ipl-logo

African American Bandstand Research Paper

1098 Words5 Pages

The Importance of “American Bandstand” on African American Culture
“We 're goin ' hoppin ', we 're goin ' hoppin ' today, where things are poppin ' the Philadelphia way, we 're gonna drop in on all the music they play, on the bandstand!” These are the lyrics to “Bandstand Boogie,” written by Barry Manilow for ABC’s long running dance show American Bandstand. Barry Manilow’s version of “Bandstand Boogie” was American Bandstand’s opening and closing theme song from 1977 until its last show on ABC in 1987. (Manilow, Album.)
I believe that “American Bandstand” is important to African American music culture because it helped to break down the prejudices that Whites felt toward African Americans. Rhythm and blues music written and performed by …show more content…

11)
“American Bandstand” was the place to reach a young audience and Dick Clark was also the first non-music performer to influence African American music by featuring its artists on television. In the book Dick Clark’s American Bandstand, Clark mentions that his show was the first to showcase African American music stars performing their songs, and it showed African American and White teens dancing together and sitting together during the Civil Rights Era of the 1950s and 1960s. (Clark, pp. 106-107) “American Bandstand” was on local television in Philadelphia beginning in 1952, then on national television from 1957 until 1987. It was shown on cable television from late 1987 until its last show in 1989. Clark joined "Bandstand" in 1956 after its original host was fired. Under Clark 's guidance, it went from a local Philadelphia show to a national phenomenon.
Before appearing on television, Clark hosted radio shows in central New York and Philadelphia. In 1956, Elvis Presley scored his first hit record with “Heartbreak Hotel”, which changed the face of music. His interpretations of songs and provocative performances, mixed with musical influences across color lines that happened during the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement, made him popular and controversial. In an excerpt from The History of American Bandstand, Clark stated that he used the show to introduce viewers to singers less offensive than “Elvis the Pelvis.” (Shore,

Show More
Related
649 Words | 3 Pages

The American bandstand was a television show that teens would watch because of its hip culture. As the show went on it became more popular over the years and lots of young Americans were excited to watch it. The show also had its benefits because it would bring abc lots of ratings and made lots of money. It also brought music to New Year’s Eve. The show “American Bandstand” affected the American people because it was a show that could appeal to teens interest of popular music and also helped rising pop/rock stars to get a start in their career.

Read More
689 Words | 3 Pages

Essay question 1. Starr and Waterman note that “the use of encoded, or hidden, meaning in the blues has its roots in many earlier genres of African American music.” These coded messages often take the form of referencing local landmarks (i.e., “where the southern cross the dog”) and sexual references (i.e., “That Black Snake Moan”). How do these traditions continue to impact popular music?

Read More
937 Words | 4 Pages

Shaking the Foundations Since the founding of the United States of America, culture, religion, and race have always been interlaced. If one of these changed, the others struggled to adapt. There was never a time in America’s short history that these three matters collided more brutally or ferociously than during the emergence of rock ‘n’ roll. It is quite obvious that not one single event, action, or phenomenon caused the turmoil during this era, but rather a perfect storm of cultural and racial revolutions that collided head on with tremendous religious backlash. All Shook Up: How Rock ‘N’ Roll Changed America showcased how one aspect of the Cultural Revolution during the 1950s and 1960s supplemented the perfect storm of social reforms.

Read More
869 Words | 4 Pages

Overall the Apollo Theaters’ role in providing a platform for people of color to gain recognition has made it an essential part of African American cultural history and a symbol of hope for generations of performers and fans alike. A. Topic of paragraph: Since the Apollo Theater created so many influential African American artists it helped inspire and empower young African Americans, who saw the Apollo as a symbol of

Read More
1831 Words | 8 Pages

America's Greatest Gift There is no doubt that Jazz music is one of greatest things to come from American culture. It had sprouted up from cultural and spiritual hymns a global sound that has no restraints. From the early slave songs with their call and response style, to the later Swing and Bebop era tones, Jazz became the frontline for American music where it still remains relevant to this day. It all started in the later parts of the 19th with African slaves brought over from the Atlantic slave trade.

Read More
782 Words | 4 Pages

Benny Goodman also pushed for a diverse band, being the organizer of an interracial group (Swing). In this instance, it was through this connection to music that black and white people came together. At the time that swing was popular, World War II was taking place. It seems legit that people would want to get their feeling out somehow. Swing music did just that.

Read More
306 Words | 2 Pages

The impact Elvis had on America during the 1950s revolved around music, race and class, performance, gender, sex and teenagers, marketing and fashion and television and cinema. His impact began with his music style, records, and the radio. When Elvis released his singles and albums, it would often become number one on “Billboard.” One of his singles was 'Don't

Read More
1341 Words | 6 Pages

To begin with, Elvis Presley shaped America’s music culture. Elvis Presley compares to many other artists. “It's anyone's guess what an Elvis-free world would be like, but it wouldn't include disciples like the Beatles, the Stones, or scores of other greats” (Enos). Elvis Presley was compared to the Beatles and

Read More
2424 Words | 10 Pages

“Musicians took their fame and music to promote racial equality” (Gross 1). Two of the many great jazz musicians during this time were Louis Armstrong and Charlie Parker. Louis Armstrong lived a life of jazz and made a career of it from the 1920s to the 1960s. “...by performing for mainly white audiences, Louis Armstrong had a subtle way of dealing with racial issues” (Gross 1). Louis Armstrong became a face for the whole jazz community fighting against segregation.

Read More
789 Words | 4 Pages

On January 8th, 1935 one of the greatest influences to pop and country was born. Elvis Aaron Presley changed the way people heard and saw music through his songs and the way he performed them. Elvis’ music was stunning, he had eighteen American No. 1s and hundreds of gold records from around the world. He brought a way of performing that people had never experienced before, he was electrifying when he performed on stage. Elvis Presley was the first rock'n'roll star, he brought rebellion to the youth of that time and was able to grasp the listener and draw them into his songs which few artist have ever been able to accomplish.

Read More
1162 Words | 5 Pages

Elvis faced many obstacles during his 24 years as the “King” he faced racial controversy, musical barriers, and bad press in order to help create Rock and Roll music. Long before Rock n Roll was created or even thought of, the musical world was divided over petty differences. One of the many reasons why music was divided was the heavy racism that plagued the United States since the end of slavery. Another reason why music was divided was the fact of a huge generation gap, or difference between parent and child. These are some of the challenges that Elvis faced.

Read More
2075 Words | 9 Pages

Not everyone has the same story which makes them so unique and different. Just like Aretha, Elvis was a hit from the start. Women were obsessed with him and men envied his popularity with ladies. Elvis never made a record that wasn’t a hit. Everyone loved his music, when a person has the talent and appeal that Elvis has, a hundred Ricky Nelsons can’t take it away from him”

Read More
1442 Words | 6 Pages

Elvis stated he and Crudup used to “bang his box the way I do now, and I said if I ever got to the place where I could feel all old Arthur felt, I’d be a music man like nobody ever saw.” When Elvis shared thoughts like that he was admired in the black community in his early years of stardem. Because he didnt care what people said in his society, people assumed he was just low class or didn't have any class at all. He was known as the “race man” by two newspapers in Memphis, The Memphis World and The Tri-State Defender because they liked how he was different and wasnt mainstream. In the summer of 1956, The World reported, “the rock ’n’ roll phenomenon cracked Memphis’s segregation laws” by attending the Memphis Fairgrounds amusement park “during what is designated as ‘colored

Read More
371 Words | 2 Pages

It grasps the complex and deep essence of African American music and relays it to readers in a very simple and understandable way. As a reader, this helped me to gain a new perspective about African American music. It also helped me to eliminate certain stereotypes I knew about their style of worship. Costen states the hymnody was designed to express the attitude of believers about God.(51). This is a clear example of the expressive form of worship.

Read More
524 Words | 3 Pages

Elvis Presley has had more impact on American society and culture than any other person in history for the three following reasons; his large contribution to the start of the generation gap in the 1950’s, his huge impact on rock ‘n’ roll music, and finally, his music opened a door for some integration between races. First of all, in the 1950’s Elvis Presley and his music started the era of the generation gap between teenagers and their parents, an era which is still going on today. With Elvis being very young, attractive and his new type of music and dancing, teenage girls fell head over heels for the young star. Most parents though, did not feel the same way about Presley. He was often described a vulgar and many accused him of corrupting the youth.

Read More

More about African American Bandstand Research Paper

Related Topics

Open Document