Great Lakes Playlist

Clayton Parr, Ph.D., Professor of Music, Albion College.

Tuesdays.  10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon.  October 1, 8, 15, 22.  Location: Olin 112

In this class, we will explore three major musical innovations that came out of the Great Lakes region in the 20^th Century and how they spread throughout the country and beyond—first, the beginnings of African-American gospel music in Chicago in the 1930s; second, the development of rhythm and blues in Chicago in the 1940s and 50s; and third, Motown.  We will discuss the roots of this music and look at the social, racial, religious and geographical situations that made the cities of Chicago and Detroit such important places for this music to develop as it did.  Background reading in the texts listed is strictly optional.