English practice 12
A Diamond in the Rough
Beginning around 1963, when people became able to buy cassette recorders with built-in microphones, amateur songwriters were able to record songs that had been formerly16 undocumented. One guitarist and saxophonist, Bruce Diamond, recorded nearly a hundred songs from his home in Lexington, Kentucky. Recently, hundreds of these rough recordings have been re-mastered. They have captured the attention of musicologists for a number of reasons.
First, it is seemingly apparent that Diamond's songs were17 influenced by many different popular artists of the day. One song sounds very similar to a complicated jazz song by Charlie Parker. However, another song is the opposite of the song sounds18 like the straightforward rock of Buddy Holly. The lyrics are very similar as well, and one is led to wonder what inspired them.19 One music critic observed that Diamond found it completely effortless20 to switch back and forth between very different musical genres.
Diamond's recordings are noteworthy for their unique artistic voiceâan interesting combination of jazz, bluegrass, and gospel styles. In one piece, Diamond starts with a long soulful intro leading into an upbeat verse. The verse's21 tempo and tone provide an interesting contrast to the mournful opening. The chorus combines elements of both in an unexpected but balanced way. Diamond seems to express in this song that he has overcome some emotional wounds but that one remains conflicted.22
While24 sources of music from major music towns like New Orleans, Detroit, and Nashville are abundant, little is known about Lexington's music scene because the town lacked a real recording studio. Therefore, since they were recorded on two-inch tape,25 Diamond's songs in a city like Lexington26 offer music historians a rare taste of the musical culture in the 1960s.
No one knows how much Diamond was effected by27 other musicians in Lexington, but he did perform regularly at a local blues bar and less frequently at a jazz dance hall.28 One thing, though, is for sure: he records29 an interesting portfolio of songs, and he may soon be a famous saxophonist.30