Go-go: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 23:00, 12 October 2024

Revision as of 11:58, 31 October 2024

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Although Chuck Brown is known as "[[Honorific nicknames in popular music|the Godfather of Go-Go]]", go-go is a musical movement that cannot be traced back to one single person, as there were so many bands that flourished during the beginning of this era that they collectively created the sound that is recognized as go-go of today. Artists such as [[Marvin Gaye]], [[Van McCoy]], Billy Stewart, [[Peaches & Herb]], [[Black Heat]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/black-heat-mn0000092301|title=Black Heat &#124; Biography, Albums, Streaming Links|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=February 25, 2021|archive-date=May 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505090608/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/black-heat-mn0000092301|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Experience Unlimited]] (E.U.), [[Vernon Burch]], [[Joe Quarterman|Sir Joe Quarterman & the Free Soul]], the Moments, [[Ray, Goodman & Brown]], True Reflection, [[the Unifics]], Terry Huff & Special Delivery,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/terry-huff-mn0000028733|title=Terry Huff &#124; Biography & History|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=February 25, 2021|archive-date=May 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504171418/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/terry-huff-mn0000028733|url-status=live}}</ref> Act 1, [[the Dynamic Superiors]], Skip Mahoney & the Casuals, [[the Choice Four]], and [[The Fuzz (band)|the Fuzz]] that played soul music during pre-go-go era.<ref name="beat2" />

The term "gogo" (as it applies to a music venue) originated in France in the early 1960s, at the Whiskyagogo nightclub, named after the French title for the British comedy "Whisky Galore!".<ref name="auto">{{Cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1111699686|title=The castle on Sunset: life, death, love, art, and scandal at Hollywood's Chateau Marmont|first=Shawn|last=Levy|date=August 25, 2020|oclc=1111699686|access-date=August 25, 2021|via=Open WorldCat|archive-date=August 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825205342/https://www.worldcat.org/title/castle-on-sunset-life-death-love-art-and-scandal-at-hollywoods-chateau-marmont/oclc/1111699686|url-status=live}}</ref> The club also featured [[Go-go dancing|go-go dancers]]. In January 1964, capitalizing on the emerging popularity of "go-go dancers", the name was licensed to a Los Angeles club, the [[Whisky a Go Go]], and from there the term "go-go" spread nationwide.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www2.gibson.com/News-Lifestyle/Features/en-us/greatest-rock-venues-1112.aspx|title=Showtime! The 10 Greatest Rock Venues of All Time|date=April 14, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414065042/http://www2.gibson.com/News-Lifestyle/Features/en-us/greatest-rock-venues-1112.aspx|access-date=August 25, 2021|archive-date=April 14, 2012}}</ref> The [[Cafe Au Go Go]] in NYC was also in business during that time, gaining notoriety when [[Lenny Bruce]] was arrested there in April 1964.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/bruce/brucetrial.html |title=The People v Lenny Bruce: Excerpts from the Cafe Au Go Go Trial |access-date=May 29, 2021 |archive-date=June 28, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100628084404/http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/bruce/brucetrial.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> By 1965, "go-go" was a recognized word for a music club, as evidenced by the TV show ''[[Hollywood A Go-Go]]'' (march 1965-1966), or the song title of that year's hit ''[[Going to a Go-Go]]'' by [[Smokey Robinson]] & [[the Miracles]] (released November 1965). At a go-go club, dancers could expect to hear the latest [[top 40]] hits, performed by local bands and DJ's. (The French Whiskyagogo had been one of the first venues in the world to replace live music with records selected by a disc jockey.)<ref name="auto"/>

In Washington D.C., minor group [[The Young Senators|the Young Senators]] were formed in 1965, beginning a fierce competition with Chuck Brown and Black Heat on the local club circuit. The Young Senators later became known for their song "Jungle" released in 1970 by Innovation Records.<ref>[https://eccentricsoul45s.bandcamp.com/album/young-senators-jungle-b-w-that-s-the-way-it-is Young Senators Jungle] Retrieved=28 March 2023</ref><ref name="beat2">{{cite book

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Washington, D.C., funk's early national chart action came when Black Heat (the first D.C. go-go band to be signed by a major record label) released their Billboard top 100 hit "No Time To Burn" from their second album on Atlantic Records in 1974. They then toured with such national acts as [[Earth, Wind & Fire]], [[Parliament -Funkadelic]], [[Ohio Players]], [[The Commodores]], and others. In 1976, James Funk, a young DJ who spun at clubs in between Soul Searchers sets, was inspired (and encouraged by Brown himself) to start a band—called [[Rare Essence]] (originally the Young Dynamos)—that played the same kind of music.

==History==