Music Appreciation Fest: Volume 1 - The Kinks

"Music Appreciation Fest" [Copyright 2009] is an ongoing article designed by me, Ryan Severns (AKA SevDiggity). This ongoing article will be composed of VOLUMES that feature various artists, covering bands & solo artists of any and all styles, covering artists of various levels of popularity, as well as covering music from various time periods.

"MUSIC APPRECIATION FEST" MISSION:

"Music Appreciation Fest" [MAF] has a mission to open the eyes & ears of all people to some great music, even if it is outside of the box of favorites. Many times, we close off our minds to certain styles of music, certain time periods of music, and/or certain artists for whatever reason we provide, but this limits the experience that music can and will provide for us. If we can think outside the box, so to speak, to allow ourselves to gain something from all types of music, from all time periods, and from any artists, we may be able to have a positive experience that would never have occurred without first being open to it. This does not mean that you should give up what you believe in or not have your own musical preferences, but to simply allow yourself to experience new sounds & sights that may open you up to a more fulfilling musical experience. In turn, this will enhance your overall life experience, helping you to grow and discover things in life you may not have ever experienced otherwise.

A personal example of my own "Music Appreciation Fest" in my life:

I used to talk about how much I absolutely hated country music. No matter what lyrics, no matter which artists, no matter the time period of the music, I could not stand to hear it for a second. But what I have discovered is that I didn't so much hate it as I did just not appreciate it. I have grown to respect the musical talent of the artists vocally and instrumentally. I have grown in understanding the roots of various country music. After graduating from Ohio University with a Bachelor's degree in Music Education/Choral Emphasis, I have become exposed to various styles of country music, so I no longer put it all into one genre. I have grown to absolutely love certain country songs, such as "Amazed" by Lonestar, "The Climb" by Miley Cyrus, and pretty much every song performed by Nickel Creek, a band that plays what some call "New Grass" music, a form of bluegrass with more complex, modern rhythms. My sister began to love country music after attending college based on her own experiences, and she shared music with me that she has loved, such as music by the Dixie Chicks and music by Garth Brooks. And even though I still prefer other styles of music to those I have discovered in country music, I have grown to appreciate a great deal of it, and I can honestly say that it has enhanced my life as a person, as a musician, as a singer, as a songwriter, and as a music producer.

In each volume of "Music Appreciation Fest", you will be provided with valuable information on the featured band or musical artist. This information may be from encyclopedia sources, interviews, word of mouth from my own experiences (from family members, friends, etc)

Also, you will be able to view at least one video and/or listen to at least one musical recording of a featured musical artist or band. In "Music Appreciation Fest: Volume 1", the featured band is "The Kinks."

Here is an old video of The Kinks performing their classic hit, "You Really Got Me."

Information provided by Wikipedia

BAND MEMBER HISTORY

Ray Davies Feb 1964–1996 lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica, keyboards, lead songwriting

Dave Davies Feb 1964–1996 lead guitar, harmony vocals, occasional lead vocals and songwriting

Mick Avory Feb 1964–1984 drums and percussion

Pete Quaife Feb 1964–June 1966, Nov 1966–Mar 1969 bass guitar, backup vocals

Nicky Hopkins 1965–1968 keyboards (session)

John Dalton June–Nov 1966, Apr 1969–1976, 1978 bass guitar, backup vocals

John Gosling 1970–1978 keyboards

Andy Pyle 1976–1978 bass guitarGordon

John Edwards 1978 keyboards, backup vocals

Jim Rodford 1978–1996 bass guitar, backup vocals

Ian Gibbons 1979–1989, 1993–1996 keyboards, backup vocals

Bob Henrit 1984–1996 drums and percussion

Mark Haley 1989–1993 keyboards, backup vocals

To start here is a lil' information about "The Kinks" that I found to be very interesting that my dad shared with me:

The Kinks used to be "The Ravens" but changed their name. In the early days Davies took to wearing mismatched outfits; someone took note of one clashing ensemble at a recording session and labeled him a "kink." Davies explained to Small: "He meant it as a put-down, but I thought, "Why not use the name?" Thus the Ravens became the Kinks, just in time for the release of their first album, You Really Got Me, which in 1964 was issued in the United States on the Reprise label.

Here is some information provided by Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia source.

The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorized in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognized as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a wide range of genres, including rhythm and blues, British music hall, folk, and country. The group initially consisted of Ray Davies (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Dave Davies (lead guitar, vocals), Pete Quaife (bass guitar, backup vocals), and Mick Avory (drums and percussion). The Davies brothers were the only members who performed in the band throughout its 32 years. Avory left in 1984, the result of a dispute with Dave Davies, and was replaced on drums by Bob Henrit. John Dalton played bass for part of 1966 after Quaife was injured in a car accident, and joined as a full-time member when Quaife left to set up his own band in 1969. Dalton remained until the late 1970s, when he was replaced by Jim Rodford. The Kinks were accompanied by various keyboardists, most notably Nicky Hopkins (for studio sessions only), from 1965 to 1968, and John Gosling, from 1970 to 1978.

The Kinks first came to prominence in 1964 with their third single, "You Really Got Me", written by Ray Davies. It became an international hit, topping the charts in the United Kingdom and reaching the Top 10 in the United States. Between the mid-1960s and early 1970s, the group released a string of commercially and critically successful singles and LPs, and gained a reputation for songs and concept albums reflecting English culture and lifestyle, fuelled by Ray Davies' observational writing style. Albums such as Face to Face, Something Else, The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society, Arthur, Lola versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, and Muswell Hillbillies, along with their accompanying singles, are considered amongst the most influential recordings of the period. The band's subsequent theatrical concept albums met with less success, but the band experienced a revival during the New Wave era—groups such asThe Jam, The Knack, and The Pretenders covered their songs, helping to boost The Kinks' record sales. In the 1990s, Britpop acts such as Blur and Oasis cited the band as a major influence. The Kinks broke up in 1996, a result of the commercial failures of their last few albums and creative tension between the Davies brothers.

The Kinks had five Top 10 singles on the US Billboard chart. Nine of their albums charted in the Top 40. In the UK, the group had fourteen Top 20 singles on the New Musical Express chart along with five Top 10 albums. Among numerous honours, they received the Ivor Novello Award for "Outstanding Service to British Music". In 1990, their first year of eligibility, the original four members of The Kinks were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

If you are interested in more information on the history of "The Kinks", please refer to the Wikipedia, free encyclopedia, source at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Kinks