Music of Rhode Island

Last updated

Rhode Island, a state of the United States, located in the New England region, is known for a diverse and thriving music scene.

Contents

History

In 1733, the first organ said to be designed for church use, was installed at Trinity Church in Newport.[ citation needed ]

In the late 1990s, the state's music scene, which is centered around the capital city of Providence, became nationally known for the noise rock scene that revolved around the Fort Thunder artists' collective.[ citation needed ]

The state is home to a wide range of artists performing of a number of genres, most notably folk rock, jazz, hardcore punk, hip hop, and Cape Verdean music.[ citation needed ]

The state is known for the famous Newport Jazz and Newport Folk festivals.[ citation needed ]

State song

In 1996, Rhode Island declared "Rhode Island, It's for Me" as the official state song. The lyrics were written by Charlie Hall, the music was written by Maria Day, and the piece was arranged by Kathryn Chester. [1] "Rhode Island, It's for Me" replaced "Rhode Island", which was subsequently named the official state march.[ citation needed ]

Other state-affiliated songs

"Rhode Island"

About

“Rhode Island”, written by T. Clarke Browne, was the official state song for over 50 years, when it was replaced by “Rhode Island, It’s For Me”. [2] It has since been renamed the official state march. [3]

Lyrics

The following are the lyrics for the song "Rhode Island": [4]

Here's to you, belov'd RHODE ISLAND,
With your Hills and Ocean Shore.
We are proud to hail you RHODY
And your patriots of yore.

First to claim your independence,
Great your heritage and fame.
The smallest State in all the Union,
We will glorify your name!

"Rhode Island Is Famous for You"

About

“Rhode Island Is Famous for You” was originally written by Howard Dietz and Arthur Schwartz in 1948, for Inside U.S.A. , a 1940s Broadway show about the U.S. States. The number was performed by Estelle Loring, who was awarded a Theater World Award for the piece, and Jack Haley. [5]

“Rhode Island Is Famous for You” also served as the theme song for Buddy Cianci’s Radio Show, and was performed by Robert Goulet and Cianci himself at his 1995 mayoral inauguration. [5]

The song has been covered by Blossom Dearie, Michael Feinstein, Nancy Lamott, Mandy Patinkin, John Pizzarelli, and Erin McKeown.[ citation needed ]

The song has recently[ when? ] been featured on the podcast Crimetown .[ clarification needed ][ citation needed ]

Providence

Providence, the state's capital, has a very strong local independent music scene, known especially for its contributions to the genre of noise rock, most notably the groups Lightning Bolt, Daughters, Black Dice, and Arab on Radar. Rap artists such as Sage Francis and John Phelps, formerly known as Lunchbagg, are among the notable figures combining DIY philosophy with Hip Hop. Other rap artists such as Dee Gomes, Jae Lynx, King OSF, J Duce, and Vick Mucka have grown prominent fan bases by representing the city's harsher neighborhoods and have gone on to sign with major record labels.[ citation needed ]

Other indie rock and alternative artists from the city include Les Savy Fav, Dicky Barrett (vocalist for ska group Mighty Mighty Bosstones), ZOX, The Low Anthem, Downtown Boys, and Deer Tick. Noise/Punk 5 piece, Hairspray Queen are also from varying neighborhoods in the City.[ citation needed ]

Singer-songwriter, musician, and lyricist Jeffrey Osborne was born and raised in Providence. Osborne spent over a decade as the drummer and lead vocalist for the American R&B/funk band L.T.D. Amongst his biggest hits with the group were "(Every Time I Turn Around) Back in Love Again" (1977), "Concentrate on You", "Love Ballad" (1976), and "Holding On (When Love Is Gone)" (1978). Osborne subsequently launched a successful solo career in 1982, charting with hit songs including "On the Wings of Love", "I Really Don't Need No Light" (No. 29 and No. 39, respectively, on the pop chart), "Don't You Get So Mad" (No. 25), "Stay with Me Tonight" (No. 30), "Plane Love" (No. 10 R&B, No. 6 dance), and "We're Going All the Way" (No. 48).[ citation needed ]

Based in Providence, the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra is one of the most influential music institutions in the state.[ citation needed ]

College Hill

Rhode Island School of Design has been the alma mater of many popular musicians. Three members of Talking Heads met at the college, but did not form the band until they moved to New York City.[ citation needed ]

Notable musicians who graduated Providence's Brown University include Wendy Carlos, Lisa Loeb, Mary Chapin Carpenter, OK Go singer, Damian Kulash, Duncan Sheik, ZOX, Lawrence, and Will Oldham, who dropped out after one semester.[ citation needed ]

Newport

Newport has a much smaller scene, with Throwing Muses being its most successful rock band. The group formed in 1981 and recorded and toured until their hiatus in 2003. The band's lead guitarist and secondary songwriter, Tanya Donnelly also formed Belly, best known for their hit "Feed the Tree", which went to #1 on the Billboard Modern Rock chart in 1994. Donnelly was also briefly guitarist for The Breeders.[ citation needed ]

The singing family The Cowsills, who had Top 40 hits from 1967 to 1969 also are from Newport. They were the inspiration for the fictional Partridge Family.[ citation needed ]

Since 2000, Newport has cultivated a small ska punk scene, headed by the Sublime cover group Badfish and the punk band Big World.[ citation needed ]

Rockabilly singer Jody Gibson (née Joseph Paul Katzberg), who had a Gold Record with Good Morning Captain, spent much of his later life in Newport.[ citation needed ]

Rest of the state

Other well known Rhode Island musical artists from elsewhere in the state include John Cafferty, Blu Cantrell (who had a #2 Hot 100 hit with "Hit 'Em Up Style (Oops!)" in 2001), Combustible Edison, Sage Francis, Monty Are I, Draco and the Malfoys, and Billy Gillman. The pop music producer and songwriter Dr. Luke was born in Westerly. [6]

Other music

Indigenous music

Portuguese music

Due to the large population of Portuguese immigrants in Southern New England, Portuguese traditional music is played in small communities. Usually Roman Catholic churches are the center of the communities activities, where music is played.[ citation needed ]

Fado, which has been compared with the Spanish flamenco, is a form of music characterized by mournful tunes and lyrics, often about the sea or the life of the poor, and infused with a characteristic sentiment of resignation, fatefulness, and melancholia (loosely captured by the word saudade, or "longing"). Fado performers play at local venues throughout Rhode Island and Southern Massachusetts.[ citation needed ]

The Azores is the major heritage of many Portuguese-Americans. In Rhode Island, most Portuguese traditional music is played by Azorean people. Azoreans maintain some distinct musical traditions, such as the traditionally fiddle-driven chamarrita dance. This dance and music is played mainly at weddings and Church festivals.[ citation needed ]

Azorean-Portuguese sensation Jorge Ferreira is a popular musician throughout New England, singing at many festivals and events.[ citation needed ]

Cape Verdean music

Of special importance is the music of the large Cape Verdean population. Although Cape Verdean music is largely unknown outside of the expatriate community, Rhode Island is the acknowledged center for Cape Verdean morna and other styles in the United States. [7]

Music festivals

Newport Jazz Festival

The Newport Jazz Festival began in 1954 by George Wein and has been documented on recordings by Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk, Duke Ellington, Muddy Waters, Nina Simone, Ray Charles, John Coltrane and Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. The 1958 festival was documented in the 1960 film Jazz on a Summer's Day . The festival moved to New York City in 1971. In 1985, the festival was revived in Newport as a JVC Jazz Festival.[ citation needed ]

Newport Folk Festival

The Newport Folk Festival began in 1959, co-founded by Jazz Festival founder George Wein. The festival is best known for the July 25, 1965 performance of Bob Dylan, where he performed for the first time with electric instruments. Like the Jazz Festival, the folk festival moved to New York City in 1971, but returned in 1986. Notable performers at the festivals included: Joan Baez, Phil Ochs, Bob Dylan, Buffalo Springfield, Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie, Richie Havens, Bonnie Raitt, Alison Krauss, Ry Cooder, Little Feat, Janis Ian, Suzanne Vega, Violent Femmes, The String Cheese Incident, Indigo Girls, and The Pixies.[ citation needed ]

Newport Music Festival

The Newport Music Festival is a classical music festival that began in 1969 as a summer season of the Metropolitan Opera. The outdoor venue was not conducive to classical music performance, and instead the grand rooms of the stately Newport mansions were put to use for chamber music concerts. The early concerts utilized many members of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. Mark P. Malkovich, III has been the general director for 31 of the 37 seasons. It has become known for giving young international artists, such as Inessa Galante, a venue for their American debut.[ citation needed ]

Sunset Music Festival

The Sunset Music Festival began in 1997 in Newport and has included performances by acts as varied as Saves the Day, Jason Mraz, Paula Cole, moe., Little Feat, Jack's Mannequin, Peter Frampton, Bo Bice, Bruce Hornsby, Guster, Something Corporate, Ben Folds (who has played at several festivals), Better Than Ezra, Cheap Trick, Gin Blossoms and Anna Nalick and also local artists like Becky Chace, Zox, and Monty Are I.[ citation needed ]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newport, Rhode Island</span> City in Rhode Island, United States

Newport is a seaside city on Aquidneck Island in Rhode Island, United States. It is located in Narragansett Bay, approximately 33 miles (53 km) southeast of Providence, 20 miles (32 km) south of Fall River, Massachusetts, 74 miles (119 km) south of Boston, and 180 miles (290 km) northeast of New York City. It is known as a New England summer resort and is famous for its historic mansions and its rich sailing history. The city has a population of about 25,000 residents.

The music of Finland can be roughly divided into folk music, classical and contemporary art music, and contemporary popular music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Music of South Africa</span> Overview of music traditions in South Africa

The South African music scene includes both popular (jive) and folk forms like Zulu isicathamiya singing and harmonic mbaqanga. Other popular genres are marabi, kwaito,house music, pop music, isicathamiya, gqom, rock music, hip hop and amapiano.

Wisconsin was settled largely by European immigrants in the late 19th century. This immigration led to the popularization of galops, schottisches, waltzes, and, especially, polkas. Classical composers and conductors from Wisconsin include Hans Balatka, Hugo Kaun, Eugene Luening, and Theodore Steinmetz. Among Wisconsin's contributions to rock music were Les Paul, an electric guitar pioneer known as the "Wizard of Waukesha". The Steve Miller Band, with Milwaukee's Steve Miller, had three #1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 from 1973 to 1982. The Chordettes from Sheboygan, Bon Iver from Eau Claire, and Garbage from Madison all had albums on the Billboard 200.

The U.S. state of New Jersey is located in the Northeastern United States and is part of the Mid-Atlantic region.

Virginia's musical contribution to American culture has been diverse, and includes Piedmont blues, jazz, folk, brass, hip-hop, and rock and roll bands, as well as the founding origins of country music in the Bristol sessions by Appalachian Virginians.

The music of the Philippines includes the musical performance arts in the Philippines and the music of Filipinos composed in various local and international genres and styles. Philippine musical compositions are often a mixture of Indigenous styles, and various Asian styles, as well as Spanish/Latin American and (US) American influences through foreign rule from those countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Music of Kentucky</span> Overview of music traditions in the U.S. state of Kentucky

The Music of Kentucky is heavily centered on Appalachian folk music and its descendants, especially in eastern Kentucky. Bluegrass music is of particular regional importance; Bill Monroe, "the father of bluegrass music", was born in the Ohio County community of Rosine, and he named his band, the Blue Grass Boys, after the bluegrass state, i.e., Kentucky. Travis picking, the influential guitar style, is named after Merle Travis, born and raised in Muhlenberg County. Kentucky is home to the Country Music Highway, which extends from Portsmouth, Ohio, to the Virginia border in Pike County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newport Folk Festival</span> Annual American music festival in Rhode Island

Newport Folk Festival is an annual American folk-oriented music festival in Newport, Rhode Island, which began in 1959 as a counterpart to the Newport Jazz Festival. The festival was founded by music promoter and Jazz Festival founder George Wein, music manager Albert Grossman, and folk singers Pete Seeger, Theodore Bikel, and Oscar Brand. It was one of the first modern music festivals in America, and remains a focal point in the expanding genre of folk music. The festival was held in Newport annually from 1959 to 1969, except in 1961 and 1962, first at Freebody Park and then at Festival Field. In 1985, Wein revived the festival in Newport, where it has been held at Fort Adams State Park ever since.

Brazilian rock refers to rock music produced in Brazil and usually sung in Portuguese. In the 1960s, it was known as iê-iê-iê, the Portuguese transcription of the line "Yeah, yeah, yeah" from the Beatles song "She Loves You".

The music of Alaska is a broad artistic field incorporating many cultures in the U.S. state of Alaska.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amica Mutual Pavilion</span> Indoor arena in Providence, Rhode Island

The Amica Mutual Pavilion is an indoor arena located in downtown Providence, Rhode Island. It was built in 1972, as a home court for the Providence College Friars men's basketball program, due to the high demand for tickets to their games in Alumni Hall, as well as for a home arena for the then–Providence Reds, who played in the nearly 50-year-old Rhode Island Auditorium. Current tenants include the Providence Bruins ice hockey team, of the American Hockey League (AHL) and the Providence College Friars men's basketball team, of the Big East Conference. The center is operated by the Rhode Island Convention Center Authority, which also operates the Rhode Island Convention Center and Veterans Memorial Auditorium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Music of Cardiff</span> Overview of music in Cardiff, Wales

The music of Cardiff has been dominated mainly by rock music since the early 1990s with later trends developing towards more extreme styles of the genre such as heavy metal and metalcore music. It, along with the nearby music scene in Newport, has brought a number of musicians to perform or begin their careers in South Wales.

Seattle is the largest city in the U.S. state of Washington and has long played a major role in the state's musical culture, popularizing genres of alternative rock such as grunge and being the origin of major bands like Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Screaming Trees, Mudhoney, Foo Fighters, and, most notably, Nirvana. The city and surrounding metropolitan area remains home to several influential artists, bands, labels, and venues, and is home to several symphony orchestras; and world-class choral, ballet and opera companies, as well as amateur orchestras and big-band era ensembles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southeastern Massachusetts</span> Region of Massachusetts in the United States

Southeastern Massachusetts is a region of Massachusetts located south of Boston and east of Rhode Island. It is commonly used to describe areas with cultural ties to both Boston and Providence, Rhode Island, and includes the cities of New Bedford and Fall River and their respective suburbs. Despite the location of Cape Cod and the islands to its south, which are the southeasternmost parts of the state, they are not often grouped in this designation. At its broadest definition, it includes all of Massachusetts south of Boston, southeast of Worcester, and east of Providence, Rhode Island, while at its narrowest definition, it is Bristol County and the Western portion of Plymouth County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WXHQ-LP</span> Radio station in Newport, Rhode Island

WXHQ-LP is a non-commercial radio station licensed to the community of Newport, Rhode Island. The station serves Newport and the greater Providence, Rhode Island, area. The station is owned and operated by the Newport Music Arts Association, a non-profit organization. It airs a Jazz/Freeform format that, according to the station's website, includes "jazz, blues, r&b, bossa nova, Afro-Cuban, lounge, soul, funk, reggae, ska, electronic, downtempo, acid-jazz, surf, world, country, folk, and even occasionally some rock". The music played is almost exclusively instrumental and the station has a policy against playing songs featuring English language vocals.

Badfish: A Tribute to Sublime is a Rhode Island-based tribute band dedicated to playing the music of Sublime. The band should not be confused with the southern California-based band of the same name. The group is named after a song appearing on the album 40oz. to Freedom. Formed in 2001 at the University of Rhode Island, the group's members, who were computer science majors, began playing local Rhode Island clubs and quickly began selling out shows. They continued touring the East Coast and Midwest of the U.S., becoming popular on college campuses and among Sublime fans who never were able to see the band due to frontman Bradley Nowell's death in 1996. Since then the group has done multiple national tours per year. In 2008, the band was nominated for Best Tribute Act in the Boston Music Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Low Anthem</span> American indie folk band

The Low Anthem is a band from Providence, Rhode Island, formed in 2006 by friends Ben Knox Miller and Jeff Prystowsky. The current lineup consists of Knox Miller, Prystowsky, Bryan Minto and Florence Grace Wallis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ZOX</span> American rock band

ZOX is a rock band from Providence, Rhode Island. The band consists of four members: namesake John Zox (drums), Eli Miller, Spencer Swain, and Dan Edinberg.

Undertow Brass Band is a brass band with approximately 18 active members from Providence, Rhode Island, United States. They perform using exclusively brass instruments, saxophones, and drums in a variety of world styles, such as Indian Bollywood music, Balkan brass, klezmer, as well as American styles such as hip hop, rock, and New Orleans second line music.

References

  1. RI.gov. "RIGOV". www.ri.gov. Retrieved 2019-11-06.
  2. "Rhode Island State Song: Rhode Island's It for Me". www.ereferencedesk.com. Retrieved 2019-11-06.
  3. "Quahog.org: Rhode Island in the Limelight: Music, R". www.quahog.org. Retrieved 2019-11-06.
  4. "Rhode Island State March Rhode Island T. Clarke Brown Thomas Clarke Brown". www.netstate.com. Retrieved 2019-11-06.
  5. 1 2 "The History of "Rhode Island is Famous for You" – Trinity Repertory Company". www.trinityrep.com. Retrieved 2019-11-06.
  6. Rosen, Jody (2009-12-16). "The Music Club". Slate . Retrieved 2009-12-22.
  7. Máximo and Peterson, pgs. 448-457

Bibliography