The R&B/Soul Business: The Roots of Hip -Hop (LSOC-P270)

This course exams the history of the music, artists, business leaders, and practices of one of the most important music genres of the 20th century: r&b/soul. Students explore the influence of the r&b/soul music personalities, and examine how they shaped business practices specific to the field. These practices created a blueprint for the current pop music field, dominated by such hip-hop music moguls as Russell Simmons, Jay-Z, and Sean Combs. The impact of the r&b/soul artists and business people-including artists Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Stevie Wonder, Sly Stone, and Marvin Gaye; and producers Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, Teddy Riley, LA, Babyface, Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, Ahmet Ertegun, Berry Gordy, and Dick Griffey-will be investigated through listening, lecture, discussion and research.