Boogie-Woogie

1 of 1 Pages

(Piano, vocals, 1927–80) Milburn was a Houston pianist whose rollicking piano-playing and versatile singing was a major influence on Fats Domino and others. Milburn’s first hit was the 1948 party classic ‘Chicken Shack Boogie’. Milburn could croon a soulful ballad, but made a bigger impact with horn-driven material such as ‘Roomin’ House Boogie’ and ‘Sax Shack Boogie’, along with several songs about liquor like ‘Thinking And Drinking’ and the much-covered ‘One ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
91 Words Read More

(Piano, singer-songwriter, b. 1942) A highly respected exponent of Southern R&B, Mac Rebennack had 15 years of recording and production experience as a session player before he released his first LP, 1968’s Gris Gris. Frequently adding jazz, rock, psychedelia and voodoo to the R&B mix, his prolific output is unpredictably eclectic, although his musical knowledge and connections are impeccable. He was an energetic fundraiser for his home town New Orleans following ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
93 Words Read More

(Piano, vocals, 1909–67) Mullican was a versatile Texas pianist and vocalist who influenced Jerry Lee Lewis and others with pre-rock pounders like ‘Cherokee Boogie’ and western-swing gems like ‘Don’t Ever Take My Picture Down’, but was perhaps even more influential behind the scenes of his 30-year career. Widely acknowledged to be the co-writer of Hank Williams’ ‘Jambalaya’, Mullican summoned up many of that song’s Cajun references for his own highly stylized ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
93 Words Read More

(Piano, 1918–80) A New Orleans native, Roy Byrd brought an irresistible Caribbean feel to his piano-playing. The shaggy-haired Byrd got the nickname Professor Longhair from a club owner in 1948. Longhair first recorded his signature ‘Mardi Gras In New Orleans’ in 1949, the national R&B hit ‘Bald Head’ in 1950, and ‘Tipitina’ in 1953. Longhair endured tough times in the 1960s but enjoyed a resurgence in the 1970s. His work influenced ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
93 Words Read More

(Vocal group, 1972–81, 1993–present) This critically acclaimed New York outfit was formed around the nucleus of songwriters of Walter Becker (bass, vocals) and Donald Fagen (keyboards, vocals). Drummer Jim Hodder and guitarists Denny Dias and Jeff ‘Skunk’ Baxter completed the line-up along with vocalist David Palmer, recruited because Fagen was not sufficiently confident in his own singing. Their debut Can’t Buy A Thrill (1972) contained radio staples ‘Reeling In The Years’ ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
165 Words Read More

(Vocal group, 1931–52) The Delmore Brothers (Alton and Rabon) were a precursor to sibling vocal groups like The Everly Brothers. The Delmores’ sound, which incorporated fast electric guitar parts and bluesy harmonica riffs, foreshadowed the crossover appeal of later rockabilly and country rock bands. Embracing elements of western swing and boogie-woogie in the late 1940s, The Delmores recorded multiple songs like ‘Hillbilly Boogie’ and ‘Freight Train Boogie’, but their biggest hit ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
95 Words Read More

A rollicking, fast piano style characterized by repetitive eighth-note bass figures in the left hand, meshed with sharp, bluesy single-note runs in the right hand, boogie-woogie was an infectious form that had an immediate appeal to dancers. While the left hand remained tied to the task of covering driving bass lines in a kind of ‘automatic pilot’ approach through chord changes (repeating continuous eighth-note bass figures in each different harmony), the ...

Source: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music, general editor Paul Du Noyer
978 Words Read More

Rock’n’roll did not spring fully formed from Memphis in the shape of Elvis Presley but was the coming together of several different roots musics. Country, jazz, doo-wop and the blues had all enjoyed significant audiences in their own right, and all would have a bearing on the sounds to come. The music scenes across America had been local or, at best regional. But just as the advance of radio beamed entertainment ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
1382 Words Read More
1 of 1 Pages

AUTHORITATIVE

An extensive music information resource, bringing together the talents and expertise of a wide range of editors and musicologists, including Stanley Sadie, Charles Wilson, Paul Du Noyer, Tony Byworth, Bob Allen, Howard Mandel, Cliff Douse, William Schafer, John Wilson...

CURATED

Classical, Rock, Blues, Jazz, Country and more. Flame Tree has been making encyclopaedias and guides about music for over 20 years. Now Flame Tree Pro brings together a huge canon of carefully curated information on genres, styles, artists and instruments. It's a perfect tool for study, and entertaining too, a great companion to our music books.

Rock, A Life Story

Rock, A Life Story

The ultimate story of a life of rock music, from the 1950s to the present day.

David Bowie

David Bowie

Fantastic new, unofficial biography covers his life, music, art and movies, with a sweep of incredible photographs.