Music of Arkansas 1287450 225701876 2008-07-14T23:54:18Z 24.144.14.65 /* Bands of the new scene */ {{USstatesmusic}} [[Arkansas]] is a [[Southern United States|Southern]] [[US state|state]] of the [[United States]]. Arkansas's musical heritage includes [[country music]] and various related styles like [[bluegrass music|bluegrass]] and [[rockabilly]]. Traditional folk instruments include the [[fiddle]] and [[banjo]] as well as [[guitar]], [[mandolin]], [[Appalachian dulcimer|dulcimer]] and [[autoharp]]. Among its most prominent modern musical manifestations is [[Riverfest]], a [[music festival]] held along the Arkansas River in downtown [[Little Rock]] and [[North Little Rock]]. Riverfest has been held annually since [[1978]]. Located in the [[Ozark Mountains]], the town of [[Mountain View, Arkansas|Mountain View]] bills itself as the "Folk Music Capital of the World". There is an [[Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame]], which includes musicians like [[Ronnie Dunn]], [[Melvin Endsley]], [[Al Green]] and [[Jimmy Driftwood]]. The [[Arkansas Symphony Orchestra]] was founded in [[1966]]. When the orchestra was founded, a local bank held the organization responsible for the debts of previous attempts at organizing an orchestra. Ten individual members assumed responsibility for the debt, and so the orchestra was formed, led by experienced [[conducting|conductor]] [[Vasilios Priakos]]. The state's local music scene includes bands like [[American Princes]], [[Rwake]], [[Dreamfast]], and [[Fire to Reason]] . [[Tommy Riggs]] (Tom Payton) is an Arkansan singer, piano and keyboard player who had several bands while performing around the state in the 1960s and 1970s. He also was working as a radio DJ (as ''Tom Jones'') at the time, on [[KCLA]], during 1968 through 69 &As Tom Payton on [[KXLR]] in North Little Rock in 1964, and in 1966 at [[KAAY]]. During this period, he promoted himself as ''Tom Payton and the Kingpins'', ''Tom Payton with The Playboys'', and several other names. He recorded while he was Rock Robbins from KAAY on the Little Rock label "MY Records" in 1966. Two songs from the session were released on a 45 rpm record, "My Little Girl" and "Good Lovin'"... The other songs and all tape masters are in private hands. Promoting himself as ''Tommy Riggs'', he performed around the country From St. Louis to Las Vegas before settling down in Nashville, Tennessee and frequently playing at the [[Stockyards Lounge]]. Two Arkansas politicians have been noted for mixing music with their campaigns for the [[President of the United States|presidency]]. [[Bill Clinton]], attorney general and 50th and 52nd [[Governor of Arkansas|governor]] of the state and later president, played the [[saxophone]], famously performing "[[Heartbreak Hotel]]" on ''[[The Arsenio Hall Show]]'' during the [[United States presidential election, 1992|1992 presidential election]]. [[Mike Huckabee]], 54th governor, plays the [[bass guitar]], and his campaign in the [[United States presidential election, 2008|2008 presidential election]] has prominently featured [[cover song]] performances by his band [[Capitol Offense (band)|Capitol Offense]]. ==State songs== Arkansas has four official [[state song]]s: *State Anthem: "[[Arkansas (song)|Arkansas]]" by Mrs. Eva Ware Barnett *State Historical Song: "[[The Arkansas Traveler (song)|The Arkansas Traveler]]" by Colonel Sanford C. Faulkner *State Song: "[[Oh, Arkansas]]" by Terry Rose and Gary Klaff *State Song: "[[Arkansas (You Run Deep In Me)]]" by Wayland Holyfield The reason for two of the official state songs is a [[copyright]] dispute. "Arkansas" was published in [[1916]] by the [[Central Music Company]], written by [[Eva Ware Barnett]] and [[Will M. Ramsey]] (though state law only credits Mrs. Barnett). It became the official song on [[January 12]], [[1917]]. Until either [[1945]] or [[1949]], "Arkansas" was the only official song in Arkansas. At that time, there was a copyright dispute and the state adopted "The Arkansas Traveler" as the official song, a situation that remained unchanged until [[1963]]. In that year, the copyright dispute was resolved and "Arkansas" became official again, until [[1987]], when it was changed to the official state anthem. In that year, "Arkansas (You Run Deep In Me)" and "Oh, Arkansas" were officially designated state songs as well, and "The Arkansas Traveler" was designated the official state historical song. ==Famous Musicians from Arkansas== *[[Glen Campbell]] (Delight) *[[Johnny Cash]] (Dyess) *[[Evanescence]] (Little Rock) *[[Lefty Frizzell]] (El Dorado) *[[Tracy Lawrence]] (Foreman) *[[Joe Nichols]] (Rogers) *[[Collin Raye]] (DeQueen) *[[Charlie Rich]] (Benton) *[[Conway Twitty]] (Helena) ==The New Wave of Musicians== While Arkansas is known for it's southern styles, of [[country music]] and related styles of music, there's a much younger style coming from the state. In the late 90's, and early 2000's, there were many [[rock music]] groups, as well as [[pop rock]] groups. One of the well-known bands from this time would be multi-platinum-selling alternative rock band [[Evanescence]], which has origins in Little Rock. Pop and Rock groups today, are still around, as well as a few young bands, that play southern styled music, or [[Christian Pop]]/[[Christian rock]] like [[The Wedding (band)|The Wedding]]. However, as the trends change, [[post-hardcore]] and [[metalcore]] bands have popped up left and right. Many bands after the mid 2000's, and currently, have taken refuge in styles like that of [[Norma Jean]] and [[Underoath]], while others continue slightly poppy and/or less chaotic acts, similar to [[Blessthefall]] and [[Fear Before the March of Flames]]. Some have even taken on the [[Math rock]] genre, like Burn Baby Burn, and others have added [[unusual time signatures]] to their music. Most of the bands on the AR scene, havn't made it out of school, and the rest have just graduated, or dropped out. Much of the music scene of [[post-hardcore]] and [[metalcore]] is indie, and dependent on teenagers and young adults. Arkansas is also becoming known for the underground metal scene most prevalent in the Little Rock metropolitan area. Bands such as: [[Rwake]], Deadbird, Shitfire, Seahag, Circle of the Black Thorn, The Witch's Tit and Placid Eclipse, all have their roots in Arkansas. Venues such as Downtown Music host metal shows nearly every weekend. Saline county (a region just south of Pulaski county) is also becoming known as a metal hotspot with bands such as: [[Borderline Blasphemy]], [[Woodswyck]], [[Casting Hate]], [[Divine Existence]], [[Colossus Bound]], [[Livid]], and [[Bloodletting Device]] all of which are following the footsteps of Saline County metal legends, Wraith. White county (just north of Pulaski County) falls right in line with bands like [[Rusty Hook]] and [[Tangled in Ruin]]. These bands are known for playing heavy, aggressive, southern influenced, metal: taking influences that range from new age bands like [[Lamb of God]] and [[Killswitch Engage]] to more "classic metal" such as [[Slayer]], [[Black Sabbath]], and [[Danzig]]. Many of these bands take influence from the grunge movement of the early nineties as well as the southern sludge, and "true metal" genres. Venues such as [[Downtown Music]] and [[Vino's]] Pizza/Pub in Little Rock are home to shows of this movement. ==Bands of the new scene== The Tristan Betrayal, Fire To Reason, The Science of Sleep, Fury From the Summit, Annabelle, Southern City Massacre, Borderline Blasphemy, Pride Before Fall, Hollywood Homicide, A Plea for Purging, Strike the Choir, Heart for a Hand, PMtoday, The Handshake Murderers, Legions Await, Fathom Down, Dream of Siam, Ineffable Omen, I Was the Red WIne of 1955, After the Tragedy, My Hands to War, School Boy Humor, Life Long Choir, Ashes of Augustine, The Rememberance, Statesmen, The Menial, Hensel, The Dorian Complex, The New Season, Tomorrow Brings the Agony, Bear Colony, Reason for Rescue, xChadx, Crystal Cities, Alert All Arms, Bloodletting Device, Animula, Finding Jimmy Hoffa, Eve's Decent, Playing With Karma, Spinning Jenny, Archaic Design, Krisoak, Wave Drop Scholars, Voices in Mute, Soul Stripped, Bloodline.357, Danger Ready, Seige the City, Soltice For a complete list of links to each of these bands' MySpaces, [http://www.myspace.com/laurenbriggins][[see this site]]. <gallery> Image:http://i25.tinypic.com/w21rfs.jpg|Neal of Heart for a Hand </gallery> ==Venues== The most popular venues are The Attic in Hot Springs, Vino's in Little Rock, The Village in Little Rock, Juanita's in Little Rock, Downtown Music in Little Rock, 4U in Camden, The Soundstage in Conway, and The Music Hall in Fayetteville. ==External links== *[http://arkansassymphony.aristotle.net/ Arkansas Symphony Orchestra] *[http://www.netstate.com/states/symb/song/ar_songs.htm More information on Arkansas's state songs] [[Category:Music of Arkansas| ]]