1. Quincy Jones and the Dawn of Disco
Quincy Jones and the Dawn and Death of
Disco

2. History of the Discothèque and the Disco Genre
France, WWII
Danced to pre-recorded jazz
USA: alternative to rock clubs
New counterculture
New, exciting, exotic
Originally was music for the minorities
African roots
Racial clubs
Gay clubs and musicians
Shift to EVERYONE could be a producer
All about the audience, the spectacle
R&B, Soul influences, James Brown
Sylvester and the Village People

3. Donna Summer Many Disco hits in the late 70’s “I Feel Love”
“Love to Love You Baby”
Distinct vocal style
Pre-pop disco poster child
Music to touch on:
Love to love you baby (start, middle, return at 7:25)
Full strings, guitar style, brass, constant drums, REALLY LONG song, ends at 13?
I Feel Love
Synth start, vocal style, hard to understand. More of a feeling

4. Was disco as much of a musical revolution as rock?

5. Bringing Disco to the Mainstream
Saturday Night Fever
The Bee Gees
The Hustle
Drugs and rebellion
Influence on other music
Songs:
Stayin Alive
The Hustle
Influence= Blondie, Abba, Rod Stewart, etc.

6. The Death of Disco

7. Was the music industry more accessible to newcomers after disco?
Easier to enter, harder to leave a mark?

9. Quincy Jones Jazz musician Toured the world starting at 19
“Music vs. Music Business”
Turned to film scores (32!)
The Wiz and meeting MJ
Qwest Productions
Frank Sinatra, MJ, etc.
“Divinity Interceded” style of production
Collaboration

10. Quincy Jones & Michael Jackson
Off The Wall (‘79)
Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough
Last disco success
Thriller (‘82)
Billie Jean, Beat It, Thriller
Helped bring dance music into the 80’s
MTV success and strained relationships
Bad (‘87)
Don’t stop til you get enough
Restore dance image after fall of disco

11. Should music producers focus more on making hits, or instead on designing what they love?
After seeing success stories from both types of producers
Is there still room for only one or the other in today’s world?

12. Thanks!