This course will give an overview of some of the most popular musical genres from the 1940s to the 1970s, including the main figures, important recordings, and the musical features of each style. The cultural importance and impact of this music will also be discussed, including the overlap between these genres, and the ways in which one genre influenced another. From Muddy Waters and Marvin Gaye to Aretha Franklin and James Brown, this class will be an exciting musical journey.

Schedule of topics:

Week 1:
This course starts with early African American music, including work songs and minstrelsy, which provides some socio-cultural and musical context for the next six weeks. The blues is the first major topic, and we'll look at musical and lyrical features of this style, as well as the 12-bar blues form. The first blues style to examine is acoustic blues of the Mississippi delta (Charley Patton, Robert Johnson), and its transformation into the electric Chicago blues (Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf).

Week 2:

Continuing with the blues, we'll look at some of the earliest records sold as blues, which are the "classic blues" of Bessie Smith. The variety continues with the big band jazzy blues of T-Bone Walker and BB King, and two regional varieties: Texas blues, and Piedmont blues.

Week 3:
To finish up the blues section we have a variety of artists including Leadbelly, John Lee Hooker, Buddy Guy, and the 60s folk blues revival. Next, we'll examine some 1950s R&B styles, including jump blues (Louis Jordan), and sweet soul (The Drifters). Gospel is the last topic of the week, where we'll look at early vocal groups, the Staple Singers, and the Reverend CL Franklin.

Week 4:
This week is all about soul. Some of the earliest singers to combine elements of the sacred and profane, gospel and R&B, were Ray Charles and Sam Cooke. Our breakdown of the many regional soul record labels begins in Detroit with a detailed look at Motown (The Temptations, The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Jackson 5)

Week 5:
Continuing with the regional soul labels, we'll go to Memphis for Stax Records (Otis Redding; Booker T & the MGs; Isaac Hayes), and Hi Records (Al Green). Next, Muscle Shoals, Alabama, which is home to FAME studios and the Muscle Shoals sound (Aretha Franklin). We'll wrap up the soul section with a look at some of the 60s and 70s soul sounds coming out of New Orleans and Chicago.

Week 6:
James Brown and his band are widely credited with creating funk in the mid-1960s. We'll look at how funk emphasizes the African as opposed to the European elements of soul music. There were changes to funk in the 1970s, exemplified by George Clinton and Parliament; Sly Stone and the Family Band; Kool & the Gang; and the Meters. Finally, a brief look at how funk, along with the Philadelphia sound, leads into early disco.

Instructor: Keith McCuaig
Dates: September 17-October 22
Time: Thursdays 1:00-3:00pm
Cost: $175