Producer Richard Harrison discribes the sound as being Agressive, Free Form, Formless among some others things...
Ask anyone to name the most influential go-go musician ever to have graced DC and the answer will always be Chuck Brown. He developed the sound, established himself as the Godfather of go-go, and then went on to bring go-go around the world. He received the most national attention for his early hit Bustin' Loose but has continued to gain recognition and respect well beyond DC. Chuck Brown's talents extend beyond go-go, as evident in his collaboration with jazz artist Eva Cassidy.
Go-Go Live
Go-go live changes often, showcasing different aspects of the latest in go-go. A few recent popular songs can always be downloaded, regardless of the rotation on the site. The site also features information about the music, online radio, and the latest news. An ad for RAW TV draws attention to the city's reality go-go show.
History of Go-Go
This brief history of go-go begins in the early 1970s with Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers and follows the scene through to the beginning of the 21st century. This write-up focuses on the moments when go-go seemed on the verge of breaking into a national audience. The rest of this site is also filled with go-go information.
Oral History
The Washington City Paper featured the history of go-go in its January 14, 2000 edition. This interview with key players in the go-go world covers topics from the emergence of the style to its interaction with a national audience to the violence associated with go-go in the late 80s and early 90s. The band members and go-go writers also discuss the evolution of the bands as the style reacts to changes in other musical genres while maintaing an emphasis on percussion.
Soldierette
Soldierette's page includes a lot of information. Look for the billions of go-go pictures she has taken. The experiences section has a lot of write-ups of bands, clubs, and events (like the Smithsonian Folklife Festival). The chat room can be entertaining, although it is also pretty random (at least at 4:47p.m. when so many of us need to take a break from work). The site also includes the latest of Soldierette's promotions.
Take Me Out to the Go-Go
TMOTT Go-Go is both a website and magazine. Online, it is arguably the most well known source for information about go-go, probably because it is so comprehensive. The site includes magazine articles, interviews, an online radio station, a store for PAs and CDs, a list of go-go articles, and links to bands and other sites. In addition, TMOTT Go-Go distributes an electronic newsletter to over 25,000 people. This is a great place to start learning about go-go or to stay on top of the scene.
The Beat: Go-Go's Fusion of Funk and Hip-Hop
by Kip Lornell and Charles C. Stephenson Jr. This book combines an expert on the DC go-go scene with the expertise of an American vernacular music professor. Together, the authors provide an excellent analysis of the culture of DC, the emergence of go-go, its interaction with other local scenes and occasional national attention, and the history of go-go's message and community.
The Pocket
This is the most recent documentary of the go-go scene. The film explores the history of the music, current bands, and the role of the scene within the city. The film interviews key go-go musicians as well as DC punk legend Ian MacKaye, who has shared some of go-go's history. The film definitely leaves you thinking of "the neon glow of the go-go glow in the capital of the glow of the go-go of the glow of the pocket."
The Ultimate Go-Go Experience
This isn't quite the ultimate go-go experience, but that's a pretty bold claim. It does have pages for a few key bands, good links, and some downloadable themes. The news page it links to is pretty interesting and has good commentary on past shows. It's a little outdated, so don't count on this site to make weekend plans.
Last edited by gemini072 on Mon 20 Jun 2005 19:05; edited 5 times in total
Songwriter/producer Rich Harrison, a Maryland native, is a classically trained pianist and trumpet player who has a special gift for being able to play back just about anything he hears. Propelled by his talent and love of music, he decided to pursue music full time after graduating from Howard University.
In 1999, Harrison got his first chance at producing when he co-produced Beautiful Ones for Mary J. Bliges album Mary. A couple of years later, Harrison created his own production company, Richcraft Inc., so he could work with his own roster of artists and write and produce the songs of his choice. In 2001, he signed newcomer Amerie and wrote and produced her debut album. The single Why Dont We Fall in Love became the urban anthem of the summer of 2001.
Harrison didnt stop there. In 2003, he co-wrote and co-produced one of the biggest hits of the year: Beyonces number one hit, Crazy in Love. He has also worked with Kelly Rowland, Gwen Stefani, Alicia Keys and Usher. Currently, he is working on Ameries sophomore album and is building his roster of acts at Richcraft Inc.
Harrison has set the tone and is now well on his way to becoming one of the most sought-after songwriter/producers on the market. The future is looking brighter and brighter, as everyone seems to be Crazy in Love with Rich Harrison.
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