1. 1970’s – a decade of change

2. Change throughout the 70’s  1970  Median Household income: $8,734  Cost of a postage stamp: 6 cents  1979  Median Household income: $16,461  Cost of a postage stamp: 15 cents

3. Changes in music scene, 1970  Beatles break up  Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, and Janis Joplin all die of drug overdose  Disco becomes very popular

4. Vietnam War in 1970s  In 1970 four protesters at Kent State University are killed by National Guardsmen  In 1973 a ceasefire is signed  In 1975 Saigon is surrendered and all Americans evacuated

5. Political Climate in 1970’s  5 men are apprehended trying to bug the Democratic Headquarters in the Watergate building  Watergate scandal ensues; Vice President Spiro Agnew resigns in 1973. Many other top officials resign or are fired by Pres. Nixon.  After Congress brings three counts of impeachment against Nixon, he resigns in August 1974. Gerald Ford becomes presidents and gives Nixon full pardon.  Gerald Ford survives 2 assassination attempts in September 1975.  Jimmy Carter is elected president in 1976.

6. Other events in 1970s  Star Wars debuts  USA bicentennial celebration  Voting age is lowered to 18  3 Mile Island incident occurs in US – nuclear reactor in Pennsylvania has a meltdown

7. DISCO!  First popular in Europe in late 60’s and spread to US by 1970’s  Donna Summer “Save the Last Dance”  Gloria Gaynor “I Will Survive”

8. Village People  They are best known for their costumes of American stereotypes (Police officer, Indian, Cowboy, Biker, Construction Worker, G.I.)  Marketed toward the disco audience  “Macho Man”  “YMCA”

9. BeeGees  Comprised of the three Gibb brothers  Sang close three part harmony  Known for the falsetto melodies that Barry Gibb sings  “Stayin Alive”

10. KC and the Sunshine Band  Their name comes from their lead singer, Harry Wayne Casey (KC) and the fact they are from the Sunshine State (Florida)  “That’s the Way (I Like It)”  Shake Your Booty  Get Down Tonight

11. Jackson 5  From Gary, IN  Dad, Joseph, was a steel mill crane operator  Brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael  Discovered by Gladys Knight at an Amateur music competition in Harlem  “ABC”  “I Want You Back”

12. 1970s ROCK  Psychedelic Rock from the late 1960’s virtually vanished with the deaths of Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison, and the break up of the Beatles  Heavy Metal and “hair bands” started to emerge

13. Alice Cooper  Given name was Vincent Furnier  His stage show included a guillotine, gallows, electric chair, fake blood, and boa constrictors  He created a theatric and violent brand of heavy metal that was designed to shock people  Best known hit: “Schools Out”

14. Lynyrd Skynyrd  The members got the name of their band from their high school P.E. teacher, Leonard Skinner. He was notorious for strictly enforcing the school’s policy against boys having long hair.  Three members of the band died in a plane crash in 1977, one day after the release of their album “Street Survivors”  Best known hits: “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Freebird”

15. Aerosmith  Also known as the “Bad Boys from Boston”  Best selling American Rock band of all time with 150 million plus albums sold  Steven Tyler is the lead singer  Band plagued by drug problems early in 70s and 80s, but after many members went through drug rehab, they became more popular than ever  Still touring and recording today  Biggest hits: “Dream on” and “Walk this Way”

16. KISS  Known for their face paint and flamboyant costumes  Gene Simmons is their most well known member  First “hair band”  Most well known song: “Rock and Roll all Night”

17. Styx  Chicago based band that had many hits in the 70’s  “Come Sail Away”  “Mr. Roboto”

18. Don McLean  He wrote and released the single “American Pie”  The song was inspired by Buddy Holly’s plane crash in 1959 (“the day that music died”)  At 8 minutes 36 seconds, it is the longest song to reach number 1

19. The Eagles  The biggest selling band of the 1970’s  “Hotel California”  “Desperado”

20. Queen  Members: Freddie Mercury,  Brian May, Roger Taylor  Their 1975 album “A Night at the Opera” was the most expensive album ever produced at that time  Many of their songs lack a chorus or song structure (Bohemian Rhapsody)  “Somebody to Love” – the three members multi tracked their voices to create a 100 voice gospel choir  1977 produced hits “We Will Rock You” and “We Are the Champions”