Music of Washington, DC
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Template:USstatesmusic The music of Washington D.C. is known for two primary scenes, hardcore and associated derivatives and a hip hop-dance music hybrid called go go. The first major musical figure from DC was John Phillip Sousa, a military brass band composer. Later figures include jazz legends like Duke Ellington and soul singers like Roberta Flack.
The city is home to the Washington Symphony Orchestra, the Opera Company of Washington and the National Symphony Orchestra (founded in 1931 by Hans Kindler). Important performing venues include the Kennedy Center. The Washingtonian maintains a Washington Music Hall of Fame. The US Marine Band, which is based in Washington DC, is the oldest musical group in the United States (formed in 1798, before the city was even founded). The Marine Band's most famous conductor is undoubtedly John Philips Sousa, who composed many of the most famous marches, as well as several musical comedies.
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Music history
The foundation of the US Marine Band is the earliest the music of what we now know as Washington, DC can be traced. Some fifty years later, in 1851, the city's first choral society Washington Saengerbund, was formed. Other 19th centuries musicians included the minstrel singer and songwriter James Bland ("Carry Me Back to Ole Virginny"), Will Marion Cook and Len Spencer ("Arkansas Traveler"). In 1872, the Coloured American Opera Society formed.
Later groundbreaking musicians included James Reese Europe, ragtime musician Claude Hopkins, Lithuanian-American immigrant and vaudeville performer Al Jolson and Lillian Evans Tibbs, who became the first African American opera singer to perform in a foreign country. The most widely renowned musician from early 20th century DC is undoubtedly Duke Ellington, a jazz pioneer. Later DC jazz musicians included Charlie Rouse (saxophonist, with Thelonius Monk), Billy Hart (drummer), Ira Sullivan (tenor saxophonist) and Leo Parker (bop baritone saxophonist); Ahmet Ertegun, a Turkish-born jazz fan came to DC at age twelve and later went on to found Atlantic Records. Todd Duncan was a DC-born singer who made history by being the first to play the lead of the black opera Porgy and Bess; he later became the first black man to play Tonio in I Pagliacci. DC was also a home (and recording stop) for blues legend Jelly Roll Morton and country legend Jimmie Rodgers; local stars of the early part of the century include the singer Pearl Bailey.
By the middle of the decade and into the turbulent countercultural popular music of the 60s, DC had begun to produe some major stars, like soul singer Marvin Gaye. Other musicians included John Fahey, one of the first "folk" musicians to gain national appeal, Peter Tork (of The Monkees), underground legend Tim Buckley, guitarist Link Wray, pop singer and songwriter Billy Stewart, country singer Patsy Cline, guitarist Danny Gatton, doo wop bands The Orioles (based out of DC, though from Baltimore) and The Clovers, Scott McKenzie (known for "If You're Going to San Francisco"), R&B singer Ruth Brown and country star Roy Clark. In 1957, Elizabeth Cotten recorded for the family that employed her, which included a number of composers and musicologists. One song, "Freight Train", became a folk music legend. Charlie Byrd, a DC-based jazz musician, recorded an innovative album in 1962 called Jazz Samba with Stan Getz, helping to launch the bossa nova craze.
During this period, Washington began to develop its own music scene, with a number of styles evolving by the end of the century. Other popular singers from this period include Roberta Flack ("Killing Him Softly"), Root Boy Slim & the Sex Change Band ("You Broke My Mood Ring"), singer-songwriter Tori Amos, Herb Fame (of Peaches & Herb), Van McCoy (disco producer, "The Hustle"), Toni Braxton, Ginuwine (R&B singer), rapper Mya, Dave Grohl (of Nirvana and the Foo Fighters), Starland Vocal Band ("Afternoon Delight"), Joan Jett (heavy metal singer) and Nils Lofgren (guitarist for Bruce Springsteen, Ringo Starr and Neil Young).
Blues
Early in the 20th century, DC was home to many bluesmen, such as Jelly Roll Morton and later underground legend Roy Buchanan. In the 1960s, a number of white youths formed local blues bands, like the Northside Blues Band and Nighthawks.
Bluegrass
In the 1950s, Buzz Busby and the Bayou Boys became a noted bluegrass band that helped DC become known as the "Bluegrass Capital of America". Later bluegrass bands from the city included the Country Gentlemen. Seldom Scene eventually became the city's most prominent and longest-lasting bluegrass band.
Folk
In 1961, the first major folk venue in DC, The Shadows, opened in Georgetown, Washington DC. A band called the Mugwumps formed, eventually splitting up. Two of the members, John Sebastian and Zal Yanovsky, became the Lovin' Spoonful, and the other two, Denny Doherty and Cass Elliott, formed The Mamas and the Papas. Later, in Georgetown, then-folk singer John Denver, Taffy Nivert and Bill Danoff wrote a song called "Take Me Home Country Roads", which launched Denver's career as one of the most popular singers in the country. Other popular folk singers include Mary Chapin Carpenter; the duo Fink & Marxer have been nominated for several Grammy Awards, for both folk and children's music.
Hardcore
Main article: Washington DC hardcore
Washington is best known for its contribution to hardcore punk rock, particularly bands like Minor Threat and the Bad Brains and Dischord Records, but it had a vibrant musical community prior to hardcore's arrival with bands like the Razz, Slickee Boys and Penetrators putting out records on local independent labels like Limp, O'Rourke, and Dacoit.
Go Go
Main article: go go
Go go arose in the late 1970s, combining funk and instrumental percussion with rapping. The inventor of go go is Chuck Brown, known for Bustin' Loose, which became a surprise national hit. Later go go bands include Rare Essence, Trouble Funk and Experience Unlimited.
References
- The Washingtonian (http://www.washingtonian.com/inwashington/music_greatmoments.html)