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Re: [ARSCLIST] the origin of scratchin'
Tom,
In response to your original question, it IS very possible/probably that
others either purposely or accidentally, "scratched" a record prior to
Grandwizard Theodore. However, it is crucial to understand the
microscopic chance that Grandwizard Theodore or any other Bronx DJ would
have been influenced by these occurrences.
*It is just as likely that someone played an augmented chord on a
harpsichord/piano days soon after the instrument was invented, yet
augmented chords didn't get properly "discovered" until over a hundred
years later.
It is also hard to argue that any "scratching" that existed prior to the
Hip Hop movement is as influential as those who collectively created the
music known today as hip hop.
Cool Herc is widely accepted as a forefather of modern DJ-ing for
basically bringing the Jamaican style of sequencing records and the idea
of Jamaican "sound system" to the Bronx. Although I don't know many
sources, including Cool Herc himself, that credit him with specifically
being a pioneer of "scratching".
Hip hop when viewed culturally has a very interesting history. Even the
primary records used were from a wide spectrum of influence. Hip Hop
developed simultaneously to the Disco, Punk, Rock, and New Wave
movements in New York, and borrowed elements from each. Interestingly,
it is only now returning to eclectic roots.
If you have the time, it's worth reading a book or two on the subject,
as recommended by others. We are far enough from it's point of inception
to have a decent amount of credible books written on the subject.
Thanks,
Don Andes
EMI Music
P.S. Whatever your preference to Hip Hop music, vinyl collectors on the
list should at least be knowledgeable to enough to credit it with being
the major force which kept Vinyl Lathes and Vinyl pressing plants
operational for the last 20 years.
-----Original Message-----
From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
[mailto:ARSCLIST@xxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Tom Fine
Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2007 6:46 PM
To: ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] the origin of scratchin'
Another person told me, off-list:
"I believe that this honor is attributed to Cool Herc of the South
Bronx, I don't think he was commercially recorded but many folks do
credit him as the pioneer of the scratch."
So I guess it goes back before Grandmaster Flash and Run DMC.
I wonder if the deep-roots go back to playing Beatles records backwards
to hear the "hidden messages" about Paul being "dead"? Not sure if that
whole fad ever caught on in the Bronx neighborhoods where rap is said to
have originated.
-- Tom Fine
----- Original Message -----
From: "Andes, Donald" <Donald.Andes@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2007 7:32 PM
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] the origin of scratchin'
Hey Tom,
Grandwizard Theodore is most commonly credited with creating
"scratching".
Legend has it happened when he was playing records in his home. When his
mom came in to talk to him, he paused the record on a spinning platter
so he could hear her. When he released the record, it happened to be at
a drum transient, and taking notice, he replicated it; and scratching
was born. Grandmaster Flash (a mentor of Theodore's) incorporated and
popularized scratching, but it came to international audiences primarily
through Herbie Hancock's song "Rock-It" which featured scratching by
Grand Mixer DXT.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Wizard_Theodore
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Mixer_DXT
Don Andes
EMI Music
-----Original Message-----
From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
[mailto:ARSCLIST@xxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Tom Fine
Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2007 3:59 PM
To: ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ARSCLIST] the origin of scratchin'
In my never-ending quest for the most trivial music knowledge on the
planet, I have this question ...
Who was the first rap/hip-hop artist to use a turntable, record and
cartridge as a rhythm instrument, ie "scratchin'"? My guess would be
Grand Master Flash's DJ or Run-DMC's DJ, but I admit not knowing the
full genesis of rap.
Thanks in advance if you know the answer!
-- Tom Fine
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