"Everything in the universe has a rhythm, everything dances."
- Maya Angelou
Many have heard this quote, but many don't know about Maya Angelou's history with music. In honor of her passing, I wanted to highlight her relationship and history with music, as well as her influence on music.
Music in Her Life:
As a teenager, Angelou won a scholarship to the San Francisco's Labor School, for dance and drama. Although she dropped out of the school, as we know, it was the beginning of a long relationship with the arts.
Throughout the 50's, Angelou was focused on her music:
1954-1955: toured with opera Porgy and Bess
1956: toured with her own show
1957: appeared in an off-broadway show where she composed and performed her own songs (this inspired her first film, Calypso Heat Wave)
1957: Released album "Miss Calypso". Sang every song on the album, and composed five.
Although Angelou eventually gave up performing for writing, it is easy for any musician to see how her musical background had a profound impact on her future career in the arts, through her writing and particularly her poetry.
"Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl back to loneliness."
-Maya Angelou
Influence on Music:
Maya Angelou has had an immense amount of influence on musicians over the years. Here is a sample list of musical works inspired by Maya Angelou:
"Caged Bird" by Alicia Keys
The lyrics in this song are modified from Angelou's "I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings."
"Still I Rise" by 2Pac + Outlawz
Released posthumous from 2Pac, the song (and title) is a reference to Angelou's poem, "Still I Rise". This is especially emotional, as Angelou had an emotional experience with Tupac during the filming of "Potetic Justice".
"I'll Rise" by Ben Harper
Taking lines from "Still I Rise", Harper interprets the poem from a male perspective.
"Phenomenal Woman" by Olivia Newton-John
Based on Angelou's poem of the same name.
There's no argument that Maya Angelou has had an incomparable influence on people all over the world. We are sad she has left us, but so inspired by all she has left us with.
Rest in Peace, Maya Angelou, and thank you.
"A bird does not sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song."
-Maya Angelou (1928-2014)
Resources:
http://mayaangelou.com/bio/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_Calypso
http://theurbandaily.com/2014/05/28/maya-angelou-hip-hop-lyrics/playlist/maya-angelou-in-hip-hop-songs/item/2938580/
http://www.musictimes.com/articles/6397/20140528/10-musical-works-inspired-by-maya-angelou-kanye-west-common-alicia-keys-and-more.htm
Check back next week to see our blog post, which highlights a newly invented musical instrument.
Heather (iCA President)
www.InstrumentCareApparel.com
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