Lenny Kravitz
For my paper I chose rock musician Lenny Kravitz. I will discuss in detail his rise to critical acclaim as well as show the individual influences towards his works. He is definitely one of my favorite musicians who's work I fondly enjoy.
The only a child of a white TV news producer Sy Kravitz and the late African American actress Roxie Roker (known for her role as Hellen Willis on the TV sitcom The Jeffersons, Kravitz was born May 26, 1964, in Brooklyn New York. It was only upon reaching elementary school did he come to realize that his mother and father were of different races, but in any case the matter was never much of an issue for him. As an infant, Lenny displayed a strong predilection for music, and he often surrounded himself with pots and pans which served as his makeshift drums. His parents encouraged these proclivities. By age ten, Lenny had already been escorted to performances by Duke Ellington, Sarah Vaughan, James Brown, and the Jackson 5.
By 1974, the Kravitz family relocated to Los Angeles, a move necessitated by Roxie Roker's work on The Jeffersons. At his mother's urging, Lenny auditioned for and won a spot on the prestigious California Boys Choir. By 1978, after teaching himself to play a variety of instruments, he was accepted into the music program at Beverly Hills High School. It was there he stumbled upon the work of rhythm and blues artist Prince, and soon after lost interest in all things academic. Christening himself "Romeo Blue" he adopted a flamboyant persona and began to spend lengthy quantities of time away from home. Though he managed to graduate high school in 1982, it was clear by then that music would forever be the primary focus of Kravitz's life. Opting not t...
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... is unquestionably gifted. He can recreate the sound and feeling of countless groups from the past; his music recalls everyone from John Lennon, Jimmie Hendrix, and David Bowie to the Velvet Underground, Curtis Mayfield, and Prince. What Kravitz can't or rather chooses not to do is synthesize these influences into a distinctive style—a multitude of songs on each of his albums sounds like it was recorded by a different artist, However that's what's magical about him. He eschews any kind of categorization of his music. His works can encompass the varied styles of rhythm and blues, gospel, funk, soul, and handwork. In short Lenny Kravitz is a true soul rocker.
Bibliography:
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Okun, Milton.Best of Lenny Kravitz.New York: Cherry LaneMusic Company, 1994
Best of Lenny Kravitz for Guitar. New York:Cherry LaneMusic Company, 1999
There are certain musicians that come along that shift a culture, attitude, or future musicians. Another musician that went on influence future generations and considered one of the greatest guitar players in the world is Eddie Van Halen.
This work is directly inspired by Der Blaue Reiter Almanach. Primarily a work of prose, it consisted of plays, essays by leading artists and musicians detailing works of the era, and commentary on art, music, theater, and related subjects. The Brooklyn Rider Almanac is conceptually a modern recreation of this idea in music, in that musicians are providing a commentary of artists or their work through their music. In a way, The Brooklyn Rider Almanac approaches the idea of cross-disciplinary art from an opposite prospective as the Onomatopoetic Project. Many of the works presented during the concert as a part of The Brooklyn Rider Almanac were inspired by looking an artistic muse or idea as an inspiration to create music that reflects the muse. Artists from classically trained composers to jazz and rock musicians contributed to this collection of works, and the results are both fascinating and inspiring. One great example of this is Necessary…Henry by Albanian Cellist Rubin Kodheli. Inspired by the jazz musician Henry Threadgill, this work incorporates the styles of rock musicians like Jimi Hendrix into and what could be perceived as the farthest possible medium from rock: the string quartet. Like Threadgill’s earlier use of non-jazz instrumentation and ideas in jazz works, Kodheli uses sounds from the rock genre like virtuosic guitar-like riffs, rock groves, and highly
In the book The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz by Mordecai Richler, Duddy Kravitz is the apprentice to life in order to find out the truth about himself. Different characters come in and out of Duddy's life and act as masters towards him. These people all have specific lessons to teach him, and it's up to him to either act upon what he's learned or ignore it. Duddy Kravitz is a young man whom we can say is being an apprentice to life. What he needs to do is to discover the truth about himself and how to apply it to his life. His quest through his apprenticeship is to find his true identity and to succeed in the goals that he sets for himself. By being an apprentice to life, Duddy is learning about how to be different types of people by imitating their personalities. When he comes out of apprenticeship and becomes a man, Duddy has to decide on one type of person to be for the rest of his life. Duddy's Uncle Benjy tried to explain this and make it clear to Duddy in his letter by saying, "A boy can be two, three, four potential people, but a man is only one. He murders the others." (p.279) I think that this was the best advice he ever got, but he didn't need it; in the end he allows himself to become the con-artist, the sly scammer person without even realizing that he had a decision in the matter.
Before even attempting to understand any of this, however, some background information on Sinatra and his family would be helpful. Sinatra came from a family of orthodox Italian heritage. His mother and father were the first of his family to move from Sicily to America and settle down in the “land of the free';. After arriving in the United States, they ended up making their home in Hoboken, New Jersey, a very poor area where people resided with those of their own ethnic background. Their history was very important to the Sinatra family, and good moral values, as well as the importance of a good education, were instilled in all their children. Frank’s parents could barely read or write; that’s why good schooling was a priority to them. Sinatra’s parents looked down on the entertainment business, and with little success, did everything to lure Frank away from his attraction to the glitz and glamour of show business (Sinatra 15).
We haven't witnessed worldwide tours or humongous concerts with his name plastered on it since it is pretty much evident that he doesn’t need the noise to be heard. With a few gigs and appearances every now and then, Lenny Kravitz is one of the few musicians who invested in enriching his craft that booming his fame. Truly one of the best things that happened to the pop-rock genre, Lenny Kravitz is on the move again with pleasing his loyal fan base with a live concert converted into a film entitled Just Let Go.
While Jim Crow laws were reeking havoc on the lives of African Americans in the South, a massed exodus of Southern musicians, particularly from New Orleans, spread the seeds of Jazz as far north as New York City. A new genre of music produced fissures in the walls of racial discrimination thought to be impenetrable. Musicians such as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, "King" Oliver and Fletcher Henderson performed to the first desegregated audiences. Duke Ellington starred in the first primetime radio program to feature an African American artist. And a quirky little girl from Missouri conquered an entire country enthralled by her dark skin, curvaceous body and dynamic personality. Josephine Baker was more than a Jazz musician. She embodied the freedom and expressiveness of that which is known as Jazz.
Elton John was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on March 25, 1947 in Middlesex, England (Elton John). He began playing piano when he was four years old and his musical talent blossomed throughout his early childhood. He received a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music when he was only eleven (All Music). After leaving school to start a professional career in music, he performed in a hotel bar before becoming a member of a band known as The Corvettes. Shortly thereafter, the band was reformed as Bluesology and he played keyboard for the group as they traveled and performed throughout the United Kingdom. He created his stage name by combining the names of the band’s saxophonist, Elton Dean, and their lead singer, Long John Baldry—he legally changed his name in 1967 (Elton John).
going to write about. I started out by looking up all the composers, and choosing
Danker, Fred. “The Musical Impact of Johnny Cash Lives On.” Examiner. Np. Web. 13 March 2014
Born February 9, 1942 in Brooklyn, New York as Carole Klein, she was playing the piano by the age of four. While still in high school she was in her first band, the Co-Sines. Carole was a huge fan of Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller (the duo who penned hits for Elvis Presley, the Coasters and Ben E. King), she became a regular at DJ Alan Freed's local Rock 'N' Roll shows. She met songwriters Paul Simon and Neil Sedaka as well as Gerry Goffin, whom she later forged a writing partnership with, while attending Queens College.
Newfield, Jack. “Who Really Invented Rock ‘n’ Roll?” New York Sun. New York Sun, 21 Sep. 2004. Web. 28 Nov. 2010
Berg, Darrell M. "Beethoven, Ludwig Van." The World Book Encyclopedia 1996. Vol. 2. Chicago, IL: World Book, 1996. 213-14. Print.
Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on August 4, 1901 to Mayanne and William Armstrong. His father abandoned his family during Louis' infancy. Louis spent the first years of his life with his grandmother, Josephine Armstrong. After age five, Louis moved back with his mother and his sister, "Mama Lucy." The family was forced to live in stark poverty. Louis got into some trouble when he was just 12 years old and was placed in the Waif's Home for Boys. It was there that he first received musical instruction and learned to play the coronet. He was released from the Waif's Home in June of 1914. He worked selling papers, unloading boats, and selling coal from a cart. Joe Oliver, one of the finest trumpet players in New Orleans, was Louis' music teacher and mentor. Louis married Daisy Parker, a prostitute from Gretna, Louisiana in 1918. He joined the Kid Ory Band after Joe Oliver moved to Chicago. In 1922, Louis moved to Chicago to play in the band Joe Oliver's band, " King Oliver." It was there where he separated from his wife, Daisy. He made his first recording with the band in one year later in Richmond, Indiana. He later married Lil Hardin, a pianist in the King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band. He moved to New York City in 1924 to join the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra at the Roseland Ballroom. During that time he also did dozens of recording sessions with numerous Blues singers including Bessie Smith's 1925 classic recording of "St. Louis Blues." He also recorded with Clarence Williams and the Red Onion Jazz Babies.
He had exposure to several different genres growing up in his St. Louis, MO hometown. He heard country from the whites, rhythm & blues (R&B) from mostly blacks, even Latin music. His family environment set him up well for future success while growing up in a middle class home in the middle of the Great Depression of the 1930s. His parents sun...
Glenn Gould: reluctant performer, recording aficionado, television and radio extraordinaire, reclusive eccentric, autistic savant, and a man that left a long-lasting legacy. He was different than any musician who had come before or after him in every single respect. But it’s also important to remember that he was the modern Renaissance-man - he also composed, made radio and television documentaries, and wrote about music. And even though he died nearly 35 years ago, thanks to dozens of books, documentaries and commemorations, we will never forget the 50 years when Glenn Gould captivated the musical