It’s difficult to really define what Rock and Roll music is, or where it really started, but Rock and Roll is definitely when guitar playing as we now know it started.
Elvis Presley must be given some of the credit for it, with his hips swinging and the raunchiness of the songs, although he did not really play guitar well at the time.
He did however start the craze of screaming girls at his shows, it was all about sex really, and in fact that is how it got the name Rock & Roll.
The roots of Rock & Roll go back to the late 40´s, and were influenced by blues and gospel music later the big band swing, and rhythm and blues; it was also influenced by country guitar music.
Some of the artist´s of the time such as Elvis Presley with “That´s Alright Mama” and Bill Hayley´s “Rock Around The Clock”, at the time the piano was the main instrument in the band, until Chuck Berry turned up with songs like “Johnny Be Good” with that famous Guitar Riff, which we still hear today.
I had the pleasure of seeing Chuck Berry playing live in Leicester, England; he was 64 years old then, but still Rocking, a great show.
England’s answer to Elvis Presley was Cliff Richards and the Shadows, (which were basically an electric guitar band) with “Living Doll”, unfortunately Cliff didn´t make it big in America, but he is still going strong in England at the ripe age of 80 and has just released his latest album.
In the early 60´s we saw the start of what was to be called “The Swinging 60´s” or sometimes “The Golden Age of Rock and Roll”, the biggest Band was The Beatles who when they played could not even hear themselves because of the screaming girls, and poor P.A. systems.
The Beatles were the first British artist´s to make it big in the U.S.A.; they were unique then as they wrote most of the song´s that they performed, and in fact they changed music, and the rules of the music we hear today.
They also wrote “I Wanna Be Your Man” which became the first hit record for the Rolling Stones, who also made it in the United States, and they still perform sellout concerts to this day, even at their age, so there’s hope for us all yet.
In the late 60´s-early 70´s we had the Glam Rock and the psychedelic era, and saw bands such as Jefferson Airplane, T Rex, Mud, and Wizard as well as Jimmy Hendrix and David Bowie, the style of guitar playing became more aggressive with a rise into Hard Rock and Heavy metal, we saw AC/DC, Aerosmith and Led Zeppelin.
It is my belief that Rock and Roll music will be with us in some form or another for a long time yet, and people will still be influenced by it, and will continue to buy records and learn to play guitar, whichever style of music they choose to play, it is all related anyway.
I hope that you can see now how Rock and Roll Guitar was a mixture of Blues, Country Guitar music, as well as Swing and Rhythm and blues.
I hope that you have found this article of interest, it has been written out of my love of this type of music, and in particular my love of good guitar playing.
Please feel free to comment on it, and to share it with others.
Keep on playing
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
OSCAR NOMINATIONS - List of 83rd Oscar Nominations
Below are the list of Oscar Nominations 2011 which announced this morning:
Best Picture:
Black Swan
The Fighter
Inception
The Kids Are All Right
The Kings Speech
127 Hours
The Social Network
Toy Story 3
True Grit
Winters Bone
Best Direction:
Darren Aronofsky for Black Swan
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen for True Grit
David Fincher for The Social Network
Tom Hooper for The Kings Speech
David O. Russell for The Fighter
Actor in a Leading Role:
Javier Bardem in Biutiful
Jeff Bridges in True Grit
Jesse Eisenberg in The Social Network
James Franco in 127 Hours
Colin Firth in The Kings Speech
Actress in a Leading Role:
Annette Bening in The Kids Are All Right
Nicole Kidman in Rabbit Hole
Jennifer Lawrence in Winters Bone
Natalie Portman in Black Swan
Michelle Williams in Blue Valentine
Actor in a Supporting Role:
Christian Bale in The Fighter
John Hawkes in Winters Bone
Jeremy Renner in The Town
Mark Ruffalo in The Kids Are All Right
Geoffrey Rush in The Kings Speech
Actress in a Supporting Role:
Amy Adams in The Fighter
Helena Bonham Carter in The Kings Speech
Melissa Leo in The Fighter
Hailee Steinfeld in True Grit
Jacki Weaver in Animal Kingdom
Adapted Screenplay:
Danny Boyle and Simon Beaufoy for 127 Hours
Aaron Sorkin for The Social Network
Michael Arndt, story by John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich for Toy Story 3
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen for True Grit
Debra Granik & Anne Rosellini for Winters Bone
Original Screenplay:
Mike Leigh for Another Year
Screenplay by Scott Silver and Paul Tamasy and Eric Johnson. Story by Keith Dorrington and Paul Tamasy and Eric Johnson for The Fighter
Christopher Nolan for Inception
Lisa Cholodenko and Stuart Blumberg for The Kids Are All Right
David Seidler for The Kings Speech
Animated Feature:
How to Train Your Dragon
The Illusionist
Toy Story 3
Art Direction:
Alice in Wonderland: Robert Stromberg (Production Design), Karen OHara (Set Decoration)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1: Stuart Craig (Production Design), Stephenie McMillan (Set Decoration)
Inception: Guy Hendrix Dyas (Production Design), Larry Dias and Doug Mowat (Set Decoration)
The Kings Speech: Eve Stewart (Production Design), Judy Farr (Set Decoration)
True Grit: Jess Gonchor (Production Design), Nancy Haigh (Set Decoration)
Cinematography:
Black Swan: Matthew Libatique
Inception: Wally Pfister
The Kings Speech: Danny Cohen
The Social Network: Jeff Cronenweth
True Grit: Roger Deakins
Costume Design:
Alice in Wonderland: Colleen Atwood
I Am Love: Antonella Cannarozzi
The Kings Speech: Jenny Beavan
The Tempest: Sandy Powell
True Grit: Mary Zophres
Documentary (Feature):
Exit through the Gift Shop
Gasland
Inside Job
Restrepo
Waste Land
Documentary (Short Subject):
Killing in the Name
Poster Girl
Strangers No More
Sun Come Up
The Warriors of Qiugang
Film Editing:
Black Swan: Andrew Weisblum
The Fighter: Pamela Martin
The Kings Speech: Tariq Anwar
127 Hours: Jon Harris
The Social Network: Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter
Foreign Language Film:
Biutiful: Mexico
Dogtooth: Greece
In a Better World: Denmark
Incendies: Canada
Outside the Law (Hors-la-loi): Algeria
Makeup:
Barneys Version: Adrien Morot
The Way Back: Edouard F. Henriques, Gregory Funk and Yolanda Toussieng
The Wolfman: Rick Baker and Dave Elsey
Music (Original Score):
How to Train Your Dragon: John Powell
Inception: Hans Zimmer
The Kings Speech: Alexandre Desplat
127 Hours: A.R. Rahman
The Social Network: Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
Music (Original Song):
Coming Home from Country Strong Music and Lyric by Tom Douglas, Troy Verges and Hillary Lindsey
I See the Light from Tangled Music by Alan Menken Lyric by Glenn Slater
If I Rise from 127 Hours Music by A.R. Rahman Lyric by Dido and Rollo Armstrong
We Belong Together from Toy Story 3 Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
Short Film (Animated):
Day & Night: Teddy Newton
The Gruffalo: Jakob Schuh and Max Lang
Lets Pollute: Geefwee Boedoe
The Lost Thing: Shaun Tan and Andrew Ruhemann
Madagascar, carnet de voyage (Madagascar, a Journey Diary): Bastien Dubois
Short Film (Live Action):
The Confession: Tanel Toom
The Crush: Michael Creagh
God of Love: Luke Matheny
Na Wewe: Ivan Goldschmidt
Wish 143: Ian Barnes and Samantha Waite
Sound Editing:
Inception: Richard King
Toy Story 3: Tom Myers and Michael Silvers
Tron: Legacy: Gwendolyn Yates Whittle and Addison Teague
True Grit: Skip Lievsay and Craig Berkey
Unstoppable: Mark P. Stoeckinger
Sound Mixing:
Inception: Lora Hirschberg, Gary A. Rizzo and Ed Novick
The Kings Speech: Paul Hamblin, Martin Jensen and John Midgley
Salt: Jeffrey J. Haboush, Greg P. Russell, Scott Millan and William Sarokin
The Social Network: Ren Klyce, David Parker, Michael Semanick and Mark Weingarten
True Grit: Skip Lievsay, Craig Berkey, Greg Orloff and Peter F. Kurland
Visual Effects:
Alice in Wonderland: Ken Ralston, David Schaub, Carey Villegas and Sean Phillips
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1: Tim Burke, John Richardson, Christian Manz and Nicolas Aithadi
Hereafter: Michael Owens, Bryan Grill, Stephan Trojanski and Joe Farrell
Inception: Paul Franklin, Chris Corbould, Andrew Lockley and Peter Bebb
Iron Man 2: Janek Sirrs, Ben Snow, Ged Wright and Daniel Sudick
Monday, January 24, 2011
Broadway's Best Original Soundtrack (Movie Verse)
Here are some LINK where you can download the OST from the movie verse of Broadways's Musicals. Enjoy...
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
Music of The Night: http://www.4shared.com/audio/RXVhZTEC/Phantom_Of_The_Opera_-_Music_o.htm
All I Ask of You: http://www.4shared.com/audio/ucxsNBr5/Phantom_of_the_Opera_-_All_I_A.htm
Think of Me: http://www.4shared.com/audio/-ZmSd1xq/Phantom_of_the_Opera_-_Think_o.htm
Phantom of The Opera: http://www.4shared.com/audio/D2zmtjru/Phantom_of_the_Opera_-_Phanton.htm
Angel of Music: http://www.4shared.com/audio/Qa-dxNU1/The_Phantom_of_the_Opera_-_200.htm
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
Music of The Night: http://www.4shared.com/audio/RXVhZTEC/Phantom_Of_The_Opera_-_Music_o.htm
All I Ask of You: http://www.4shared.com/audio/ucxsNBr5/Phantom_of_the_Opera_-_All_I_A.htm
Think of Me: http://www.4shared.com/audio/-ZmSd1xq/Phantom_of_the_Opera_-_Think_o.htm
Phantom of The Opera: http://www.4shared.com/audio/D2zmtjru/Phantom_of_the_Opera_-_Phanton.htm
Angel of Music: http://www.4shared.com/audio/Qa-dxNU1/The_Phantom_of_the_Opera_-_200.htm
Running Broadway Shows (my fave)
Composer: Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lyricist: Charles Hart
Librettist: Richard Stilgoe, Andrew Lloyd Webber
Broadway Premiere
Theatre: Majestic Theatre
Opening Night: Jan 26, 1988
Total Performances: Still Running
Original Cast: Sarah Brightman, Michael Crawford, Steve Barton, Patti Cohenour, Cris Groenendaal, Elisa Heinsohn, Judy Kaye, Leila Martin, David Romano, Nicholas Wyman, Jeff Keller, Peter Kevoian, Barry McNabb, Beth McVey, Richard Warren Pugh, Philip Steele, Kenneth H. Waller
Director: Harold Prince
Choreographer: Gillian Lynne
Producer: Cameron Mackintosh and The Really Useful Theatre Company Ltd.
Musical Director: David Caddick
Orchestrations: David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber
Scenic Design: Maria Björnson
Costume Design: Maria Björnson
Lighting Design: Andrew Bridge
Synopsis:
The Phantom of the Opera wants Christine to be the star of the opera. He gives her lessons, writes an opera for her, and threatens those in charge; but Christine is in love with another man and the theatre managers do not take nicely to his threats. They agree to go along with his opera, hoping to catch him, but everything goes wrong, and the Phantom leaves Christine a choice - stay with him or the love of her life dies.
Composer: Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lyricist: T.S. Elliot, Trevor Nunn, and Richard Stilgoe
Broadway Premiere
Theatre: Winter Garden Theatre
Opening Night: Oct 7, 1982
Total Performances: 7485
Original Cast: Kenneth Ard, Betty Buckley, René Ceballos, René Clemente, Wendy Edmead, Steven Gelfer, Harry Groener, Stephen Hanan, Robert Hoshour, Janet L. Hubert, Reed Jones, Whitney Kershaw, Donna King, Christine Langner, Terrence V. Mann, Anna McNeely, Héctor Jaime Mercado, Cynthia Onrubia, Ken Page, Timothy Scott, Herman W. Sebek, Bonnie Simmons, Walter Charles, Susan Powers, Carol Richards, Joel Robertson
Director: Trevor Nunn
Choreographer: Gillian Lynne
Musical Director: Rene Wiegert and Sue Anderson
Orchestrations: David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber
Scenic and Costume Design: John Napier
Lighting Design: David Hersey
Synopsis:
The Jellicle cats are celebrating at the Jellicle Ball, awaiting Old Deuteronomy's choice of which cat will be reborn into a new life. One by one, the cats step forward to introduce themselves, auditioning for the chance to take the journey to the Heaviside layer.
Based on T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book Of Practical Cats.
Composer: Charles Strouse
Lyricist: Martin Charnin
Librettist: Thomas Meehan
Broadway Premiere
Theatre: Alvin Theatre, ANTA Playhouse, Eugene O'Neill Theatre, Uris Theatre
Opening Night: Apr 21, 1977
Total Performances: 2,377
Original Cast: Andrea McArdle, Dorothy Loudon, Reid Shelton, Sandy Faison, Robert Fitch, Barbara Erwin
Director: Martin Charnin
Choreographer: Peter Gennaro
Musical Director: Peter Howard
Orchestrations: Philip J. Lang
Scenic Design: David Mitchell
Costume Design: Theoni V. Aldredge
Lighting Design: Judy Rasmuson
Hair Design: Ted Azar
Synopsi:
An orphan, Annie, and her dog Sandy are placed in the lap of luxury for a week as a part of a publicity campaign for Oliver Warbucks. However, Annie's stay turns out to be much more than anyone had bargained for as she works her way into everyone's hearts and learns a few things for herself.
Composer: Richard Rodgers
Lyricist and Librettist: Oscar Hammerstein II
Broadway Premiere
Theatre: St. James Theatre
Opening Night: Mar 29, 1951
Total Performances: 1246
Original Cast: Gertrude Lawrence, Yul Brynner, Dorothy Sarnoff, Doretta Morrow, Larry Douglas, Jonny Stewart, Sandy Kennedy, Lee Becker Theodore, Gemze de Lappe, Yuriko, and Baayork Lee
Director: John Van Druten
Choreographer: Jerome Robbins
Producer: Rodgers & Hammerstein
Musical Director: Frederick Dvonch
Orchestrations: Robert Russell Bennett
Scenic and Lighting Design: Jo Mielziner
Costume Design: Irene Sharaff
Synopsis
Anna Leonowens arrives in Siam to serve as a tutor to the King's many children. Both stuck in their seperate cultural ways, the two eventually learn to understand, respect and love each other.
Composer: Elton John
Lyricist: Tim Rice
Librettist: Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi
Broadway Premiere
Theatre: New Amsterdam Theatre, Minskoff Theatre
Opening Night: Nov 13, 1997
Total Performances: Still Playing
Original Cast: Gina Breedlove, Kevin Cahoon, Max Casella, Tracy Nicole Chapman, Heather Headley, Geoff Hoyle, Scott Irby-Ranniar, Tsidii Le Loka, Stanley Wayne Mathis, Jason Raize, Tom Alan Robbins, Kajuana Shuford, John Vickery, Samuel E. Wright
Director: Julie Taymor
Choreographer: Garth Fagan
Producer: Disney Theatrical Productions
Musical Director: Joseph Church
Orchestrations: Robert Elhai, David Metzger, Bruce Fowler
Scenic Design: Richard Hudson
Costume Design: Julie Taymor
Lighting Design: Donald Holder
Synopsis
Scar, in an attempt to claim the crown, kills the current king and attempts to have Pride Rock's heir, Simba, killed. But Simba survives and lives a life of no worries with Timon and Pumbaa in the jungle, until his intended, Nala, finds him and persuades him to return to claim his rightful crown from his tyrannical uncle.
Composer, Lyricist and Librettist: Jonathan Larson
Broadway Premiere
Theatre: Nederlander Theatre
Opening Night: Apr 29, 1996
Total Performances: 5123
Original Cast: Taye Diggs, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Jesse L. Martin, Idina Menzel, Adam Pascal, Anthony Rapp, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Fredi Walker
Director: Micael Greif
Choreographer: Marlies Yearby
Producer: Jeffrey Seller, Kevin McCollum, Allan S. Gordon and New York Theatre Workshop
Orchestrations: Steve Skinner
Scenic Design: Paul Clay
Costume Design: Angel Wendt
Lighting Design: Blake Burba
Sound Design: Kurt Fischer
Synopsis
Mark, a filmmaker, and Rodger, a musician, are struggling to make rent when Mimi stumbles into their apartment and into to Rodger's arms. Meanwhile, Mark's ex-girlfriend, Maureen, who is now dating Joanne, is planning a major protest, and their friend Collins has struck gold in his discovery of Angel, a street performer, with whom he quickly falls in love. But their battles with AIDS, rent, vocation and love in turn tear the friends apart and back together again as they try to find the meaning of life.
Based on Puccini's La Boheme.
Composer: Henry Krieger
Lyricist and Librettist: Tom Eyen
Broadway Premiere
Theatre: Imperial Theatre
Opening Night: Dec 20, 1981
Total Performances: 1521
Original Cast: Jennifer Holliday, Obba Babatunde, Cleavant Derricks, Loretta Devine, Ben Harney, Sheryl Lee Ralph
Director and Choreographer: Michael Bennett
Musical Director: Yolanda Segovia
Orchestrations: Harold Wheeler
Scenic Design: Robin Wagner
Costume Design: Theoni V. Aldredge
Lighting Design: Tharon Musser
Synopsis
A young female singing trio from Chicago get their big break at an amateur competition and begin singing backup vocals for James "Thunder" Early. However, things begin to spin out of control when their agent, Curtis Taylor, Jr., makes Deena and not Effie, the star of what will become known as "The Dreams."
The Sound Of Music
Composer: Richard Rodgers
Lyricist: Oscar Hammerstein II
Librettist: Howard Lindsay and Russell Crouse
Broadway Premiere
Theatre: Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, Mark Hellinger Theatre
Opening Night: Nov 16, 1959
Total Performances: 1443
Original Cast: Mary Martin, Theodore Bikel, Patricia Neway, Kurt Kaszner, Marion Marlowe, Lauri Peters, Brain Davies, John Randolph, Nan McFarland, Joey Heatherton
Director: Vincent J. Donehue
Choreographer: Joe Layton
Producer: Leland Hayward, Richard Halliday, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II
Musical Director: Frederick Dvonch
Orchestrations: Robert Russell Bennett
Scenic Design: Oliver Smith
Costume Design: Lucinda Ballard
Lighting Design: Jean Rosenthal
Synopsis
Maria, a nun who is causing the Abbey trouble is sent off to be governess to Captain Von Trapp's seven troublesome children. Maria teaches them to sing and Captain Von Trapp to love, but when the Nazis invade Austria, the whole family is forced to flee to safety.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)