LINK WRAY AND MILDRED BAILEY’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO POPULAR MUSIC - #IndigenousPeoplesDay

This year for #IndigenousPeoplesDay, HEADS on TV is highlighting two key Native American musicians who played a major role in the development of popular music during the 20th century.

LINK WRAY - FATHER OF THE POWER CHORD

Born in 1929, guitarist and songwriter Link Wray is often credited as the “father of the power chord.” His first hit, 1958’s “Rumble,” is widely recognized as the song that first popularized the usage of the “power chord,” a chord heavily used in rock-and-roll, consisting of the root note, a fifth and other octaves of the same note.

As for his impact on fellow musicians: Pete Townshend of the Who was once quoted as saying “if it hadn’t been for Link Ray and ‘Rumble,’ I would have never picked up a guitar.” Jimmy Page, Neil Young and Iggy Pop have also noted Wray’s influence on their careers throughout the years.

Wray is of both Cherokee and Shawnee tribal roots.

MILDRED BAILEY - EARLY PIONEER OF POPULAR JAZZ

Mildred Bailey was a widely beloved jazz singer of the 1930’s, whose singles included hits like “For Sentimental Reasons” and “Georgia On My Mind” that predated jazz icons Billie Holliday and Ella Fitzgerald. She grew up on the  Coeur d'Alene Reservation in Idaho, eventually establishing herself as a speakeasy jazz singer along the west coast and later a prominent featured vocalist on several top-selling record releases. Inspired by her success, Bailey’s brother Al Rinker and his friend, a then-unknown Bing Crosby, moved to Los Angeles in hopes of mirroring the same success they saw Bailey enjoy as a celebrated Hollywood act. She is even credited as the artist who introduced Bing Crosby to Louis Armstrong, the talented trumpet player from New Orleans.

With well over 18 charting U.S. singles and several other vocal features, Bailey’s legacy is one of the earliest examples of a self-made artist career, especially noted for paving the way for future female musicians to be taken seriously in the industry.

For more stories of Native American artists and their legacy, check out the Native American Music Hall of Fame here.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Link_Wray

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mildred-Bailey