MUSIC HISTORY OF ST. LOUIS

 MUSIC HISTORY OF ST. LOUIS

There are great musicians and artists in your area, I feel that we should support these singers, musicians, rappers, country and western, opera talents. On my blog I will start showcasing these talents in my hometown St. Louis, MO. St. Louis has a rich musical history and known for Ragtime, Blues, Jazz, and home of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.

Scott Joplin was a fixture around St. Louis' hot night spots during the 1904 World's Fair. His works were created while playing for "polite society" during the day and "sporting houses" during the evening. In 1804 group of jazz musicians seeking to revitalize their art  with the spirit of the past included ragtime in their development of Traditional Jazz. (http://www.scottjoplin.org/biography.htm)

Joplin's influence migrated to the New Orleans where they infused his ragtime and incorporate a great passage of blues musicians from the Delta of Mississippi. The amalgamation of these music genres creates what W.C. Handy called the St. Louis Blues. Standing on the banks of the muddy Mississippi River was the inspiration for writing and recording the St. Louis Blues. Some of the most influential jazz and blues musicians who were either born or lived in St. Louis are: Louis Jordan, Henry Townsend, Josephine Baker, Lightnin' Slim, Fontella Bass, Johnnie Johnson, Oliver Sain, Jimmy Forest, Bennie Smith, Red Mckenzie, Clark Terry, Michael McDonald, David Sanborn, Angela Winbush, Donny Hathaway, Chuck Berry, and of course Miles Davis.

During the late 1940s early 1950's, a new sound evolved...R&B. Established in the nightclubs in St. Louis and Memphis, the sound was characterized as a "driving dance beat combined with a bluesy delivery," which evolved out of the jump blues of the late 1940's. Some of the notable artists are: Ann Peebles, Screamin' Joe Neal, Willie King, Little Aaron, Johnny Lee Williams, Bennie Sharp, Little Miss Jessie, Robert T. Smith, Fred Green, Art Lassiter, The Earthworms, The Kinglets, The Rockers, Little Herbert and the Arabians, Little Bobby Foster, Timothy Cooper, Johnny Wright, Little Cooper and the Drifters, Sammy Grimes Band, and lest not forget Ike and Tina Turner.

A host of St. Louis Hip-Hop and Rap artists made it onto the national scene during the late 1990s early 2000's such as: Nelly, The St. Lunatics, Chingy, J-Kwon, Ebony Eyes, along with a host of musicians who made their mark. St. Louis is often associated with other cities, New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Detroit.
Local underground bands/garage bands found success with either signing with a local or out of state independent record labels such as: The Cripplers, The Trip Daddys, The Honkeys, The Gentlemen Callers, 7 Shot Screamers, Long John Thomas and the Duffs, and The Vultures.

Gaslight Square was located in Mid Town St. Louis, it was where popular music and entertainment was hot, happening, and now during the late 1960's. My Mother and Father were into jazz heavily and they would check out which club had the hottest licks going on and they would venture in and have a good time. "Gaslight Square was the place for great music and the place to be seen," says my Mom. It was a thriving local nightclub district which attracted nationally known musicians and performers. The decline of this popular entertainment district was in the 1970s and now is a housing development site. What a tragic end to a magical time in music and entertainment that was served up at Gaslight Square.
National artists who performed at Gaslight Square: Barbara Streisand, The Smothers Brothers, Woody Allen, George Carlin, Lennie Bruce, and countless others.

Revival of entertainment districts are thriving, Washington Avenue and others are sprouting new venues, while U-City Loop is expanding. Venues: The Old Rock House, The Fox Theater, Scotttrade Center, The Pagent, Plush, Powell Symphony Hall, Cicero's, Crack Fox, Focal Point, The Firebird, 2720 Cherokee, Laclede's Landing, BB's Jazz Blues&Soups, The Jefferson Warehouse, Touhill Performing Arts Center, The Way Out Club, Blueberry Hill, and Jazz at the Bistro to mention a few.

I will be featuring local St. Louis musicians on my blog to introduce the various music art forms and their love of music.