Holland-Dozier-Holland Someone Had to Write All the Soul Hits
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Richard Hopkins, Producing Artistic Director Please do not take the Cabaret Book. You may download a complete copy at: www.floridastudiotheatre.org Jordan Craig, Andrew Mauney, Luke Minx, and Ryan Connolly. Photo by Maria Lyle. Maria by Photo Connolly. Ryan and Minx, Luke Mauney, Andrew Craig, Jordan Table of Contents What is Cabaret?, page 3 A brief history of the artform. A Brief History of Soul Music, pages 4-5 Learn about how the artists of the era took the music industry by storm. Music Milestones, pages 6-7 Learn about the major events that occured throughout history with Rhythm and Blues groups as well as solo artists of the genre. Throughout the Eras, pages 8-12 Some of the top recording solo artists and groups during the 60s and 70s. Jordan Craig. Photo by Maria Lyle. 2 What is Cabaret? It began in Paris on November 18, 1881, the year in which the first and most famous cabaret of all, the Chat Noir (Black Cat), was established. Paris, during what the French like to call the Belle Epoque, was the cultural capital of Europe; the mecca of the arts to which admirers and young hopefuls flocked from one end of Europe to the other, and indeed from still farther away. If something caught on in Paris, the immense reputation of the city as the source of fashion and innovation ensured its rapid diffusion across the continent and beyond. Besides giving rise to many cabarets in Paris itself, in its own time and after it became history, the Chat Noir also inspired the introduction of cabaret in major cities throughout Europe in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In the beginning, cabaret arose as an informal grouping of artists - painters, poets, musicians, and theatre people - who felt the need to come together. It was intended as something essentially private. From 1881 to 1917, audiences were made up predominantly of artists, their friends, and a variety of cultural fellow-travellers. In post-World War I Europe, the cabaret ceased to be a novelty and by and large fulfilled its function as a locus of an emerging avant-garde. Cabarets became places of entertainment; their facilities were expanded and enhanced, their doors thrown open to the public. When developing FST’s Cabaret we took the diverse and rich history of the form to create the atmosphere you see today. Set in a turn-of-the-century Parisian Cafe and offering fresh baked food, the Cabaret is an intimate space for an intimate form of entertainment. Turn-Of-The-Century Cabaret by Harold B. Segel Artwork by Théophile Steinlen Théophile by Artwork 3 In A Brief History of Soul Music Diana Ross and The Supremes. The Jackson 5. Marvin Gaye. Smokey Robinson. These are just a few names that are associated with the hard- driving beats and memorable tunes of a musical style that defined a generation and is beloved and celebrated to this very day. In April of 1960, a young African-American songwriter named Berry Gordy started a company with an $800 loan from his family in the city of Detroit, known as the “Motor City.” Gordy named the company, “Motor City Records,” after his hometown. The original Hitsville USA. Wanting to pay tribute to the town where he spent his childhood, he changed “city” to “town”, thus forming the word “Motown.” He purchased a building that eventually became “Hitsville U.S.A.,” where all of Motown’s hits were recorded. Throughout the 1960s, artists such as Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross, and Marvin Gaye dominated the airwaves with hits such as “Tears of a Clown”, “Stop! In the Name of Love”, “I Heard It Through the Grapevine”, and many more. From 1961 to 1971, Motown had a grand total of 110 Top 10 Hits. Trademarks of the Motown sound were tight harmonies, hard-driving beats, and Berry Gordy outside of Hitsville USA. relentlessly catchy tunes. 4 A Brief History of Soul Music Soul’s significance doesn’t only come from the soulful music and stirring lyrics. America itself was divided by segregation and the Civil Rights Movement of the ‘60s. African- Americans were demanding equal rights, and activists such as Rosa Parks and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. were paving the way for equality. Comprised primarily of African American artists, Motown brought them to the mainstream and bridged the gap between white and black Americans. It didn’t matter who was white, black, brown, or red, everyone was dancing to Soul music. Berry Gordy at the premiere of Motown the Musical. To this day, we still do. In 2003, Berry Gordy and “We set out to make Smokey Robinson were awarded the Architect of Sound: Vision Award and the Architect of Sound: Artist Award quality music, that respectively for their contributions to the field of music. everyone could enjoy In 2013, a musical based on the story of Motown was a and listen to” Broadway smash, running for 738 performances. Some of - Smokey Robinson the original Motown performers are still performing to this day. Indeed, the legacy of Soul lives on through the sheer power of the music and the people who created it. 5 Music Milestones 1960 Motown Records is founded 1963 by Berry Gordy, which Martha and the Vandellas recorded much of the Soul have two Top 30 hits with and R&B music we have today. “Come and Get These Memories” (#29) and 1961 “(Love is Like a) Heat “Please Mr. Postman” by Wave” (#4). The Marvelettes becomes the Number One song on the pop charts. 1962 The Marvelettes have two hits with “Playboy” and 1964 “Beechwood 4-5789” “Baby I Need Your earning spots on the US Lovin’” is the first Hot 100 Top 20 Charts. single released by The Four Tops, as well as 1960 their first Top 20 Hit. “Money (That’s What I Want)” by Barrett Strong and “Shop Around” by The Miracles become Motown’s first major hits. Martha and the Vandellas. 6 Music Milestones 1966 The Temptations’ “Get Ready” is a Top 30 hit, coming in at 1970 #29. The Supremes’ “You Keep “ABC” by The Jackson 5 Me Hanging On” becomes is released. a number one hit on the 1968 Billboard charts. Perhaps Motown’s biggest hit, Marvin Gaye’s “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” is released. It stayed at the top of the Billboard Pop Singles chart for seven consecutive weeks. 1967 1971 “Ain’t No Mountain”, “Just My Imagination” recorded by Marvin Gaye by The Temptations and Tammi Terrell, is becomes their third 1965 song to hit number The Supremes’ “Stop! (In released. 1969 one on the Billboard the Name of Love)” and “Cloud Nine” by The Hot 100. The Temptations’ “My Temptations wins a Girl” are both number one Grammy award. sports on the Billboard Pop Singles Chart. Martha and the Vandellas. The Four Tops. 7 Rhythm and Blues Artists Holland-Dozier-Holland Someone had to write all the Soul hits. That task belonged to Holland-Dozier-Holland, consisting of Lamont Dozier, and brothers Brian and Eddie Holland. Eddie Holland was a performer and songwriter whose 1958 Mercury single “You” was one of Berry Gordy’s earliest productions. His brother, Brian Holland, found success when he co-wrote The Marvelettes’ “Please Mr. Postman.” Lamont Dozier was a successful recording artist for many labels in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Among them was Anna Label, which was run by Berry Gordy’s sister. From 1962 to 1967, the three wrote and produced many of the songs that would define the Motown sound, including “Stop! In the Name of Love,” “Reach Out I’ll Be There,” and “Nowhere to Run.” Holland-Dozier-Holland. 8 Rhythm and Blues Artists The Supremes Originally known as the Primettes, The Supremes were the most commercially successful Motown act, with 12 number one singles on the Billboard Hits Chart including “Stop! In the Name of Love,” “You Can’t Hurry Love,” and “Love Child.” Founded by Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson, Diana Ross (who would go on to become the group’s lead vocalist), and Betty McGlown, they rivaled even The Beatles in popularity at their peak. To this date, they are one of America’s most successful vocal groups. The Marvelettes. The Marvelettes One of the most significantly successful girl- groups of all time, The Marvelettes’ hit “Please Mr. Postman” was one of the first number one singles recorded by a female vocal act, and the first one for Motown. Other hits include “Don’t Mess with Bill.” The Supremes. 9 Rhythm and Blues Artists The Temptations Suave, harmonious, and flashy, The Temptations were highly influential in R&B and Soul music. Originally known as “The Elgins,” they were the first Motown group to win a Grammy Award in 1969 for “Cloud Nine”. The Temptations’ biggest hits include “My Girl,” “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,” and “I Wish It Would Rain,” which won the group a Grammy Award. The Temptations. The Four Tops The Four Tops were considered 8 the main vocal group of Motown. Their hits include “Reach Out I’ll Be There” and “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch).” Founded by lead vocalist Levi Stubbs, The Four Tops performed from 1953 to 1997 without a change in personnel. The Four Tops. Talk about stamina! 10 Rhythm and Blues Artists The Miracles Founded by Smokey Robinson, Warren “Pete” Moore, and Ronnie White, they were first known as the Five Chimes. They later called themselves the Matadors. They settled on The Miracles once Claudette Robinson (Smokey’s wife) joined.