Rhythm, Blues & Hip Hop

*Unit 4.1 DB: Robert Plant – Singer-Songwriter (MUS121 Rhythm, Blues & Hip Hop)

Robert Plant, the lead singer of Led Zeppelin, is considered a quintessential singer-songwriter. He has asserted that one-third of Led Zeppelin’s sets were acoustic. For example, Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven.” Using the internet or your phone, listen to the following song:

• “Stairway       to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin

Yet, Led Zeppelin is considered an “early heavy metal” band. How did Led Zeppelin influence heavy metal music? Choose a heavy metal song (use the mashup tool) and explain how this song may have been influenced by Led Zeppelin.

*Unit 4.2 DB: Technology in the Late 1970s (MUS121 Rhythm, Blues & Hip Hop)

The new technologies of the 1970s allowed listeners more personal choice in what they listened to at home and in their cars. Later, people gained even more freedom when they could listen in their portable headphones when they listened to their SONY Walkman. This change in technology caused changes on the radio as well, where we see the advent of Album Oriented Radio (AOR). What were the pros and cons of AOR? How did the AOR movement narrow the role of the DJ on the radio? How did this change the power structure within the music industry? Do you believe this was positive or negative for the music world and why?