DC’s Musical Family Tree

Happy Holidays from DoS!

The city of Washington, DC, has great history to be sure, but we often overlook its great musical legacy and the impact this city has had on the bands that we listen to today. You may be surprised to learn that DC was, and continues to be the primary stage for several of the most influential musical artists in recent music history. In fact, across genres, DC has seen the rise of notable artists and bands including Marvin Gaye, Fugazi, and Duke Ellington just to name a few. We hope that you enjoy this look back at our shared history as we end a great year.

Photo by James Hilsdon, Hilsdon Photography

Chuck Brown—Often referred to as the “Father of Go-Go,” Chuck Brown is a staple of the DC area and helped to define the decade of funk and soul music that originated in the 1970’s. You probably have heard of it referred to as go-go. The vibe in Brown’s music is an upbeat and rhythmic stirring that one cannot help but get up and dance to. Locals will certainly recognize Brown as the front man and singer in the DC lottery’s television commercials from years past as he stands in front of various local landmarks while performing his song, “The Party Run.”  In addition, if you’re a Nationals fan you’ll also recognize Brown’s popular song, “Bustin’ Loose,” which is often played after homeruns scored by the team. He still lives in the area and plans on continuing to delight locals with his classic go-go tunes. In fact, you can catch Brown at Takoma Station on New Year’s Eve for a party that is sure to be an unforgettable evening.

Duke Ellington—Edward Kennedy Ellington (Duke Ellington) was born and raised in DC before heading to New York to pursue his musical career. His music helped to define jazz and continues to influence musicians to this day. Ellington came into his own during the Harlem Renaissance, which is reflected in his music. Several of his most popular hits came shortly after this period, including “Mood Indigo,” “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing),” and  “Take the “A” Train” (written by Billy Strayhorn). Ellington was not only a masterful musician, but also a talented bandleader—bringing together dozens of the era’s most skillful jazz musicians. The city still pays homage to his musical greatness, including the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Georgetown and the Duke Ellington Bridge that connects Woodley Park to Adams Morgan.

Photo by Cynthia Connolly

Fugazi—This band played a significant role in the development of the punk movement, which characterized DC during the 80’s and 90’s. As part of the greater post-hardcore punk scene, Fugazi formed here in 1987 and ended up turning the city on its head. The band includes guitarists and vocalists Ian MacKaye and Guy Picciotto; bassist Joe Lally; and drummer Brendan Canty. Together, they started a movement that changed the way an entire generation viewed and listened to punk music. Fusing rhythmic sections, creative guitar riffs and a variety of musical influences the band established a new balance in the way music was played and business was conducted. The band is well known for its commitment to maintaining low-ticket fees, even if that meant sacrificing a merch table or cutting into their profit margin to promote ethical practices and play more shows. The band released several pivotal albums, including “In on the Kill Taker,” which provided them with their first appearance on the Billboard album charts. The band is currently on hiatus until further notice. However, you can still check out Fugazi’s last album release from 2001 titled, “The Argument.”

Marvin Gaye—A music and style icon, Gaye is well known for such hits as “Let’s Get it On,” “Sexual Healing,” and “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You), which characterized a number of musical styles of the times—namely Motown, Contemporary Adult and R&B. He was born in DC and lived on 60th Street, NE, in East Capitol Dwellings. His start came in DC with a band called “The New Moonglows,” however he soon left to enter the Motown scene and never looked back. He moved to Detroit, Los Angeles and a number of other cities to pursue his music career during which he crossed paths with talent like Tammi Terrell in the hit “I Heard it Through the Grapevine,” and Diana Ross in the “Diana & Marvin Project.” Gaye was killed in 1984 when his father fatally shot him during an argument. He is remembered today locally with several DC landmarks and tributes including a city park named in the Watts Branch area and the popular bar/restaurant “Marvin’s” on U St. and 14^th.

Shirley Horn—A siren during the DC jazz era in the 1960’s and onward, she made her leap to fame when Miles Davis “discovered” her and Quincy Jones later joined forces with her for several contentious recording sessions.  As NPR/WAER describes her talents, “She developed a following among jazz musicians and fans for her sultry voice and economical style, but chose to stay in Washington while raising her daughter, and ran a popular jazz club there for years.” Her influence on the DC jazz scene was impactful and helped to spotlight DC’s music. She later received a Grammy award for a tribute recording she released in 1999 and was recognized by the 109^th U.S. Congress for her musical talents.

Photo courtesy of LeonardsPhotography.net

The Seldom Scene—True to their name, the band members were indeed seldom seen even during their heyday. Despite their attempts to stay under the radar, their catchy style of progressive bluegrass gained them a wide range of fans. They got their start performing at the Red Fox Inn in Bethesda, MD, before engaging in weekly performances at The Birchmere in Alexandria, VA. Faced with a string of changes in their group, the band managed to stay together, although not in its original formation. The Seldom Scene recorded seven albums—including a Grammy nominated collection of songs released in 2007. The band currently includes Dudley Connell (guitar/lead vocals), Ben Eldridge (banjo), Lou Reid (mandolin/tenor vocals), Fred Travers (dobro/lead vocals) and Ronnie Simpkins (bass/baritone vocals).

Thievery Corporation—One of DC’s best-known talents is a DJing duo consisting of Rob Garza and Eric Hilton called Thievery Corporation. These locals live, work and produce their music here in DC and use the city as a springboard for their messages promoting independence, originality and truth. These successful artists believe that good music will find an audience, regardless of whether or not it has commercial backing. Built upon this grassroots work ethic, the pair released a number of successful albums including their latest, Radio Retaliation. Infused with a distinct international flavor the musicians often collaborate with others to keep their music on the cutting edge. In fact, Radio Retaliation features Femi Kuti, Brazilian vocalist and guitarist Seu Jorge and DC’s own Chuck Brown. According to Hilton on Thievery Corporation’s MySpace page, “Radio Retaliation is about an exodus of conscious people who are willing to acknowledge something is wrong with the ‘official version’ in news and culture. Therefore, we need to create our own channels.”