On That Note: Late-Musicians, 2017

[Cydar]

Here's an extensive list of musicians (and people in the music industry) who died in 2017
http://weheartmusic.typepad.com/blog/musicians-who-died-in-2017.html

 

[drlove]

I had tickets to see him last summer, sadly he had to cancel.

 

[coolerifyoudid]

How about one combining two very unique voices with Chris Cornell and Chester Bennington

 

[Cydar]

 

[cyclones500]

Appreciate a Steely Dan/Becker reference. As with several others added to the thread, my exposure is too scant to justify good examples.

 

[matclone]

Country songs don't get much better than this one penned by Mel Tillis:

 

[Rabbuk]

National treasure Lil Peep.

 

[CycloneRulzzz]

When I think of Chuck Berry one of the songs that comes to my mind will be this funny diddy.

 

[cyclones500]

When I think of Chuck Berry one of the songs that comes to my mind will be this funny diddy.

That's a song that comes to mind for many people. Sadly, his only #1 single in U.S.

 

[CycloneRulzzz]

That's a song that comes to mind for many people. Sadly, his only #1 single in U.S.

I figured that song was just a throwaway song. Thought for sure Johnny B Goode would of been his top song.

 

[cyclones500]

I figured that song was just a throwaway song. Thought for sure Johnny B Goode would of been his top song.

Logic would suggest that. And it's a fine throwaway-ditty, just oddly misrepresents his catalog.

Johnny B. Goode peaked at #8 (as did Rock and Roll Music). Sweet Little Sixteen (2), Maybelline and School Day each charted higher.

 

[MeanDean]

I figured that song was just a throwaway song. Thought for sure Johnny B Goode would of been his top song.

Never underestimate the American record buying public when it comes to the novelty song. Especially one with a naughty overtone.

Novelty songs by their nature, if they hit, are fast risers and even faster fallers off the chart. People initially love it, then get very tired of it after the 'novelty' wears off.

I find I actually like his early/mid 60's stuff as much if not more than his 50's stuff. Another one I really like and was an early cover by the Rolling Stones is 'Come On.'

 

[matclone]

Why My Ding a Ling was #1 but the others weren't? I think it has to do in part with the respective timing of the songs. When Berry did his classic songs in the late 50s and early 60s (e.g., Johnny B Goode, Maybelliene, Carol, Roll Over Beethoven), music was still pretty segregated, so his songs were probably not heard except on radio stations that catered to the black market. I doubt KIOA was playing those songs.

Then came the Beatles, and all the rock and roll bands that sprung forth in their aftermath, doing Chuck Berry music--resulting in much broader exposure to his music. By the time he did My Ding a Ling, he was a legend.

I didn't tune in to popular music until the late 60s so those who have a longer perspective, tell me if I'm off base here.

 

[cyclones500]

Why My Ding a Ling was #1 but the others weren't? I think it has to do in part with the respective timing of the songs. When Berry did his classic songs in the late 50s and early 60s (e.g., Johnny B Goode, Maybelliene, Carol, Roll Over Beethoven), music was still pretty segregated, so his songs were probably not heard except on radio stations that catered to the black market. I doubt KIOA was playing those songs.

Then came the Beatles, and all the rock and roll bands that sprung forth in their aftermath, doing Chuck Berry music--resulting in much broader exposure to his music. By the time he did My Ding a Ling, he was a legend.

I didn't tune in to popular music until the late 60s so those who have a longer perspective, tell me if I'm off base here.

You may have a point on the timing. MeanDean probably can shed more light on radio exposure of Berry's earlier work. ... Re: KIOA --- I'd be curious what that station played in the '60s, my earliest memory is from early-70s. And even then, listening to WOW-Omaha was more of a mainstay in my little universe.

 

[srjclone]

Christopher Wong Won "Fresh Kid Ice" - 2 Live Crew

Just go look up 2 Live Crew, I guarantee you know a song haha. However, not sure if I can post em

 

[MeanDean]

Why My Ding a Ling was #1 but the others weren't? I think it has to do in part with the respective timing of the songs. When Berry did his classic songs in the late 50s and early 60s (e.g., Johnny B Goode, Maybelliene, Carol, Roll Over Beethoven), music was still pretty segregated, so his songs were probably not heard except on radio stations that catered to the black market. I doubt KIOA was playing those songs.

Then came the Beatles, and all the rock and roll bands that sprung forth in their aftermath, doing Chuck Berry music--resulting in much broader exposure to his music. By the time he did My Ding a Ling, he was a legend.

I didn't tune in to popular music until the late 60s so those who have a longer perspective, tell me if I'm off base here.

I don't think there was much segregation of the music as much as the record labels were major and independent. A lot of the black artists were on the independent labels so got less exposure and less likely to be hits. A good example is Nat King Cole; a black artist on Capitol who got multiple hits all through the 50's and into the 60's. Some even called the iconic Capitol records tower in LA "The house that Nat built."

This was the earliest KIOA Survey I could find on line - from 1957. Chuck Berry, coincidentally is in the number 3 position with School Day(s). Notice most of the hits WERE on the major labels of the day. So, in my mind, there was no discernible prejudice on the radio for pop/rock at the time.

http://las-solanas.com/arsa/surveys_item.php?svid=205

I first became aware of top 40 radio when our family got a console stereo for Christmas 1964. Being a naive Iowa boy I had no idea which songs were from black artists and which were from white artists. I would maybe learn by seeing them on Ed Sullivan, Hullabaloo or Shindig. People were generally aware of 'Motown' as a major force in soul music of the time but I don't remember much other than that. Again, I was pretty young.

If anything, I'd say the 80's were more segregated. There was black/disco/rap and white heavy metal and pop with some crossover (Basically Michael Jackson and Prince) but the stations played more specifically along the lines of race than I remember in the 60's.

 

[cyclones500]

I don't think there was much segregation of the music as much as the record labels were major and independent. A lot of the black artists were on the independent labels so got less exposure and less likely to be hits. A good example is Nat King Cole; a black artist on Capitol who got multiple hits all through the 50's and into the 60's. Some even called the iconic Capitol records tower in LA "The house that Nat built."

This was the earliest KIOA Survey I could find on line - from 1957. Chuck Berry, coincidentally is in the number 3 position with School Day(s). Notice most of the hits WERE on the major labels of the day. So, in my mind, there was no discernible prejudice on the radio for pop/rock at the time.

http://las-solanas.com/arsa/surveys_item.php?svid=205

I first became aware of top 40 radio when our family got a console stereo for Christmas 1964. Being a naive Iowa boy I had no idea which songs were from black artists and which were from white artists. I would maybe learn by seeing them on Ed Sullivan, Hullabaloo or Shindig. People were generally aware of 'Motown' as a major force in soul music of the time but I don't remember much other than that. Again, I was pretty young.

If anything, I'd say the 80's were more segregated. There was black/disco/rap and white heavy metal and pop with some crossover (Basically Michael Jackson and Prince) but the stations played more specifically along the lines of race than I remember in the 60's.

Excellent summary. I learned something today (finally!) ... cool link to the KIOA list. I've gotta take a look-see at that.

 

[cyclones500]

If anything, I'd say the 80's were more segregated. There was black/disco/rap and white heavy metal and pop with some crossover (Basically Michael Jackson and Prince) but the stations played more specifically along the lines of race than I remember in the 60's.

I can't compare it to the 60s, but it wouldn't surprise me about 80s segregation. MTV also was Notorious about not showing black artists, early on, until Jackson's breakthrough and also Prince, as you stated. There wasn't much crossover probably until the unlikely collaboration of Aerosmith/Run-DMC, then a bit when Beastie Boys came along. Metal was a mostly white thing, Living Colour got wedged into that mold. ... I'm oversimplifying a bit.