In 2020, go go became the official music of Washington DC. Some were surprised and some were exhilarated by the event, but a sizable majority were just curious.
This genre isn’t widely famous like Jazz, and it didn’t break records the way did. So what’s the story behind it? And what is go go music?
In this article, we’ll explore all aspects of go go music, from its origins to its peaks, valleys, and reinvention in the present day.
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What Exactly Is Go Go Music?
This music genre is an offshoot of the funk music that was trendy in the 1970s. Go go music peaked in the 1980s, but soon faded in the 1990s, and melted in the sweeping wave of hip hop.
It originated in Washington DC, and remained there throughout its journey. Go go music is less about tunes and more about the beat and the dance.
The Origins of Go Go Music
To understand go go music; it’s important to experience it in a live performance.The lyrics, tunes, beats, moves, and group energy are all indispensable ingredients. And one element is almost meaningless without the rest.
The first steps of go go were in the dancehalls of the late 1970s, where singers like Chuck Brown, who was the Godfather of this genre, would perform for hours on end. The songs often merged into one another to keep the dancers from leaving the floor.
The lyrics were engaging stories about life and love, that the audience could easily bond with. And at the end of each verse, the performer would urge the dancers to “go go go go”.
You’d rarely see a couple dancing in these concerts, as the whole crowd moved in unison. Parading their incredible footwork and agility.
Where Did the Name Go Go Come From?
Many stories float around that attribute the name simply to the repeated call from the performers that encouraged the audience to ‘keep going. However, a few accounts go as far as France with a different tale.
In the early 1960s, a nightclub opened up in France under the funny name of “Whiskyagogo”. Interestingly, it was the very first dance club where a live band was replaced by a DJ playing music from vinyls.
The huge popularity of that venue crossed the ocean all the way back to the US, and in 1964, a club opened up in Los Angeles under the same name but with a twist; “Whisky A Go Go”. A year later, the term “go go” was largely used to describe places where people go dancing.
The term was used in a TV show, in some of the hit songs of the 60s, and in the name of one of the earliest bands of this genre. The Emperors of Go-Go were a short-lived band, but they held their own in their competition with Black Heat and Chuck Brown.
The Main Influences On Go Go Music
The rhythm and, to a lesser degree the lyrics, are the pillars of go go music. The unique beat that’s neither too quick nor too slow, with its asymmetric meter, is what gives it a flavor and character.
The most direct influence on go go music is definitely funk, which preceded it by more than a decade. However, funk itself is a derivative of a bunch of other music genres. It takes some serious aspects from reggae, swing, bounce, and soul.
Some even went so far as to see the solid effects of gospel and church music in these tunes. But since it was always masked by overpowering layers of percussion and bass, these undertones frequently went unnoticed.
In later years, go go music utilized the beats of R&B as well as the emerging hip hop, and adapted them to its dance ‘grooves’.
Despite the evident variety of sources that led up to the creation of go go, music was never the main focus of that genre. The proof is often in the streets of DC, where you’d see a bunch of kids showing off their legwork and learning new moves. The enthusiastic beat is everything.
The Big Names of Go Go Music
Throughout the brief period where go go music flourished, some brilliant performers filled the dance clubs with their vibrant songs.
It’s worth mentioning that the live shows of these singers and bands were far more revered than their vinyl records or singles.And that’s probably why they didn’t garner as much fame as the pioneers of jazz, the icons of blues, or the legends of rock.
Still, some artists had a huge presence in the dance club scene, and later on, in movie music. Their legacy still inspires the DC community even after so many years have passed. And as this music is getting a rebirth, the vast majority of the Columbia District dwellers want to relive the early days of go go with the classic moves and early tunes.
These are some of the musicians who shaped go go music and gave it its popular form.
Chuck Brown
Charles Louis Brown, who is better known as Chuck Brown, is unanimously considered the Godfather of go go music.
Brown was born in 1936, in North Carolina, right before the second world war. It was a rough time, and his father, who was a marine, left the family for good. Brown’s mother was a housekeeper, and around Brown’s sixth birthday, she decided to move to Washington DC.
Brown lived within limited means for most of his life, and as a teen, he turned to the streets. He dropped out of school and took up any odd jobs he could find.
This little adventure ended tragically when he was convicted of murder. He spent eight years in prison, and it was there that he learned how to play the guitar.
After his prison sentence, Brown went back to his old ways of taking up any gigs that came his way. That included performing at parties and dance clubs.
By the 1960s, Brown was becoming a musical sensation. He performed with much bigger bands like the Los Latinos and The Earls of Rhythm.
Bustin Loosewas one of Brown’s hottest singles, probably because of the upbeat, sincerity, and realism in the lyrics. It was an instant hit, but what truly immortalized it was the fact that the Washington Nationals, which was one of the biggest baseball teams at the time, adopted it. And it was their anthem whenever they hit a home run.
Chuck Brown was also in the habit of converting jazz or swing songs into go go versions, and he has several recorded covers in that category, like Midnight Sun, It Don’t Mean a Thing If Ain’t Got That Swing, and Moody’s Mood for Love.
Most of Brown’s contemporaries and successors in go go were openly emulating his style and musical arrangements. He was an inspiration for stellar performers like Experience Unlimited, the Soul Rebels Brass Band, Little Benny and the Master, Big G and The Backyard Band, and of course, the Junk Yard Band.
Even as the go go genre was fading away in the 1990s, Brown was still shining. And he did the theme music for The Sinbad Show, which was a sitcom.
Also, he made appearances in various TV commercials and his songs were used in numerous ads. This is definitely a testament to the popularity of the music and the artist.
Brown passed away in 2012 at the age of 75. A month later, Rare Essence, The Soul Rebels Brass Band, and Slick Rick held a tribute for him, and together, they performed his iconic songs at the historic Howard Theatre in Washington DC.
Experience Unlimited
Die-hard fans know that the name of this band takes after the reggae legend’s Bob Marley Experience. They actually took more than just a name, as their music, lyrics, and attitude were all echoes of the legendary performer.
The DC-based band started making songs around 1977, but that was the very early start. Their debut album Free Yourself didn’t make waves, and it might’ve reshuffled the band members a bit. But they stayed the course and reached true fame a decade later with their big hit Da Butt.
In the same year, 1988, the band released another hit single Taste of Your Love. Unlike the typical go go raging beats and enthusiastic lyrics, this song was slow and soulful. It ranked high up in the Billboard top hits and broke the charts for quite a while.
Shortly after that, the band and the whole genre took a step back, and the whole music scene seemed to morph into a different vibe. The tenacious E.U. band resurfaced in the 1990s and they partnered with hip hop, jazz, and blues performers.
In 2012 Da Butt was featured in a computer game, and in 2012 the band regrouped one last time at the BET Awards, where they performed their iconic song; Da Butt!
Junk Yard Band
In 1980, the band members were mere children, with their ages as little as 8 and as old as 13. They all came from the rather modest parts of Washington, D.C.
The Barry Farm government housing project didn’t offer them more than the bare minimum of lodge and sustenance. But they had the whole neighborhood as their backyard.
The energetic moves and bubbly songs were quite appealing to those kids, and they went about emulating their favorite local go go bands. They had to be innovative when it came to creating the necessary beats, and so they repurposed every piece of junk that could generate sound.
Soon, they perfected the act of creating percussion instruments out of buckets, pots, pans, and crates. The locals were quite cooperative and supported the kids by donating discarded stuff and lending them an ear. The neighborhood kids became known as the Junk Yard Band.
From just playing around with music, to jamming in a structured form, the band eventually became quite serious about their songs. They performed in any venue that would take them.
Which was often a school, a fundraiser, or a recreational center. They also held various street performances, where tourists and city dwellers would admire their act.
By 1984, the Junk Yard Band was popular enough to be booked for an ad, or make an appearance in a movie. Being in the right place at the right time in these studios eventually led to their big break, and they signed their first contract with Def Jam Recordings.
In 1986, the band released their biggest hit, Sardines. From that point on, the band crossed the boundaries of DC. And their name became big enough for opening acts for Tupac Shakur, Salt-n-Pepa, Guy, and the Beastie Boys.
Tragedy hit in 1992 when their founding member and drummer was shot and killed. Ironically, he was murdered in the same place where everything started, the Barry Farms housing projects. The band released various albums and had some more echoing singles up until 1999.
They were an incredible inspiration to peer bands. The manner in which they assigned one, two, three mics was emulated by the vast majority of performers that came after them. As was their style in referring to their brand in a 3-letter acronym; JYB.
Go Go Becomes the Official Music of Washington, D.C
Having been hit hard by the lockdowns and sad effects of the pandemic, many neighborhoods suffered hard. The financial, social, and cultural decline was evident in D.C. as much as in many other places. But they resorted to a wonderful solution to alleviate some of the burdens; go go music.
The upbeat music that was always an inspiration and a way to bring people together once again brought these communities closer.Street performances, centers that taught the moves, and kids practicing in every corner became a heartwarming phenomenon.
In February of 2020, go go became the Official Music of Washington D.C. The decision came after a unanimous vote by the city council. And currently, the go go block gatherings have become a tourist attraction and a vision of hope for the whole country.
