60s music
Groove along to Beat Media's breakdown of the bands, artists, songs and culture that defined the 60s.
The Joy Of Making A Noise
It was Christmas Day 1964 when I first learned the art and the joy of making a noise. My hardworking mother had somehow found the wherewithal to buy a Dansette record player and half a dozen singles. Of those six singles the only ones I can remember are 'Six Fools' by Texas Bill Strength, 'Wait Til The Sun Shines Nelly' by Buddy Holly, and 'She Loves You' by the Beatles. The first two really didn't do anything for me to be honest. 'She Loves You' set me on fire. This was the first time in my life that a sound set the hairs on the back of my neck on end. It really was such a beautiful noise.
By Liam Ireland5 years ago in Beat
Black People Music
My grandma was quite the character. She was a no nonsense kind of woman and how she felt things was how she said them. When she said her peace about something it always seemed as if, no matter how harsh, cruel, or even funny, there was no other way to say it but that. She was the first Black nurse in the small town of Tracy, CA and in the whole county for that matter. She was from Louisiana and every where she went she made sure to permeate the room with southern charm. Ever since she was a little girl, she had been incredibly hard working. She went back to nursing school at the age of 38, to provide for her family. She retook every class that she got a B in so that she would have a 4.0. My grandma once told me a story of when she was a cleaning girl. The white family she worked for had it in their agreement that they would provide one meal for every work day. She had no idea that that one meal would be served on the dirty slab of concrete that lead to the back yard. She also told me the story of how, as a nurse, one of her patients, a racist white man with AIDS, took the needle out of his arm and stuck it into hers. She worried and tested for years thinking that she had certainly contracted HIV from the mans wicked actions.
By Enajite Pela 5 years ago in Beat
A Song from 1958 Helped Me Discover My Hobby
What's my favorite hobby? My favorite hobby is… Wait a minute. You know what? Let's play a game for this particular topic. I don't want to make it too easy. Enough with all the dry and vaguely-written essays that can't connect with the reader.
By Ioannis Dedes5 years ago in Beat
They’re coming to take me away (ha ha)
There was a one hit wonder recording in i1966 that made it to number 3 on Billboards top 100 chart that in today’s cancel culture might be considered inappropriate. The song was by Jerrold "Jerry" Samuels who was born on May 3 1938. The singer, songwriter and producer.used the pseudonym Napoleon XIV, for his novelty song "They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!" There is no singing only spoken rhyme and the musical number nstruments consist of a snare drum, tambourine , and hand claps.The B side of the record is simply the A side played in reverse.
By Cheryl E Preston5 years ago in Beat
The Genius of Junior Walker
Autry DeWalt Mixon Jr. is a name that might not be recognizable but you have surely heard of Junior Walker. He is known to the world for his musical contributions and is best known for his 1964 hit SHOTGUN which was recorded as Junior Walker & the All Stars. Each time I hear this song in recent years, an image from the movie COOLEY HIGH comes to mind because this song was playing during a poignant scene.
By Cheryl E Preston5 years ago in Beat
The Brill Building
As a songwriter, one of the first places I had to go to when I moved to New York in 1999 was the Brill Building at Broadway and 49th Street. It was, quite simply, a pilgrimage of sorts to walk the sidewalks where the songwriting greats walked and created.
By Julie O'Hara - Author, Poet and Spiritual Warrior5 years ago in Beat
Gil Bridges of Rare Earth Charges Racism for Being All White Band Kept out of Motown Museum
Photo by kate When Gil Bridges was in grade school in Detroit the only instrument taught was the violin. His dad thought it a girl's instrument so he had to wait. At ten, Bridges saw Aldo Ray performing the saxophone, and his older sister suggested that was the axe he should start swinging. He took the advice and went onto play in the various school bands – marching, jazz and symphonic. A friend eventually approached him about joining their band. But playing that scene with the Sunliners was something he was initially afraid to try. A little coaxing later, he was in. Beginning in 1960, they played the Motown clubs, and by the late sixties, they received a record deal from MGM/Verve. Despite not having that association go far, Motown approached the band and Rare Earth was born. As a result, songs such as "Get Ready" and "I Just Want to Celebrate" became part of the American musical lexicon.
By Rich Monetti5 years ago in Beat
Jimi Hendrix Came Right Off the Bat
Jimi Hendrix is considered to be one of the best ever to play the electric guitar. He has to be at least top ten in every list that exists around the world involving the revolutionary instrument. He is a guitar god, and he bolted into the Rock scene right off the bat.
By Bazooka Teaches5 years ago in Beat
