out as cast members of a TV Show– about a band that wanted to

be the Beatles but was never successful

The Monkees• The Monkees had little time for

rehearsal as a band because of the demands of the TV show

• Did however have international hits– “Last Train to Clarksville”– “Pleasant Valley Sunday”– “Daydream Believer”

• First album, The Monkees, spent 13 weeks at No. 1

• In 1967, their music outsold both the Beatles and the Rolling Stones

The Beatles

• English Rock band• Regarded as the

greatest and most influential group of the rock era

• Dominated the 60s music scene

• Beatlemania ran wild during their first years in the spotlight

The Beatles

• From Liverpool• Members are John Lennon, Paul McCartney,

George Harrison, and Ringo Starr• Musical styles rooted in “Skiffle” and 1950s

rock and roll, also incorporated pop ballads• This band was an culmination of the

perceptions and ideals of the era’s sociocultural revolutions

The Beatles

• Started out playing in clubs in Liverpool and Hamburg

• Gained fame after first hit “Love Me Do”

• Were given the nickname “The Fab Four”

• International stars by 1964• The forerunners of the

British Invasion

Beatles Successes

• Finest albums are considered to be…– Rubber Soul (1965)– Revolver (1966)– Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)– The Beatles (White Album) (1968)– Abbey Road (1969)

• According to the Recording Industry Association of America, the Beatles are the best-selling band in the United States– 177 million certified units sold

Beatles Controversy

• John Lennon makes a comment about Christianity

• Many people within the American “Bible Belt” were angered.

• Lost money and lost opportunities to have music played due to Vatican protest

• Spanish and Dutch stations and South Africa’s national broadcasting service had banned the band’s records

Beatles Controversy

• Beatles used Vox AC30 amplifiers for concert performances

• They soon switched to louder, 100-watt amplifiers for US tour due to screaming fans

• Still struggled to hear music • Band grew bored with performing• Shows were no longer about the

music• That US tour in August was their

last

Beatles Break-up• While recording the Let it Be

album, tensions among band members were rising

• Lennon described the project as “hell…the most miserable…on Earth”

• Band argued on a location to film a concert

• Their final live performance was filmed on the rooftop of the Apple Corps building at 3 Saville Row in London on January 30, 1969

Beatles Break-up• On July 4, 1969, the first

largely successful solo single by a Beatle was released: “Give Peace a Chance” by John Lennon

• Recording the single “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” was the last time all four Beatles were in the same studio together

• Lennon left the band in 9-20-69.

• McCartney left the band in 4-10-70.