“Buddy was the first person to have faith in my music. He encouraged me in my music and my writing. He was my friend. If anything I’ve ever done is remembered, part of it is because of Buddy Holly.”
– Waylon Jennings
I memorized Don Mclean’s American Pie in grade school, before I fully understood its relevance or who it spoke to. The haunting lyrics fascinated me and left a trail of inexplicable shivers down my arms. How could music die? I couldn’t comprehend the wistful look on the adult’s faces when they talked about that day. It’s hard for children to grasp that look or the deep place where it originates. I vaguely knew of those three but not really, so I just nodded my head along. I didn’t know about Waylon Jennings or that a spot on
the plane was lost in a single coin toss. I didn’t know about the relationship between Holly and Jennings, or how Jennings lived to regret his final words to his buddy. The two music pioneers met at a radio station in Lubbock, Texas in the late fifties. The Crickets needed a temporary bass player for their Winter Dance Party in ’59 and Waylon was happy to fill the role. That winter was harsh, traveling conditions were icy and hazardous. Holly decided to charter a private plane to get them out of Dodge and into Fargo. Seating, however, was limited; not all the band members made it on board. Jennings had secured a spot, but let it go to the Big Bopper, who had come down with the flu. Realizing he was stuck slumming it on the bus, he jokingly called out to his band mates: “I hope your plane crashes!” Waylon’s words were innocent. Nonetheless, they were his final to Holly and that weighed on him over the course of his life. Jennings opened up about the loss of such a monumental figure here: http://www.historybyzim.com/2012/06/buddy-holly-waylon-jennings/. Below is a rare track from ’58, a number Holly and Waylon penned together and recorded in Lubbock.
Rachel M. Harper’s The Myth of Music intentionally weaves together 1960s era jazz music and a poor African American family via metaphor and allusion to show a deep familiar bond between father and daughter.
Leigh, Spence. Oh boy: Why Buddy Holly still matters today . 23 January 2009. 3 April 2014 .
American Pie is a song that is a very slow and deliberate song with a lot of thought put into it. This is a song that has over 850 lyrics that play for 8:30, the longest song ever to be listed as the Number one song on top hits charts. All these lyrics don’t just have the meaning of the individual words themselves, they paint a picture for the audience listening about what life was like and the events that transpired in the 1950-70’s, along with how Don McLean interpreted them. The lyrics of this song appeal to the youth of that timeframe in rhetorical ways of Pathos, Ethos, Doxa. Pathos is shown to try and emotionally connect with the audience; Ethos is used to show he knows what he is talking about by relating his real life stories and knowledge back into the essay, and lastly, Doxa is used very often in this in the aspect that Don was a huge Buddy Holly fan and he felt a deep connection to him.
Though Jelly Roll Morton began his career without formal training, he grew to live an influential life. His piano style, musical notations on paper, and creative compositions thrived in the 1910s and the 1920s and even weaved its way into the later eras as musicians used Morton’s music as the foundation for their own. Even past his death, Jelly Roll Morton remains a legendary figure. His works are meticulously preserved and displayed in the prestigious Smithsonian Museum and universities around the world continue his legacy by teaching students about Jelly Roll Morton and his influential career.
Music can be traced back into human history to prehistoric eras. To this day archeologists uncover fragments of ancient instruments as well as tablets with carved lyrics buried alongside prominent leaders and highly influential people. This serves as a testament to the importance and power of music, as well as its influence in society. Over its many years of existence, music’s powerful invocation of feelings has allowed it to evolve and serve many purposes, one being inspiring change. American journalist and author Hunter S. Thompson once said, “Music has always been a matter of energy to me, a question of fuel. Sentimental people call it inspiration, but what they really mean is fuel.” This fuel is the very things that powers the influence of Rock ‘n’ Roll on American society, that author Glenn C. Altschuler writes about in his book, “All Shook Up – How Rock ‘n’ Roll Changed America.” Between 1945 and 1965 Rock ‘n’ Roll transformed American society and culture by helping to ease racial integration and launch a sexual revolution while most importantly developing an intergenerational identity.
For many Americans, country isn’t just a type of music. It’s a lifestyle. From sippin’ sweet tea on the porch, drinking beer at a tailgate or driving a pick up down the backroads, country music has made its way into the hearts and minds of many Americans. It is one of the only truly home grown American art forms. Its relatability and wide appeal has made country music one of the most commercially successful and popular genres in the United States. Using the work of scholars Tichi, Pecknold, and Ellison, I will show how country music grew from its rural southern roots into an integral part of American culture.
Neil Young, who grew up in Ontario, Canada, was drawn into music at a very early age, and throughout his teens he played in several bands and was a mainstay at local folk clubs (Macnie, 2001). He started to build a respectable enough reputation, but didn’t hit upon any commercial recognition until he joined Buffalo Springfield, a band that also featured Stephen Stills, who would become a well-known singer-songwriter in his own right. While perhaps not attaining the success they deserved in term...
Understanding the struggle that music brought Americans through is something that all Americans should appreciate how an artist works hard in applying different styles. From wars, to hate to loving music is worldwide and it creates a relationship between all people. How can we go into the future and continue to create wonderful music? We learn from the past that remarkable artist who has gone on and left their footprints for others to follow. Music lovers all around the world and another artist will follow their example to create wonderful songs with meaning just as Motown has done for years and years to
“Buddy Holly Biography.” Rockhall. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, 2013. Web. 8 Nov. 2013.
Our nation is teeming with thousands of various music genres, each with their own unique flare. America also contains an ethnically diverse mixture of artists and composers that have all contributed to the history and patriotic culture of this country throughout time. Dwight Henry mentioned that “Music knits people together in some strange way,” and from the very beginning this has proved to be completely true, especially in the eyes of Scott Joplin.
Every person has an American Dream they want to pursue, achieve and live. Many people write down goals for themselves in order to get to their dream. Those never ending goals can range from academic to personal. As of today, I am living my dream. My American Dream is to become a nurse, travel to many places, have a family, and get more involved with God.
Out for a brisk walk this morning I noticed a little more twinkle in Hollywood than normal. Thanksgiving is around the corner and with all the fall festivities almost upon us, it appears the Christmas lights are going up around town. Don’t get me wrong, I love the bright lights, decorated trees and even the joyful tunes. I guess I was just wishing that I’d have a slice of turkey, a piece of pumpkin pie and way too much stuffing before the focus of Christmas. Thankfully, a few fun turkey day shows are planned for next week. I took a peek and saw “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” and “SNL: Thanksgiving” are slated before the big day.
October 20, 2007, the day that I’m going to say goodbye to my hometown. I was born and raised in Philippines by my grandparents for sixteen years. It is heart-breaking to think that I will not see them anymore like how I used to. I was 16 years old, and it will be my first time to travel with my big brother in the airplane. Our trip from Philippines to Virginia is approximately about 18-20 hours. It is not a direct flight, so we have to change plane three times, and it is a long trip for us. I was crying the whole time when we were in the airplane. As soon as we reach our last destination which is the Washington D.C., we have no way of communicating with my mom and auntie because we have no cellphones. I was hesitant to
I listen to all kinds of music except rock. i can’t stand that music; that’s for crazy people. the most i listen to would be spanish and country. there is nothing like that music better then anything else. that music just makes me feel better. when i’m sad i listen to country and makes me feel better and when i’m happy i listen to spanish.My favorite genre in music is country music, because the singers express their feelings. country music is different because the entire singer’s relate to their child hood. they also relate to their family members. they also relate to iraq and how family members react when they’ve been told that their love ones aren’t coming back home. they express their love life’s and make you think about “falling in love”
The funny thing about my parents is that they always try to paint our family as happy and peachy perfect. Well, they're wrong. We are nowhere near the picture-perfect family that they portray us to be, but if they want to continue playing house than they can go right ahead living like animated plastic dolls. They can continue their paper house facade as long as they like. Who am I to stop them since they probably wouldn't even listen to me and their other two daughters anyway?