Rock: Los Angeles 1980s Overview

In the immediate post-World War II period, Los Angeles had a strong, distinctive black music industry. Yet, as the city grew in importance as a music centre, the business became increasingly dominated by whites. Even the city’s notable jazz scene was overwhelmingly white. In the 1980s, however, Los Angeles again developed a vital black music business—arguably as a result of the growing confidence of the black middle class and in response to the period’s booming economy. Michael Jackson was a key, if not the key, figure. Like Elvis Presley 35 years earlier, Jackson made pop music that was black, white, and neither. The world saluted him as the first African-American music megastar, and Los Angeles became the world’s black music centre. Central to this development was Jackson’s veteran producer, Quincy Jones. Also playing important roles were up-and-coming producers L.A. (Antonio Reid), Babyface (Kenneth Edmonds), and Teddy Riley, whose music was marketed as new jack swing, or swingbeat.