| Music of the United States |
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Themusic of Oregon reflects the diverse array of styles present in themusic of the United States, fromNative American music to the contemporary genres ofrock and roll,country,rhythm and blues,jazz,pop,electronic music, andhip hop. However, throughout most of its history, the state has been relatively isolated from the cultural forces shaping American music. Much of modernpopular music traces its roots to the emergence in the late 19th century ofAfrican Americanblues and the growth ofgospel music in the 1920s. African American musicians borrowed elements of European and Indigenous musics to create new American forms. As Oregon's population was more homogeneous and more white than the United States as a whole, the state did not play a significant role in this history.
The state's main contributions to American popular music began in the 1960s, whenThe Kingsmen andPaul Revere & the Raiders established Oregon as a minor center offrat rock andgarage rock. This led in one direction to theblues rock tradition of theRobert Cray Band andCurtis Salgado, and in another direction to thehardcore punk scene of the early 1980sPacific Northwest, led by theWipers inPortland and like-minded bands inSeattle andVancouver, BC. Over the next twenty years,punk rock evolved intogrunge,riot grrrl,alternative rock, and, eventually,indie rock. In the last decade, Oregon has made a unique contribution to Americanindependent music, with a strongindie music scene developing in Portland. The city's reputation as ahipster mecca has paralleled the rise of local indie musicians such asThe Decemberists (singerColin Meloy attended theUniversity of Oregon),Gossip,The Dandy Warhols,M. Ward,Logan Lynn,Storm Large,Pink Martini and the lateElliott Smith.Floater is Portland's leading example of an indie band. They have remained unsigned to a major label for over 20 years and have managed to be voted the best band of Portland for 2009 in addition to frequently selling out major venues like theCrystal Ballroom and theAladdin Theater.[1][2] Other prominent musicians have relocated to Portland, includingModest Mouse (ofSeattle),Sleater-Kinney (ofOlympia, Washington),The Shins (ofAlbuquerque, New Mexico),Spoon (ofAustin, Texas), formerPavement leaderStephen Malkmus (ofStockton, California), singer songwriterPatterson Hood (ofMuscle Shoals, Alabama, andAthens, Georgia),[3] and formerR.E.M. guitaristPeter Buck (ofBerkeley, California andAthens, Georgia).[4]
From the 1960s to the 1980s, some musical groups from Portland had occasional success on the pop charts.The Kingsmen (singerJack Ely died in Oregon) were the first to hit the top 10 with their 1960s garage rock classic "Louie Louie" peaking at #2, andPaul Revere & the Raiders gained popularity in Portland after relocating there fromIdaho.The Hudson Brothers had several hits, such as "Mr. Kirby" (though originally this came when the group was named 'The New Yorkers'), "So You Are a Star" and even had their own eponymous TV show during the 1970s.Quarterflash (which started out in the 1970s as a jazz band called 'Seafood Mama'), were led by the husband/wife duo Marv & Rindy Ross. The band had several hits, including a platinum-selling #3 song "Harden My Heart" in 1981.Nu Shooz, also led by a husband/wife duo (John Smith & Valerie Day), also had several hits, their biggest also going to #3 "I Can't Wait" in 1986.[5]
Portland had one of the most vibranthardcore punk scenes in the early 1980sPacific Northwest, rivaled only bySeattle andVancouver. TheWipers andPoison Idea are the best known representatives of the scene, especially The Wipers, a majorgrunge influence. These bands played at The Met and theSatyricon. Other hardcore bands in the 1980s included Lockjaw,Final Warning, andThe Rats.Hole frontwomanCourtney Love spent time in Portland, and was active in the city's punk scene at the time.[6]
In recent years, a number ofindie music bands from Portland which have played local venues have won recording contracts with promoters such asPartisan Records andKnitting Factory Records and have been touring nationally. These include Emil Amos ofHoly Sons,[7]Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside,[8]Ages and Ages,[9]Dolorean,[10] and others.
Portland is also home of the world's first and only all-Asian American dance rock band,The Slants, another independent act who has been made international headlines, both for their public battle with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, as well as their active involvement in theanime industry.[11]
Formed in 1984, theSurf Trio was a punk/surf band based in Eugene.[12]
Floater was formed in 1993 and made their start playing garage parties and at theUniversity of Oregon. Now residing in Portland,[13] Floater has released eight studio albums, plus three live albums on indie label Elemental Records. They have also received nominations to the preliminary level of the Grammys fromNARAS in 1995 under Best Rock Performance for their first albumSink and in 1996 under Best Alternative Performance for their second albumGlyph.[14]
As for songs about Eugene, two country stars have weighed in.Dolly Parton wrote a song about Eugene in 1972, which was released in the 4-CD box setDolly in 2009,[15] with the refrain, "Eugene, Oregon I'll remember you for the rest of my life, I won't forget how good you were to me, No and I won't be forgettin' all the kindness that you show To a homesick country girl a long, long way from Tennessee."[16] In addition,Johnny Cash recorded the song "Lumberjack," written by Leon Payne, referring to Eugene Saturday nights: "Well you work in the woods from morning to night, You laugh and sing and you cuss and fight, On Saturday night you go to Eugene, And on a Sunday morning your pockets are clean."[17][18]
In 2015Sufjan Stevens releasedCarrie & Lowell, which includes a song entitled "Eugene", as well as "All Of Me Wants All of You", with references toSpencer Butte, a landmark at Eugene's southern edge.[19]
SeeList of Oregon musicians for a full list of notable musicians from Oregon.
Seasoned Portland instrumental out-rock quartet Grails are set to release their fifth album, Deep Politics. It the first in three years. During the time off, drummer Emil Amos (aka Holy Sons) recorded God Is Good, his first album with his other...
Alex James leads Dolorean, a band based in Portland, Ore., that began recording its beautiful debut album, "Not Exotic," almost two years ago.
