It was at Liverpool Art College, in 1956, a friend played him Elvis' Heartbreak Hotel, and John's musical interest was piqued. Then he heard Lonnie Donegan's Rock Island Line on Radio Luxembourg, and became part of the new Skiffle craze by begging his Aunt Mimi until she broke down and bought him a guitar, although she forever told him he would never get anywhere with it. He had already learned to play the harmonica during his childhood, and he taught himself the guitar by applying banjo chords that his mother had taught him.
In 1955 he started his own band, the Quarrymen, with his long time pal and fellow troublemaker Pete Shotton, singing all the popular songs, sometimes making up the words when he couldn't get them all off the radio. Also in the Quarrymen were Nigel Walley and Ivan Vaughan, the rest of John's gang. It was Ivan Vaughan who introduced John to his friend, Paul McCartney, in 1957.
The fifties
Most of the songs of the Early Fifties were "feel-good" tunes, which genuinely reflected the mood of post World War II America. Artists like Pat Boone, Rosemary Clooney and Perry Como dominated pop charts. This bored the newly independent life form known as teenagers. Mom and Dad's music wasn't, you know, "cool, Daddy-O."
About this time, a Cleveland DJ named Alan Freed (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, 1986) began playing black R&B tunes. Freed moved his show to New York in 1954 and began including live performances, especially of the artists with the vocal harmonies he favoured. His called this sound Rock and Roll.
Although gaining in popularity, these black artists originally did not sell as well as their white contemporaries, who had re-recorded the same songs as what is known as a "cover version." If you have ever heard Pat Boone's "cover" of Tutti Frutti you will understand why, thankfully, this practice of having whites "cover" black artists wasn't long-lived.
In the South, where Country and Western had ruled the charts, Sam Phillips (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee1986) opened the Memphis Recording Service - the first place a black musician could go to record.
In Chicago, two brothers, Phil and Leonard Chess (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, 1987) took the best of the black blues men performing in their nightclub and began recording them on their Chess label. Chess Records, a storefront on Cottage Avenue in the "Little Mississippi" area of Chicago, was already home to the great Muddy Waters.
Still, what both Phillps and the Chess brothers needed was a crossover artist - someone who had the energy of Rhythm and Blues and the marketability of say, Pat Boone; they needed someone who could sell records. Phillips found just such an artist - a 19-year-old truck driver by the name of Elvis Presley.
The Chess Brothers, well, they found Chuck Berry. In 1952 a band out of Chester, Pennsylvania began to enjoy some modest success with a sound that was part Country and part R&B. They recorded one song in 1954 that brought only modest success. Then the song was used as the theme for a movie, The Blackboard Jungle, and that got them a lot of attention. The song was Rock Around the Clock and the band was Bill Haley and the Comets. (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, 1987)
These diverse factors influenced the music of the Early Fifties. The bubblegum sweetness would eventually fade away, like the blush of America's post war optimism. Whereas Rock and Roll, with its irrepressible energy - well, Rock and Roll was here to stay.
Classical music
In the most general meaning of the word, classical music may designate fine music or serious music. More technically the word may refer to a period in the history of music, the later 18th century, the age of Franz Joseph Haydn, (1732-1809) Wolfgang Amadeus , (1756-1809) and Ludwig van , (1770-1827.) The classical may be differentiated from the so-called romantic, the relatively experimental and less formally restricted kinds of music that became current in the 19th century.
Popular music
Often called pop music, pop gives the impression that the world is a happy place and nothing goes wrong. There is hardly any swearing and the group of people called ‘trendys’ are into this style of music. The worst that happens is break-ups with girlfriends and boyfriends. The typical types of groups are all girls, boy bands, mixed and solo artists. Younger children and teenagers are often more interested in these groups, as their parents will not let them listen to the hardcore styles. Some typical examples are A1, Allstars, Five, Backstreet boys, Madonna, Britney Spears and Tom Jones. The Beatles started pop music as the world knows it, but Elvis Presley was the original American instigator.
Jazz music
This is an American originated style from the Deep South. There are often blues instruments playing e.g. saxophone, piano, clarinet and the drums. The notes are quick and “happy-go,” there is usually a foot tapping rhythm beat out by the sax. Examples of jazz players are, Louis Armstrong, Sammy Davis Junior, Chris Barber, Ronnie Scott and Johnny Dankworth.
My experience
Singing
I started to enjoy singing and music as soon as I was born. Everyone always commented on my voice saying how lovely it was so I started individual singing lessons. This was when I was nine years old although I began to sing at a much younger age. I enjoyed school choirs and at nearly every concert I sang a solo. I began to have singing lessons with Mrs Gilpin-Jones at the Manor Preparatory School. She enabled me to pass my grade three singing examination, Associated Board, with Distinction (the top mark available,) this was a great achievement at ten years old. I then moved to Shropshire and joined Shrewsbury High School; I began to have singing lessons there. The lessons were only for one term with Mrs Chadwick, as my parents didn’t like me missing mainstream education. After that I immediately transferred to Mrs Cox, she taught outside school on Saturday mornings. I enjoyed lessons with her and I also had music theory instruction in the hour I was with her, (see below). I passed my grade five singing at thirteen years of age and I attained a top mark Merit, nearly a distinction! I am now working for my grade six singing qualification but I have to succeed in grade five music theory before that time. I have won the Eisteddfod, (1Oth March), competition all the times I have entered it, which is very hard, as you have to learn all the songs off by heart.
Theory
I have had theory lessons since I was seven and I find them most interesting. Theory is the basis and structure behind music. Everyone says how hard they find theory but I find it quite easy. I am working for my grade four theory which I will take in March 2002.
Table to show the rating out of ten that I give several instruments I have had experience with
ABRSM
In order to do any Associated Board music exam you must pass your grade five theory. The associated board of the royal schools of music is the most well known group of examiners. All the examinations I have participated in have been with them. Here is a list of some of the exams you can take part in; all of them are from grades 1-8.
Theory,
Flute,
Bassoon,
Piccolo,
Baritone Horn,
Saxophone,
Tenor Saxophone,
Alto Saxophone,
Drums,
Percussion,
Guitar,
Practical Musicianship,
Singing.
Violin,
Cello,
Piano,
Viola,
Double Bass,
Tuba,
Trumpet,
Trombone,
Tenor Horn,
Harp,
Clarinet,
Chinese music
Ancient Chinese music can be traced back at least 4000 years. Much of it was played using a pentatonic or 5 note scale. It was often played on plucked stringed instruments like thech'in, part of the zither family.
Egyptian music
In Ancient Egypt, music played a part in almost every aspect of life. Musicians, many whom were women, were second in status only to royalty. The harp, lute, and lyre were popular instruments in Egypt.
Hebrew music
The Hebrew people associated music with religion. There are many references in the Old Testament to music, dancing, and musical instruments. The only ancient Hebrew instrument still used today in synagogues is the shofar, or ram’s horn.
Greek music
Our word "music" comes from the Greek word MOUSIKE. The most popular instruments of Greece were the kithara (Greek for lyre) and the aulos. Music was played at festivals and plays, and music contests took place at the Olympic games.
Roman music
Roman music is based on the music of Greece. Given the war-like history of the Roman civilization, music was mostly for military and entertainment purposes. As well as using drums, the Romans made the first brass trumpets and horns.
Song lyrics
One of my favourite songs is Celine Dion’s my heart will go on. It is the theme tune to the titanic. I’m not usually into her music but I do like this song. Here are the lyrics…
Every night in my dreams I see you,
I feel you,
That is how I know you go on,
Far across the distance,
And spaces between us,
You have come to show you go on.
Near, far, wherever you are,
I believe that the heart does go on,
Once more you open the door,
And you're here in my heart,
And my heart will go on and on.
Love can touch us one time,
And last for a lifetime,
And never let go till we're one,
Love was when I loved you,
One true time I hold to,
In my life we'll always go on,
Near, far, wherever you are,
I believe that the heart does go on,
Once more you open the door,
And you're here in my heart,
And my heart will go on and on.
You're here, there's nothing I fear,
And I know that my heart will go on,
We'll stay forever this way,
You are safe in my heart,
And my heart will go on and on.
