RTP-area local music and culture

[John Iwaniszek <not AT hotmail.com>]

James Hepler wrote:

> So I was wondering, when was the birth of "pop" music?
>  I was always of the perspective that pop music has
> always existed, that which was pop being determined by
> the taste of the time.
> 
> For instance, I'm having a conversation with some kids
> and we're trying to figure out the earliest appearance
> of electronic instruments in pop music.  My first
> inclination was to bring up Clara Rockmore's use of
> the theremin in the 20's and 30's.  
> 
> Many would consider that style of music to be
> classical.  And there was other stuff being played
> that might be considered more popular at the time, but
> for some reason I stillc ling to the idea that those
> songs that Theremin and Rockmore played in the first
> years of the theremin count as use of electronic
> insturments in pop music.
> 
> BTW, here's a site with some mp3's of Rockmore and
> Theremin playing, as well as several other
> thereministas.
> 
> http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/trurl_pagecontent?lp=ru_en&tru
> rl=http%3a%2f%2fwww.theremin.ru%2fdata%2findex.html 
> 



Abba invented pop.