Encyclopedia of Music in the 20th Century PDF
Preview Encyclopedia of Music in the 20th Century
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF M U S IC N20th T H CENTURY E edited by Lee Stacy and Lol Henderson CONTENTS Fitzroy Dearborn Introduction 5 Brendel,Alfred 85 Abba 6 British Beat Music 86 Abbado, Claudio 7 Britpop 88 © M.E. Sharpe, Inc., 1999 Abshire, Nathan 8 Britten, Benjamin 89 All rights reserved, including the right Acuff, Roy 9 Broonzy, Big Bill 91 Adderley, Cannonball 10 Brown, Clifford 92 of reproduction in whole Or in part Africa 11 Brown, James 93 in any form. Aleatory Music 16 Brubeck, Dave 94 Alpert, Herb 17 Burton, Gary 95 Amplification 18 Cabaret Music 96 First published in 1999 Andean Music 20 Cage,John 97 by Fitzroy Dearborn Anderson, Marian 21 Cajun 99 Andrews Sisters, The 22 Callas, Maria 102 This edition published 2013 by Roudedge Ansermet, Ernest 23 Cantor, Eddie 103 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Arlen, Harold 24 Caribbean, The 104 Oxon OX14 4RN Armstrong, Louis 25 Carmichael, Hoagy 108 711 Third Avenue, New York, Arrangers 26 Carter Family, The 109 NY 10017 Arrau, Claudio 28 Carter, Benny 110 Arroyo, Joe 29 Carter, Elliott 111 Routkdge is an imprint oft he Taylar & Francis Group, Ashkenazy, Vladimir 30 Caruso, Enrico 112 an infarma business Atkins, Chet 31 Casals, Pablo 113 Authentic Performance 32 Cash, Johnny 114 Aznavour, Charles 35 Chaliapin, Fyodor 115 Bacharach, Burt 36 Chamber Music 116 Baez,Joan 37 Charles, Ray 120 Baker,Chet 38 Charts,The 121 British library Cataloguing in Ballet and Modem Dance Music 39 Chenier, Clifton 123 Publication Data Barber, Samuel 42 Chevalier, Maurice 124 Barenboim, Daniel 43 Children's Songs 125 Ban,lionel 44 Christian, Charlie 126 Encyclopedia of music in the 20th century Bartok, Bela 45 Cleveland, James 127 1. Music - 20th century - Encyclopedia Basie, Count 48 Cline, Patsy 128 I. Stacy, Lee II. Henderson, Lol Bauza, Mario 49 Cohan, George M. 129 Beach Boys, The 50 Cole, Nat King 130 780.9'04'03 Beatles, The 51 Coleman,Cy 131 ISBN 1-57958-079-3 Bebop 54 Coleman, Ornette 132 Beecham, SirThomas 56 Colombian Cumbia 133 Beiderbecke, Bix 57 Colon, Willie 134 Bellamy Brothers, The 58 Coltrane,John 135 Bennett,Tony 59 Cooder,Ry 137 Berg,Alban 60 Cooke,Sam 138 Berlin, Irving 62 CoolJazz 139 Developed by Brown Partworks Limited Bernstein, Elmer 63 Copland,Aaron 141 London Bernstein, Leonard 64 Corea, Chick 143 Cover designed by Philip Lewis Berry, Chuck 66 Country 144 Bhangra Beat 67 Coward, Noel 148 Big Band Jazz 68 Cowell, Henry 149 Blades, Ruben 70 Cray,Roben 150 Blakey,An 71 Cream 151 Blues 72 Crosby, Bing 152 Bock & Harnick 77 Cruz, Celia 153 BOhm,KarI 78 Cuba 154 Boogie-woogie 79 D'Leon, Oscar 156 Boulanger, Nadia 80 D'Rivera, Paquito 157 Boulez, Pierre 81 Damrosch, Walter 158 Bowie, David 82 Dance Music 159 Brazil 83 Darmstadt School, The 163 BreI,Jacques 84 Davis, Miles 164 Day, Doris 166 Guy, Buddy 266 King, Carole 345 Debussy, Claude 167 Gypsy Music 267 King, Freddie 346 Delius, Frederick 170 Haggard, Merle 269 Kinks,The 347 Dibango, Manu 171 Haley, Bill 270 Klemperer, Otto 348 Diddley,Bo 172 Hamlisch, Marvin 271 Kodaly, Zoltan 349 Dire Straits 173 Hammerstein, Oscar 272 Konitz,Lee 350 Disco 174 Hancock, Herbie 273 Koussevitzky, Sergey 351 Dixon, Willie 175 Hard Bop 274 Kreisler, Fritz 352 Dolphy, Eric 176 Harris, Emmylou 276 Kristofferson, Kris 353 Domingo, Placido 177 Harris,Roy 277 Kuti,Fela 354 Domino, Fats 178 Harrison, Lou 278 Laine, Frankie 355 Doo-wop 179 Hawkins, Coleman 279 Lanza, Mario 356 Dorsey, Thomas A. 180 Haymes, Dick 280 Late Romanticism 357 Dorsey, Tommy 181 Heavy Metal 281 Latin America 358 Dukas,Paul 182 Heifetz,Jascha 282 Latin Jazz 364 Dylan,Bob 183 Henderson, Fletcher 283 Leadbelly 365 Eagles,The 185 Henderson, Joe 284 Led Zeppelin 366 Eldridge, Roy 186 Hendrix,Jimi 285 Lee, Peggy 367 Electronic Music 187 Henze, Hans Werner 286 Legrand, Michel 368 Elgar, Sir Edward 193 Herbert, Victor 287 Leiber & Stoller 369 Ellington, Duke 194 Herman,Jerry 288 Levine,James 370 Estefan, Gloria 196 Herrmann, Bernard 289 Lewis,Jerry Lee 371 European Jazz 197 Highlife 290 Ligeti, Gyorgy 372 Eurythmics, 199 Hillbilly Music 291 Little Richard 373 Evans, Bill 200 Hindemith, Paul 292 Little Walter 374 Everly Brothers, The 201 Hodges,Johnny 294 lloyd Webber,Andrew 375 Expressionism in MUSic 202 Holiday, Billie 295 Loesser, Frank 376 Falla, Manuel de 203 Holly,Buddy 296 Loewe, Frederick 377 Faure, Gabriel 204 Holst, Gustav 297 Lomax,Alan 378 Festivals and Events 205 Hooker,John Lee 298 Lombardo, Guy 379 Fiedler,Arthur 207 Hopkins, Sam Lightnin' 299 Los Angeles, Victoria de 380 Film Music 208 Horne,Lena 300 Los Van Van 381 Film Musicals 211 Horowitz, Vladimir 301 Lutoslawski, Witold 382 Fischer-Dieskau, Dietrich 213 House,Son 302 Lynn, Loretta 383 Fitzgerald, Ella 214 Houston, Whitney 303 Maazel, Lorin 384 Flagstad, Kirsten 215 Hubbard, Freddie 304 Machito 385 Flamenco 216 Impressionism in Music 305 Madonna 386 Folk Music 217 Indian Film Music 306 Mahler, Gustav 387 Folk Rock 223 Indie Bands 307 Mancini, Henry 389 Four Seasons, The 224 Ink Spots, The 309 Manilow, Barry 390 Franklin,Aretha 225 lrakere 310 Marley, Bob 391 Free Jazz 226 Ives, Charles 311 Marsalis, Wynton 392 Freed,Alan 228 Jackson, Mahalia 313 Martinu, Bohuslav 393 Friml, Rudolf 229 Jackson, Michael 314 McCormack,John 394 Funk 230 James, Harry 315 McLaughlin,John 395 Furtwiingler, Wilhelm 232 Janacek,Leos 316 Mehta, Zubin 396 Galway,James 233 Jarre, Maurice 318 Melba, Dame Nellie 397 Gamelan 234 Jarrett, Keith 319 Melchior, Lauritz 398 Garland,Judy 236 Jazz 320 Memphis Minnie 399 Garner, Erroll 237 Jazz Rock 322 Memphis Slim 400 Gaye, Marvin 238 Jefferson, Blind Lemon 324 Menotti, Gian Carlo 401 Gayle, Crystal 239 Jennings, Way Ion 325 Menuhin, Yehudi 402 Genesis 240 Jobim,Antonio Carlos 326 Mercer,Johnny 403 GershWin, George 245 John, Elton 327 Messiaen, Olivier 404 Getz,Stan 247 Johnson, Lonnie 328 Mexico 406 Gigli, Beniamino 248 Johnson, Robert 329 Michael, George 407 Gillespie, Dizzy 249 Jolson,Al 330 Michelangeli, Arturo Benedetti 408 Glass, Philip 250 Jones, Elvin 331 Middle East, The 409 Gobbi,Tito 251 Jones, Quincy 332 Mighty Clouds of Joy 413 Goldsmith,Jerry 252 Jones,Tom 333 Milhaud, Darius 414 Gonzales, Celina 253 Joplin, Scott 334 Miller, Glenn 415 Goodman, Benny 254 Jungle 335 Mingus, Charles 416 Gordon, Dexter 255 Kahn,Gus 336 Minimalism 417 Gospel 256 Kander& Ebb 337 Mitchell, Guy 419 Gould, Glenn 259 Karajan, Herbert von 338 Mitchell,Joni 420 Grainger, Percy 260 Kenton, Stan 339 Modal Jazz 421 Granados, Enrique 261 Kern,Jerome 340 Modern Jazz Quartet 423 Granz, Norman 262 Khachaturian,Aram 341 Monk, Thelonious 424 Grunge 263 Kidjo,Angelique 342 Monroe, Bill 425 Gubaidulina, Sofia 264 King,Alben 343 Monteux, Pierre 426 Guthrie, Woody 265 King,B.B. 344 More,Beny 427 Morgan, Lee 428 Rock'n'roll 540 Toscanini,Arturo 636 Morricone, Ennio 429 Rodgers,Jimmie 544 Travis, Merle 637 Morrison, Van 430 Rodgers, Richard 545 Thbb,Emest 638 Morton,Jelly Roll 431 Rodrigo,Joaquin 546 Thcker, Richard 639 Motown 432 Rogers, Kenny 547 Tucker, Sophie 640 Mulligan, Gerry 435 Rolling Stones, The 548 Thmer,Tina 641 Musicals 436 Rollins, Sonny 550 Tyner, McCoy 642 Nashville Sound/New Country 440 Ross,Diana 551 U2 643 Nelson, Willie 441 Rostropovich, Mstislav 552 Vallee, Rudy 644 New Orleans Jazz/Dixieland 442 Roussel,Albert 553 Varese, Edgard 645 New Wave 444 Rubinstein,Artur 554 Vaughan, Sarah 646 Newman,Alfred 446 Salsa 555 Vaughan Williams, Ralph 647 Nielsen, carl 447 Sandoval,Arturo 557 Veloso, Caetano 648 Nirvana 448 Santana 558 Velvet Underground, The 649 Nono,Luigi 449 Satie, Erik 559 Venezuela 650 Norman, Jessye 450 Schnabel,Artur 560 Villa-Lobos, Heitor 651 Oasis 451 Schninke,Alfred 561 Vocal and Choral Music 652 Opera 452 Schoenberg,Amold 562 Walker, T-Bone 654 Operetta 456 Schwartz, Arthur 564 Waller,Fats 655 Orchestral MUSic 458 Schwarzkopf, Elisabeth 565 Walter, Bruno 656 Orff,Carl 462 Scriabin,Alexander 566 Walton, Sir William 657 Page, Patti 463 Scruggs, Earl 567 Washington, Dinah 658 Parker, Charlie 464 Segovia,Andres 568 Waters, Muddy 659 Parton, Dolly 465 Serialism 569 Waxman, Franz 660 Patton, Charley 466 Sex Pistols, The 571 Weavers, The 661 Pavarotti, Luciano 467 Shankar, Ravi 572 Webem, Anton 662 Penderecki, Krzysztof 468 Shorter, Wayne 573 Webster, Ben 664 Philadelphia Sound 469 Shostakovich, Dmitry 574 Weill,Kurt 665 Piaf, Edith 470 Sibelius, Jean 576 Whiteman, Paul 667 Pink Floyd 471 Silver, Horace 578 Who,The 668 Pollini, Maurizio 472 Simone, Nina 579 Williams, Hank 669 Pop Music 473 Sinatra, Frank 580 Williams,John (composer) 670 Popular Music 477 Singer-songwriters 581 Williams,John (guitarist) 671 Porter, Cole 485 Six,Les 584 WIlliams, Tony 672 Poulenc, Francis 486 Smith, Bessie 585 Williamson, Sonny Boy 673 Powell,Bud 487 Solti, Sir Georg 586 Wills,Bob 674 Pozo,Chano 488 Sondheim, Stephen 587 Wonder, Stevie 675 Prado, Perez 489 Sosa, Mercedes 588 Wynette,Tammy 676 Presley, Elvis 490 Soul 589 Xenakis, Iannis 677 Previn,Andre 492 Sousa,John Philip 592 Yes 678 Price, Leontyne 493 South African Jazz 593 Young, Lester 679 Pride, Charley 494 South Asia 595 Zappa, Frank 680 Prince 495 South East Asia 599 Zouk 681 Producers 496 Spann, Otis 603 Progressive Rock 498 Spector, Phil 604 Biographical digest 682 Prokofiev, Sergey 502 Springsteen, Bruce 605 Puccini, Giacomo 504 Steiner, Max 606 Glossary 754 Puente,Tito 505 Stem,Isaac 607 Punk Rock 506 Sting 608 Contributors 761 Queen 508 Stockhausen, Karlheinz 609 Rachmaninov, Sergey 509 Stokowski, Leopold 6u Bibliography 762 Radio 510 Strauss, Richard 612 Ragga 514 StraVinsky, Igor 613 Index 777 Rainey,Ma 515 Streisand, Barbra 616 Rap 516 Strouse, Charles 617 Acknowledgements 800 Ravel, Maurice 517 Styne,Jule 618 Record Companies 519 Surf Music 619 Record Production 521 Sutherland, Dame Joan 620 Recording Studios 523 Swing 621 Redding, Otis 525 Szymanowski, Karol 623 Reed,Jimmy 526 Take 6 624 Reeves,Jim 527 Takemitsu, Toru 625 Reggae 528 Tampa Red 626 Reich, Steve 530 Tango 627 Reinhardt, Django 531 Tatum,Art 628 R.E.M. 532 Terry, Sonny & Brownie McGhee 629 Respighi, Ottorino 533 Tharpe, Sister Rosetta 630 Roach,Max 534 Thomson, Virgil 631 Robeson, Paul 535 Tin Pan Alley 632 Rock Festivals 536 Tippett, Sir Michael 634 Rock Music 538 Torme,Mei 635 INTRODUCTION I n the 20th century, music began to realise its poten room can listen over and over to the most profound tial as the most universal medium of communication. orchestral masterpiece. In the world of rock, the Music is a way of transmitting and reflecting emotion. Beatles reached a global audience and paved the way Of all the art forms, music may be the most difficult to for the world domination of rock music with less than describe in words, but perhaps because of this, it is half a dozen three-minute tracks. also the one that most easily transcends barriers of The Encyclopedia of Music in the 20th Century nationality and language. This encyclopedia looks at provides a guide to the most important musical devel how music, in all its rich variety, has become part of opments of the past 100 years, and encompasses this the daily life of most of humankind, and how the inter broad field of musical invention without intimidating national and mass appeal of music has changed its the non-specialist user. Each entry has been written by form forever. In the process, it helps us understand this a mUSicologist or journalist expert in the field, but in a unique feature of modem life. style that can be understood by students of music at all At the dawn of the 20th century, many different types levels and by anyone interested in this multifaceted of music, from Andean folk songs to Wagnerian opera, subject. The entries cover all the major genres, styles, had little or no effect on each other, and were often techniques, composers, and performers who make up unknown outside of their immediate audiences. By the this rich, varied world of artistic expression. They look end of the 20th century, however, a global network at how musical styles have developed, both within had developed in which new, hybrid forms of music their own context and within the context of a changing appeared. Boundaries that once seemed impenetrable world, from Electronic Music to Zouk; from Abba to are now crossed regularly: for example, the Indonesian Anton Webern; from Joan Baez to Arturo Toscanini. gamelan influences Western concert music, Arabic The main part of the encyclopedia is arranged alpha instruments influence salsa, and classical composers betically, with entries on important genres, forms, write for rock bands without apology. technical developments, and national styles of music, Technology is the prime reason for this important and on individuals who have made the most significant change. As soon as music could be sent over the air contributions to music in this period. Words that appear waves, then barriers began to be broken down. This in small capitals (e.g., MADoNNA) in the article text or at process was carried even further as recording technol the end of the article under SEE ALSO refer to articles ogy allowed individuals to listen to a performance in found elsewhere in the encyclopedia. Each article also their own homes. Before the advent of radio and the ends with further readings and a list of suggested listen phonograph, the only way of learning about music was ing that highlights the most relevant musical pieces. by studying at the feet of a master musician, or by Following the main A-Z section, the reader will find reading complex scores that in themselves took years a biographical digest of over 1,000 entries. This of study to decipher. Listening was always a social special section provides concise biographies of the experience, as music could only be heard when played individuals or groups who have made major contri live by musicians. The radio and sound recording have butions to music in the 20th century, but have not changed all that. Now an individual sitting alone in a been allotted a main entry. 6 ABBA A B BA I n the 1970s, Swedish pop group Abba replaced the BEATLES as the world's most popular entertain ers. They had extraordinary chart success, and their deceptively simple, slick (some would say bland) music, conceals their quite exceptional songwriting and production skills. Formed in 1972, Abb a included Benny Andersson (b. December 1946), keyboards and synthesizer; Bjorn Ulvaeus (b. Apri l 1945), guitar; Agnetha Faltskog (b. April 1950), vocals; and Frida—a single stage name—(b. Anni-Frid Lyngstad , November 1945), vocals. "Abba" was an acronym formed from the first-name initial of each member. In 1974, Abba made an instant international impact with "Waterloo," Sweden's winnin g entry in the The Abba line-up (left to right): Benny, Frida, Agnetha, and Eurovision song contest. The song was a No. 1 hit in Bjorn. Their well-constructed songs and unique fashion the U.K. singles charts and, surprisingly for a sense dominated the world's pop scene in the late 1970s. Eurovision entry, also reached No. 6 in the U.S. Thus began the band's brillian t run through the world's of the desolation of failed relationships (Bjorn and pop charts with songs such as "S.O.S.," "Money, Agnetha, and Benny an d Frida were married couples Money, Money," "Super Trooper, " and "Dancing who divorced during their days as Abba). Queen." In Britain, the group enjoyed spectacular Abba disbanded in 198 2 and Agnetha and Frida success, with eight successive No. 1 albums from attempted solo careers, but failed. Bjorn and Benny's 1976 to 1982. Success in America was far less songwriting talents proved more enduring, notably in dramatic—in addition to "Waterloo" only "Dancing their collaboration with lyricist Tim Rice on the musical Queen" reached the Top 10. Nevertheless, by 1979 Chess (1986). The group's afterlife, however, began in Abba had sold more records than any other group, the early 1990s when disco glamour was in vogue, and including the Beatles, worldwide . the Abba Gold album (1992) sold millions of copies. The common ingredients for the perfect Abba song Graham McColl were an infectious, sometimes haunting, melody, SEE ALSO: immaculate counter-harmonies, and, above all, Disco; POP MUSIC; POPULAR MUSIC supreme attention to production details. Their nation ality was also part of Abba's appeal. A British or FURTHER READING American act may have been too self-conscious to Edgington, H., and P. Himmelstrand. Abba mouth some of thei r unsophisticated, even mawkish, (London: Magnum Books, 1978); lyrics. Their background in Swedish folk music Tobler, John. ABBA Gold: The Complete Story ensured that Abba neve r forgot the importance of (New York: St. Martin's Press, 1993). melody at a time when many rock bands were exploring complex electronic effects and obscure SUGGESTED LISTENING lyrics. The group wa s at its most creative when Abba Gold; More Abba Gold; dealing in everyday gloom. Sad and graceful songs Thank You for the Music, Waterloo. such as "Knowing Me , Knowing You," and "The Winner Takes It All" saw them create hit singles out ABBADO 7 CLAUDIO as musical director of the celebrated La Scala Opera in Milan. While broadening its repertoire, he also A B B A DO raised the level of the orchestra's performances of traditional Italian favourites to new heights. Among his acclaimed productions of Verdi was the original, uncut version of Don Carlos (staged in 1977), an unwieldy work to which he brought (according to T he Italian conductor Claudio Abbado is one of the Washington Post musical critic) "discipline, imagi the superstars of late 20th-century concert nation, and momentum." music—renowned for his work in both the concert In addition to performing the Italian favourites at La hall and the oper a house. He is an outstanding inter Scala—Verdi's Simon Boccanegra and Aida—Abbado preter of operatic an d modern music and works also promoted many modern non-Italian works extensively with young musicians. including a celebrated production of Alban BERG'S Abbado was born o n June 26, 1933, into a highly 20th-century classic, Wozzeck. musical Milanese family—his brother , Marcello, became a composer and pianist. He received his first BEYOND LA SCALA musical training from hi s father, the violinist Between 1979 and 1986, Abbado was a familiar Michelangelo Abbado, and, after studying piano at figure on the British musical scene, holding the the Milan Conservatory, he went on to study at the position of principal conducto r of the London Vienna Academy of Music (1956-58). In these years, Symphony Orchestra. He also often appeared with Abbado acquired a deep understanding of Austrian the European Community Youth Orchestra, which he and German music, especially that of Late Romantics had helped to found in 1978, and whose players, such as Gustav MAHLER. varying between the ages of 14 and 20, are drawn from the nations of the European Community. ON THE PODIUM From 1990, Abbado becam e permanent conductor In 1958, Abbado attended the summer school at of the Berlin Philharmonic. During his tenure there, Tanglewood, in Massachusetts, wher e he won the the orchestra began to play more 20th-century music. Koussevitzky Competition for the best young Abbado championed the work of many contempo conductor of that year. Returning to Europe, he rary composers, particularly that of fellow Italian launched his career as a symphonic and operatic Luigi NONO (1924-90). Th e breadth of Abbado's artis conductor in Trieste, Italy, and as an instructor in tic interests is reflected in yet another project, chamber music at Parma University. As one of three Austria's Wien Modern festival, which he founded in winners of the 1963 Metropolis Prize, he spent five 1988, and which include s literary and visual contem months as assistant conductor of the New York porary arts as well as music. Philharmonic, while also making guest appearances Eleanor Van Zandt with other orchestras. Then, in 1965, Herbert von SEE ALSO: KARAJAN engaged Abbado t o conduct the Vienna LATE ROMANTICISM; OPERA; ORCHESTRAL MUSIC. Philharmonic in a performance of Mahler's Symphony No. 2 at the Salzburg Festival. Thus began Abbado's long association with Vienna: he became FURTHER READING the Philharmonic's principal conductor in 1971, Chesterman, Robert, ed. Conductors in Conversation musical director of the State Opera in 1986, and, in (London: Robson, 1990); the following year, the city's general musical director. Hart, P. Conductors: A New Generation In the meantime, Abbado conducted the Hallé (New York: C. Scribner's Sons, 1983). Orchestra in Manchester in 1965, and made his Covent Garden debut in 1968 with Don Carlos—his SUGGESTED LISTENING first time conducting Verdi. These appearances were Mahler: Symphony No. 5; Stravinsky: the first of many in a long string of successes he Pulcinella; The Rite of Spring; Verdi: Aida. enjoyed in Britain. H e also served, from 1968 to 1986, 8 ABSHIRE NATHAN Abshire to carry the torch. Abshire composed many of the songs he recorded, including his biggest hit, A B S H I RE "Pine Grove Blues." He first recorded the song with the Pine Grove Boys in 1949, and re-recorded it several times over the ensuing decades. The song epitomises Abshire's bluesy and soulful style, with the "swampy" sound of his accordion backed by a N athan Abshire was a Cajun accordion player hypnotic blues beat. whose talent as a musician, vocalist, and songwriter, together with his amiable personality, OVERTAKEN BY ROCK'N'ROll made him a favourite with Cajun and non-Cajun Abshire's career waned again in the 1950s, as audiences alike. His postwar recordings helped bring rock'n'roll took over the regional airwaves. However, the accordion back to a position of prominence in the folk craze of the late 1950s and early 1960s intro Cajun music, and his songs captured the joys and duced music fans to the Cajun sound, and Cajun sorrows that typify the Cajun sound. musicians began to perform at folk festivals through Abshire was born on June 27, 1915, near Gueydan out the U.S. Abshire had several regional hits, includ in the French-speaking area of southern Louisiana ing "The La La Blues," "Sur la Courtableau," and a known as Acadiana or "Cajun Country." The Cajun French version of Southern singer Joe South's music that was an essential part of his heritage was "Games People Play." Many of the recordings generally played on the fiddle or button accordion, featured accompaniment by the Balfa Brothers, and was a mix of French folk dance music, blues, Dewey and Will on fiddle, and Rodney on guitar. and Celtic fiddle music. Abshire also performed with the Balfa Brothers at the Both his parents and an uncle were accordion 1967 Newport Folk Festival. players, though Abshire was largely self-taught. He In the early 1970s, Abshire toured extensively and gave his first public performances as a player at became a favourite of college and festival audiences house dances and local dance halls at the age of alike. His motto, "The Good Times Are Killing Me," eight. He soon became quite popular in the Acadian was emblazoned on his accordion case, and was the prairie country, and as a young man was playing title given to a 1975 public broadcasting documentary seven nights a week in a club in Basile, where he in which he starred. However, his career declined eventually settled. An important influence on him once more in the late 1970s, and Abshire earned a was accordionist Amade Ardoin, with whom Abshire living by working at the Basile town dump, while at sometimes played. home he welcomed admirers to his front porch. He died on May 13, 1981. RISE AND FAll OF THE ACCORDION Daria Labinsky Abshire's career had its share of ups and downs, SEE AlSO: following the rise and fall of interest in Cajun accor CAJUN; CHENIER, CLIFTON. dion music. The accordion had only been introduced in the 1870s, but its popularity was already in decline by the late 1930s, when Cajun bands began to be FURTHER READING influenced by Western swing music. Abshire made Ancelet, Barry J. The Makers of Cajun Music his first recordings for the Bluebird label with the (Austin, TX: University of Texas Press, 1984); Rayne-Bo Ramblers in the mid-1930s, but he Broven, John. Sowh to Louisiana: recorded little in the next decade. He was drafted The Music of the Cajun Bayous and served in World War II, despite being illiterate (Gretna, LA: Pelican Publishing, 1983). and speaking English only with difficulty. In the years immediately following World War II, SUGGESTED LISTENING Abshire and Iry Lejeune were the musicians most The Best of Nathan Abshire; Cajun Social Music; responsible for reviving interest in the accordion. Nathan Abshire: The Great Cajun Accordionist. Lejeune's tragic early death at age 26 in 1955 left ACUFF 9 ROY During the late 1930s and 1940s, Acuff recorded the songs that established him as a major figure in country A C U FF music. His version of the CARTER FAMILY song "The Wabash Cannonball" was one of the most popular hits of 1938, winning:him a gold record. The songs that followed-"Wreck on the Highway," "The Precious Jewel," "The Prodigal Son," and "I'll FOIgive You, But I R Oy Acuff was a pioneer in the development of Can't Forget"-were country and national hits, making country music-as a singer, fiddler, songwriter, Acuff the dominant artist of country music's wartime and music publisher, and as the spiritual figurehead of surge in popularity. He also scored a hit with his patri the Grand Ole Opry. One of the best-loved figures in otic song "Cowards Over Pearl Harbor": legend has it the genre, he was the first living person to be elected that he became so identified with the American spirit as a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. during World War II that Japanese soldiers charging in Born September 15, 1903, in Maynardville, to battle would yell "To hell with Roosevelt; to hell with Tennessee, Roy Claxton Acuff spent the better part of Babe Ruth; to hell with Roy Acuff." his youth playing baseball and bOxing, though he In 1942, veteran songwriter Fred Rose joined forces also found the time to learn the harmonica and Jew's with Acuff to form the Acuff-Rose Publication harp. His athletic skills landed him a trial with the Company, the first music publishing house to New York Yankees, but he was prevented from capitalise on the growing country phenomenon. joining when he fell gravely ill from sunstroke in Acuff and Rose would eventually sign Hank WILUAMS, 1929. After this setback, Acuff suffered from deep ensuring their company's status with the finest and depression and remained bedridden for much of the most lucrative catalogue in the genre. following year. During this time, he taught himself to Acuff was a public figure for the remainder of his play his father'S fiddle and listened to recordings of life, dabbling in politics, playing the Opry, scoring such early country artists as Gid Tanner and the occasional hits, and acting as country music's elder Skillet Lickers. It was a turning-point in his life, of statesman. His participation in the Nitty Gritty Dirt which he later wrote: "Everything was dark, until I Band's 1972 album Will the Circle Be Unbroken? found the fiddle. If it hadn't come along I don't know presented Acuff as a living legend to another genera what I would have become." tion of fans. In his final years, he lived only a few yards from the Opry's front door, greeting and THE SMOKY MOUNTAIN BOY reminiscing with fans. He died on November 23, 1992, In 1932, Acuff joined Dr. Hauer's Medicine Show, and was mourned as the "King of Country Music." playing the fiddle and generally acting the fool to sell Greg Bower Mocoton Tonic, "the cure for everything." Into his SEE ALSO: musical act, he incorporated a yo-yo and an aptitude COUNTRY; RADIO. for balancing objects on his nose. In 1934, Acuff formed a band, the Tennessee Crackerjacks (later renamed the Crazy Tennesseeans), which worked on FURTHER READING radio stations in Knoxville, Tennessee. In 1936, a Acuff, Roy, and William Neely. Roy ACUff's NashVille: gospel tune from his repertoire, "The Great Speckled The Life and Good Times of country Music Bird," attracted a contract offer from the Chicago (New York: Putnam, 1983); based ARC records. A Grand Ole Opry performance Schlappi, Elizaberh. Roy Acuff The Smoky Mountain in 1938 so endeared Acuff to the show's listeners that Boy (Gretna, LA: Pelican Publishing Co., 1993). WSM offered him radio spots and concert appear ances with the Delmore Brothers. It was around this SUGGESTED LISTENING time that Acuff changed his band's name to the The Essential Roy ACUff, 1936-49; Smoky Mountain Boys, after the "Great Smokies," The Great Speckled Bird: Once More; that part of the Appalachian Mountains bordering Songs of the Smoky Mountains. Tennessee and North Carolina.
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