Elton John and Jerry Lee Lewis
Elton John’s early life definitely influenced his musical life that he later excelled in. He was born in Pinner, Middlesex, England on March 25, 1947. His original name was Reginald
Kenneth Dwight. When he was younger, around four years old he found an interest in music and taught himself how to play piano. As he continued to grow up to be a youth he started earning academic scholarships at the Royal Academy of Music in London. The difficulty that Elton had with his father, Stanley Dwight also had an influence in his musical interests. His parents divorced when he was a youth. Yet, Elton’s father still argued with him about his future and his plans. Elton loved the sounds of rock and roll music although his dream
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Both in life and music.
In contrast, there musical lives were very similar other than the fact that Jerry Lee Lewis was involved in a scandal that had a great impact on his career. Elton John was not involved in a scandal that ruined his musical career for a short time. Also, Elton John had music style range
Weber 5 from being a pianist to rock and roll, to pop, to musical music. Jerry’s music ranged from being a pianist, to pop, rock and roll, and R&B. They both had different music ranges.
In comparison, Elton and Jerry both had struggles in their lives. Elton did not get along with his dad nor did he have support from him like Jerry did. Jerry’s dad got him his very own piano so he could practice and play on. I think this affected his pianist techniques and even
Elton’s. Elton John shared with the The Guardian and said “...I heard someone beat the shit out of a piano. When I saw Little Richard at the Harrow Granada, he played it standing up, but Jerry
Lee Lewis actually jumped on the piano! This was astonishing to me, that people could do that.
Those records had such a huge effect on me, and they were just so great. I learned to play
Throughout his life, the only relationship he was able to maintain was with his sister. On the other hand, his relationship with his parents was very strained; At one point he declared that his "entire childhood seem like a fiction"(123) due to his dad’s infidelity.
chopping wood - introduced him to early rock & roll and rhythm & blues music.
Kurt was in love with music since the age of two. He was brought up in a
room and play then, he took piano lessons when he was seven. By the age of
Anderson had a very strong musical education. At age eleven he began piano lessons and music studies at the New England Conservatory of Music in Cambridge. At his high school graduation from the Cambridge High and Latin School, Anderson composed, orchestrated, and conducted his class song. In 1925 he entered Harvard College. While at Harvard he studied musical harmony with Walter Spalding, counterpoint with Edward Ballantine, canon and fugue with William C. Heilman, and orchestration with Edward B. Hill and Walter Piston. Between 1926 and 1929 he played trombone for the Harvard University Band. He eventually became the director of the Harvard University Band for four years. In 1929 Anderson received a B.A. magna cum laude in Music from Harvard. The magna cum laude is the next-to-highest of three special honors for grades above the average. He was also elected into Phi Beta Kappa. Anderson continued into graduate school at Harvard. In 1930, he earned an M.A. with a major in music. He began studying composition with Walter Piston and Georges Enesco; organ with Henry Gideon and double bass with Gaston Dufresne of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. As well as his studies in music, he continued for his PhD in German and Scandinavian languages. He ultimately mastered Danish, Norwegian, Icel...
himself 90% of the day until he was and adult. He had to work twice as hard as most
many love stories, shaped his legacy. His influences on other artists, such as, African-American singers, Chuck Berry and Little Richard were enormous throughout their careers.
Art Blakey was born to a poor family in the heart of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1919. He was working in the steel and coal mills when he was only fourteen. There were no child labor laws in those times. He had to work to help support his family and put food on the table. Blakey turned to music as a way of escaping the exhausting day-to-day labor of the mills. Blakey taught himself how to play the piano. Even though he couldn't read music, and could only play songs in three keys, Blakey was a crowd favorite a several local venues. He used to make fifteen-twenty dollars a night in tips every night he went. At fifteen Blakey was leading his own band. They were small and unknown, but played at clubs all around the city.
Edward Kennedy was his real name; he was born on April 29, 1899 in Washington, D.C. Duke’s parents Daisy Kennedy Ellington and James Edward Ellington served as ideal role models for Duke and taught him everything from table manners to an understanding of the emotional power of music.
Edward Kennedy Ellington was born on April 29, 1899 to his middle-class parents James Edward Ellington and Daisy Kennedy Ellington, who were both pianist. At the age of 7 his parents put him in piano lessons and enforced the necessity for sophistication and etiquette, which is actually where his nickname Duke came from because his style of dress and his mannerisms reminded his friends of that of a nobleman. He attended At age 15 although he was a talented pianist, he was rough around the edges and could not read or write music, but that did not stop him from composing his first piece “Soda Fountain Rag”, which he created by ear while working as a soda jerk. Upon viewing various ragtime artists while vacationing with his mother Duke felt encouraged to better his piano skills and through the help of Dunbar High School’s Henry Lee Grant and local big band leader Oliver “Doc” Perry, Duke learned to read and write music, become far more polished in his playing techniques, and overall raise his playing ability. While by professional at this point he was a sign painter, he played party gigs and dances ...
the world. Gershwin , at the young age of fifteen, quit school and became a song plugger.
John Lennon was very outspoken and contributed greatly to his mission of peace. “He became an increasingly important symbol of the burgeoning counterculture” (DeCurtis). John went against the normal acts and beliefs of society and spoke out. He always expressed his true views and nothing else. This is because he believed in questioning authority and not conforming for anything.“[He] helped redefine the rules of acceptable behavior for rock stars” (DeCurtis). This once again shows his desire to stand out and speak out. He reformed many ideas and practices that needed reform and some that did not. But no matter what he was doing, it was always supporting the fight for peace. Even when it did not involve politics or the stand for peace, he acted differently from what was expected of him by the majority of the population. “How the chords can change the world. To me, that is John Lennon” (Ono 117). John thought that change was necessary, and he intended to do everything he could to insure that it happened. “A man who stood up!” (Ono 117). John expressed and conveyed his beliefs, no matter the consequences. His immense support of the fight for peace helped more and more people see a different side of the world.
As many already know, John Lennon was part of the ever-so popular group, the Beatles. During the time he spent with the group, his “voice” and stance on the world was practically obsolete, as it was overpowered by Paul McCartney’s drippy and love-like lyrics His “stand” in political life wouldn't come until late in the his career as a beatle. The most well known are the bed ins and billboards. John and Yoko were married March 20th, 1969 and instead of having a regular honeymoon, they decided to utilize their time in the eyes of the public.
Ser Elton John has been one of the most iconic and successful British pop stars since the 1970’s. His music is based from his own life experiences as well as those of his country and of his time. Elton John is known for his passion and vivacity for his career, his fortitude to fight AIDS, his homosexuality and his importance to the evolution of the British and the American pop/rock genre.