Hinsons The Lighthouse And The Seventies Music Scene

By Marci Nielsen


Music is the most popular art form globally. It uses sound as its medium transcending both social and cultural barriers. It is used as a form of entertainment and a means of passing messages. It has been in existence since the Paleolithic era and has succeeded many generations. Today, it has many genres. Some of them were created in the seventies during an era where many legends were created. These include Willie Nelson, Elton John, Linda Ronstadt, Bob Marley and Led Zeppelin. Earlier in the decades, The Hinsons The Lighthouse signature song was released.

Music from the seventies was produced for not only entertainment but also addressed important issues that were occurring at the time. Many songs focused on the government of the day and events that were occurring globally. Artistes like Jimi Hendrix produced songs about the Vietnamese War. The industry was characterized with mature themed songs and rich material. Many artistes criticized bad governance and leadership.

The decade saw the growth of many styles. Many artistes and groups came up with new sounds and styles that propagated their rise in the industry. Main styles from this decade were Disco, and Reggae. The former however quickly fell from grace while the latter was a successor to Ska. This experimentation resulted in a diversified crop of artistes like the infusion of pop into Country music.

Stiff competition in this period resulted in the need for relevance in this industry. There was a big need for new and fresh ideas. Groups like the Hinsons needed a change of content and material from what they normally practiced. Their biggest signature song, The Lighthouse, was written out of this necessity. It later propelled them to stardom.

Music from the seventies was more mature and softer than the rebelliousness of the previous decade. It set the tone for the happy and joyous songs that came in later years. The first half saw the market embrace upbeat disco sounds while the latter part saw relaxed sound that focused on content and excellence. In fact, Disco was renounced due to its commercialization and silliness

This decade produced legends in different genres each going ahead to assume huge fan following. The Hinson gospel group rode on the success of their singles The Lighthouse and He Pilots My Ship. Their popularity saw them tour the country and get excellent record sales.

Creativity was high in this period. Many artistes came up with unique sounds that set them apart and created a demand in the market. Artistes like Bob Marley shifted genres from Ska into Reggae and gained global stardom from his hits. Artists like Dolly Parton, John Denver and Kenny Rodgers infused country with Pop.

The period was rich in creativity, hits, legendary acts as well as musical styles. It gave equal opportunity to everybody in the industry which resulted in breakthroughs and successes and also record sales. The Hinsons, consisting of siblings, were able to curve out a niche from the market. It rewarded those who had the talent and worked hard at their music.




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