By Bob Hoye ——Bio and Archives--July 18, 2023
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Over the past one hundred years, popular music has grown in range of styles as well as availability to a now global audience. In the early 1930s, solo vocalists such as Bing Crosby and Mildred Bailey come to prominence with jazz-influenced recordings, providing a new and suddenly popular entertainment to a quickly growing audience. Radio and phonographs were the new technology.
However, in reviewing the history of bands in Jazz and Rock, the greatest in each field enjoyed the greatest longevity. A remarkable piece of history. The determining factor has been the launch with a terrific hit combined with a long run of outstanding creativity and widespread recognition.
In its infancy, Jazz lifted off in the 1920s establishing its own genre. Crosby and Bailey, each on their own, were important in popularizing the “new” music. But Ellington was the musical genius in the field and his band was intact and viable for 48 years from 1926 to when he died in 1974.
The next specific genre was Rock and Roll. And there have also been outstanding solo performers such as Little Richard or Rod Stewart. As well, there were briefly-lived groups such as the Eagles or Bob Seger. But there has been a band that has prevailed for now 58 years which is remarkable. And as with Ellington, the Stones in defining “Hard Rock” have been the best in the field.
It is interesting that the most accomplished in each space clocked a remarkable longevity.
Ellington’s full band got a significant start with his 1926 recording of Creole Love Call that with vocalist Adelaide Hall became a “worldwide sensation”. Her opening riffs without words are riveting.
Beginning in 1938, Billy Strayhorn became his outstanding composer, arranger and collaborator. Strayhorn’s Take the ‘A’ Train was a hit extending outside of the jazz world, as well as the band’s signature tune.
The combination of Ellington and Strayhorn was uniquely gifted.
Intact and viable is the current description of the Rolling Stones who dramatically came to the forefront in 1965 with Keith Richard’s opening riff to Satisfaction. It came to him one night and being half asleep he managed to capture it on a cassette player next to his bed. Richard’s initial astounding musical statement was followed by others.
And the combination of Richards and Jagger has been the outstanding writing team in the business.
The only explanation of greatness and longevity in two important fields of music is fate.
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Bob Hoye (BobHoye.com) has been researching investments for decades, which eventually included the history of financial and political markets. He considers now to be the most fascinating time for both since the Great Reformation of the 1600s. Bob casts a caustic eye on all promotions and, having a degree in geophysics, is severely critical of the audacity that a committee can “manage” not just the economy, but also the temperature of the nearest planet. He has had articles published in major financial journals and, as a speaker, has amused assemblies in a number of cities, from London to Zurich to Tokyo.