Thursday, November 26, 2015

The Seventies Musical Scene With Acts Like Hinsons The Lighthouse

By Marci Nielsen


Music is arguably one of the most influential forms of art. This social and cultural activity uses sound as its medium. Since the Paleolithic period to date, it has gained a cult following. It is listened by almost everybody. It is sufficient to state that every person has at least a genre that they like. The seventies era saw legends came to life including Linda Ronstadt, Barbra Streisand, Stevie Wonder, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Led Zeppelin, Elton John and Bob Marley. This decade also saw hit singles like The Hinsons The Lighthouse that became their signature song.

Music from this time was rich in content and spoke of serious issues affecting society at the time. Mature themed songs were common with artistes like Jimi Hendrix producing songs that denounced the war in Vietnam. It touched on real issues and concentrated on originality. Artistes used the art to call out the government and it apparent failures.

There was a rise in different styles each unique to the artiste that created them. This was in an attempt to penetrate the market and sell records. This saw the introduction of disco beats. This sound was different and appealed to young people who liked loud and fast beats. Other sounds included the fusion of country with Pop culture and sounds. Reggae also gained prominence in this decade.

Stiff competition in this period resulted in the need for relevance in this industry. There was a big need for new and fresh ideas. Groups like the Hinsons needed a change of content and material from what they normally practiced. Their biggest signature song, The Lighthouse, was written out of this necessity. It later propelled them to stardom.

Music from this era was more mature and calm compared to the rebelliousness and defiance of the sixties. It started with a bang from disco beats and settled into a more relaxed tone. This was because people wanted a change from the fighting that characterized the sixties. The market refused any content that was considered silly and highly commercialized.

The decade saw the rise of many musical acts with some going on to assume legendary status. Groups like The Hinsons were able to get audience as a gospel act. They mixed both contemporary and country sounds to become extremely popular. This saw them tour with excellent record sales. Their creativity and concert style saw them considered radical. Despite this, their creativity saw them enjoy relatively great success in the competitive scene.

The decade never lacked in creativity. This was a necessity for relevance and success. The industry was filled with many acts and different styles thus became quite competitive. Creativity saw legends like Bob Marley break from traditional Rocksteady and Ska styles and crossed over to Reggae.

This decade saw the advent of creativity and the breaking of traditional barriers. It rewarded those who believed in music and saw the rise of legends like songwriter extraordinaire Ronny Hinson who has won numerous awards.




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