The Supremes And The Beatles

Name: Course Code: Date: The Supremes & The Beatles History The Supremes and the Beatles have left an indelible mark in the music industries decades after they split and the artists pursued solo careers. Their songs are still finding their airtime in the modern music industry and the bands have become iconic and household names for decades. Though these two bands altered the path of music in the world forever, they have very different historical backgrounds. The Beatles which was started by John Lennon and Paul McCartney when they med in Liverpool went on to become the greatest band of all time. At their peak, the band topped billboards around the world with their music. They shadowed other pop music artists of the time and transcended their influence and dominance from Europe to the US and other parts of the world. In 1966 when the Beatles band split to allow the artists venture into a solo career though they teamed in each other’s solo albums, the band performed the final concert in Candlestick stadium marking the end of a four-year tour in which they had performed in 1400 concerts CITATION Joh12 \l 1033 (Reid, 2012). The Supremes had their roots in Detroit Michigan. The four artists changed the face of pop music which was dominated by white males and introduced a new perspective to the industry. It was started by Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson who enlisted their friend to form the quartet that was first called the Primettes. The Primettes was a subgroup of ladies under the Prime all-male groups which was managed by Milton Jenkins. Milton Jenkins exposed young artists to music and helped them perform locally where they established their roots. Most of their hits were written and produced by Motown's main songwriting and production team. Their popularity was at the same time with the Beatles and stayed together for 18 years before they split to pursue individual career paths. In 1967, they changed their name to Diana Ross and the Supremes because Diana Ross was the lead vocalist who had stood out of the rest. Diana Ross left and the group reverted to Supremes and also enlisted other artists. The band was disbanded in 1977 but their contribution to the music industry went on for decades. Impact The place of the Supremes in the American music industry and politics is unparalleled. As an all-female band which embraced their femininity in the 1960s America and producing quality music, they pioneered a new path in pop music. Their manager also ensured that they were ready to perform for kings and queens CITATION Pow13 \l 1033 (Powell, 2013). They hence sharpened their image and presented themselves in make-up, beautifully dressed and wigs. This redefined the traditional perspective of black music artists who seemed unrefined. They also shunned singing like men as other groups under Motown and other recording studios hence bringing a new definition of women in pop music. Diana and her colleagues were the only groups that dethroned the Beatles and seemed to be a fierce competitor to the Beatles dominance in the united states. the musical talent of the Supremes transcended their racial lines and made them popular even with the white audience and middle-class people. This was a revolution in the political arena because the black community and women were struggling for equality in the country. The Supremes also paved the way for other bands such as the Temptation which was predominantly black to become popular with the white audience. The also introduced black artists to the white population. Gordy had done a good job of polishing them and they had a predominantly a white fanbase which they sought to diversify and expand CITATION Mar13 \l 1033 (Neal, 2013). Thus, their style and talent paved way for other black artists and especially women to seek a white audience and grow their careers outside the confines of their race. The Beatles also had a great impact on American music and pop in general. They led to the creation of Beatlemania which was a huge fanbase who would throng their concerts and even wait for the four artists in airports when they arrive. Their music had just been introduced in the United States. They even feared that they might be not be received well because of their origin or lack of their popularity. The band became a sensation in America and topped local billboards and sold out their concerts. The musical form of Beatles was a little of everything. They combined many instruments and even experimented with other cultures i.e. Indian in the Revolution. They also combined many other musical forms and experimented with new styles. The Beatles succeeded in America after many other British bands had failed. When capitol records threw their weight behind them and introduced them to American bands, they changed the industry and ...