Historical Background
pete seeger appears before HUAC- July 1956
Pete Seeger, protest artist famed for his songs about the American worker, appeared before the House Un-American Activities Commission for his ties to protest groups, the communist-undertones in his music, and his tendency to perform in a fake military uniform. He was extremely combative and sarcastic during the hearing, and the exasperated representatives responded by placing him in contempt of Congress. He was the only witness at his hearing.
The Payola Hearings - 1960
As the second generation of rock artists stormed the airwaves, conservative congressmen believed only payola could explain the success. Payola, or "play for pay," was a common practice where radio DJ's played records in return for monetary compensation from the record's producer. The congressmen believed that DJ's were committing widespread fraud against the American people about what music was popular. Targeting DJ's who were facing payola accusations, the committee combed through the finances of radio DJ's Norm Prescott, Dave Maynard, and American Bandstand host Dick Clark.
The Parents Music Resource Center - 1985
The PMRC, founded by a group "Washington Wives," sought to inform parents of the explicit nature of many rock songs. When the music industry did not comply with their requests for censorship voluntarily, the members of the PMRC used their connections to force a public hearing. The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation included husbands of PMRC members Al Gore and Fritz Hollings. Over the course of several weeks, the committee subpoenaed prominent figures from the music industry, such as Dee Snider, Frank Zappa, and John Denver.
Creative Commons Approval for Pictures
Pete Seeger Entertaining. Joseph A. Horne. Public Domain via Library of Congress.
Dick Clark Radio Show 1963. ABC. Public Domain without copyright notice.
Tipper Gore. NA. Public Domain
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