Musicians From Working Class Backgrounds.

[southall-1998]

Who are the famous musicians that come from working class backgrounds?

S.

[Ali Tait]

The majority I suspect. :-)

[mikmas]

Very few if you check out their online biogs....

[Anthony K]

I fear few working class trust the system enough to make a living , a lot of the new have daddy's bank account to fall back onto

[Joe]

How are we defining 'working class' in this context? There was a big discussion years ago about whether the Beatles were 'working class' (Ringo definitely, George possibly, John & Paul lower-middle class).

I'm not sure whether it matters much anyway.

[Tim]

Very few if you check out their online biogs....
Totally disagree with that statement, but then who are we talking about? Popular artists, mainstream, specialist, classical - the original question is moot as the parameters are too wide?

[mikmas]

Totally disagree with that statement, but then who are we talking about? Popular artists, mainstream, specialist, classical - the original question is moot as the parameters are too wide?

This makes an interesting quick read, a few years ago admittedly (2011) but I don't see much change - if anything the tendencies are more pronounced:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9373000/9373158.stm

Quote:
"An article in the December issue of music magazine The Word claimed the majority of UK chart acts were now either privately educated or from prestigious stage schools.
The magazine compared a Top 40 from a week in October 2010 to the same week in 1990, when it found nearly 80 per cent of artists were state school educated."

Even back in 1990, a state school education did not necessarily imply a working class background - depends where you draw the class boundaries and by what socio-economic criteria. We are thoroughly middle class by education, occupations and income but my daughter went to state schools - I doubt we are exceptional.

[Tim]

The Word claimed the majority of UK chart acts were now either privately educated or from prestigious stage schools.
That's exactly my point Mike, who are we discussing and as I don't like or enjoy listening to this type of artist, for me the question has different parameters. Good read though and thanks for the link. One of my most disliked so called 'artists' is Lana Del Ray, money is what made her famous as IMO she's totally talentless.

Not a fan a Adele either, but she's definitely working class, but as you also highlight, what does that mean?

It's too much of an open ended question to be honest.

[mikmas]

It's too much of an open ended question to be honest.

Agreed - also not really sure what a definitive answer would show either way. As far as 'popular' music goes, would it be better or worse if the working class were more/less represented?

There was a tendency in the 60s and 70s to credit more 'authenticity' to some genres, such as R&R and R&B, if the music came from 'working class heroes'. I guess it's part of the, sometimes daft, mythology surrounding pop music that such notions persist but I do remember being quite shocked when I read that Alice Cooper played golf :lol:

[Macca]

Gene Whatisname from Kiss was a schoolteacher, as was Sting. Led Zep were all went to art college I think, except maybe Bonham. Floyd were all quite posh. . Clapton was another at art school. Steely Dan met at college. Jim Morrison was an Admiral's son. Even Lemmy's dad was a vicar

Elvis was raised in proper poverty, eating squirrels. What about Black Sabbath? UB40?

[southall-1998]

Thanks for responding, guys.

This thread is about the professional musicians btw.

S.

[Tom-Brown]

There are some who maintain they are working class...Terry Hall of the specials for example...his dad was a main director of rolls royce at the time. John lydon for all his anti establishment is a major property magnate/landlord with millions in dollars worth of property :) :)

[mossy]

Proper working class

Mark E Smith of The Fall

[struth]

Kenny Ball, Acker Bilk and Ronnie Scott to name 3 top Jazz men of my genre... Humphrey Littleton was born in Eton College I think so wasn't, but he is my fav along with Acker.