[FA Worldmusic] knowledge transfer and marketing across generations

[The Silver Nightingale]

On Aug 10, 2007, at 6:05 PM, Steve Hochman wrote:

> how
> many people discovered folk and blues due to Dylan and the Stones?
> How many learned about reggae from Eric Clapton's version of "I Shot
> the Sheriff"? And how many just enjoy what they heard and never
> explored the roots, which I suppose is fine, since enjoyment is the
> real point of music from a listener's standpoint. I mean, we all want
> people to learn about the sources of music, the creators (if anyone
> can really be called a creator, since most of the traditions we love
> go back well beyond traceability), but does it really matter if they
> don't? I guess it matters a lot if someone's work is being used/
> copied without compensation and recognition. but is there a larger
> necessity for a Lily Allen fan, for example, to know where that piano
> lick came from?

I don't know if the average fan (whoever that is) looks into their fave 
musician's influences to the point of actually hearing the original 
work. How many people still think Eric Clapton wrote and was first to 
record "I Shot the Sheriff"? I bet that would be a big number. Those 
who are not educated or curious enough about music in the first place 
to even think about their idol's sources won't be looking for them.

Heck, even a musically educated and music-adoring person such as 
myself, who grew up to be a professional musician - as a young sprout 
listening to PP&M, Dylan, Beatles and Stones, I had little idea about 
their inspirations till decades later (who's this Carl Perkins guy?)

And when I first saw Work O' The Weavers just a few years ago, I 
learned even more about who a lot of musicians I listened to were 
inspired by (Sloop John B didn't originate with the Beach Boys?!) (or 
for that matter, with the Weavers!!)

Even though I thought I was already pretty familiar with the Weavers 
through learning folk and political history, I really didn't know the 
truly enormous scope of their work and influence. Of course that's a 
group that drew heavily on roots sources, but how many of even their 
legion of fans know the music of those sources?

You don't know what you don't know....

One of the best ways for musicians to make sure their fans have a clue 
about the ones who came before is by recording and performing with 
their influences, as artists like Bonnie Raitt, Eric Clapton and others 
have done - as well as by talking about those influences and 
inspirations during their shows. During interviews too, of course, but 
especially during their shows.

	Best from the nest,
	Laura Sue

* Flute Fusion * from The Silver Nightingale
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http://www.SilverNightingale.com

"I planted some bird seed. A bird came up. Now I don't know what to 
feed it." - Steven Wright