The 1970s and '80s were tumultuous times in America - Vietnam, Watergate, feminism, "Morning in America" - and much of it was expressed in the popular music of the day.
Dan Kruse, KUAZ-FM's afternoon announcer and local host of NPR's "All Things Considered," will play samples of that music when he continues the "Rock 'n' Roll" lecture series he began at Academy Village last year.
Kruse, who taught the Rock and Popular Music in America course at the University of Arizona for five semesters, will speak at Academy Village on Wednesday and again on June 27.
Academy Village is an active-adult community off Old Spanish Trail six miles southeast of Saguaro National Park East.
The series is sponsored by the Arizona Senior Academy, and the two lectures will begin at 11:30 a.m. on consecutive Wednesdays in the Academy's great room, adjacent to the Academy Village Community Center. The lectures are free and open to the public, but seating is limited.
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Wednesday's lecture is "The 1970s in Rock and Popular Music in America."
According to Kruse, "The downfall of Richard Nixon created an atmosphere of political cynicism and skepticism in the '70s that we're still feeling today. Some recording artists found ways to raise our consciousness of political, social and gender-related issues that created wonderful musical works."
Kruse will describe how the "hippie aesthetic" from the '60s continued to influence the music scene, but with an evolving business model where radio, television, recordings and the "art and technology of performance" further glamorized performers and made the rock business even bigger and more pervasive.
He'll feature music from many of the decade's biggest stars, including David Bowie, Freddie Mercury, Peter Frampton, the Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Boston, Journey, Aerosmith, Foreigner and others, plus what Kruse calls "the new spirit of rebelliousness" manifested in the appearance of punk rock.
His presentation will include musical excerpts and videos of noted performances from the era.
In the '80s, with Ronald Reagan's optimistic view of America, a new American spirit was born, and this is also seen in the music. Kruse will develop that theme in his June 27 talk, when he'll discuss the rise of rap music and his theories about its roots in African music.
Kruse has lived in Tucson since 1997. He worked in radio broadcasting on the East Coast in the '70s and early '80s, then had a two-decade career in corporate film and video before moving to Arizona with his wife.
Since arriving in Tucson Kruse has enjoyed a career in music, performing and touring with a variety of jazz, pop and world music ensembles.
He is pursuing a master's in ethnomusicology at the UA School of Music, focusing on the production of documentary films on musical culture and history.
Kruse plans to complete his master's degree later this year with the production of a documentary film on Zoom Records, an independent record label formed in 1959.
"Zoom was started by two teen-aged high school kids right here in Tucson," Kruse said, "and that typifies the creative spirit that turned rock 'n' roll into a national phenomenon."
When the project is completed Kruse hopes to show the film at Academy Village.
IF YOU GO
• What: "The 1970s in Rock and Popular Music in America" lecture by Dan Kruse
• When: 11:30 a.m. Wednesday
• Where: Arizona Senior Academy Building at Academy Village, 13715 E. Langtry Lane
• Admission: Free; donations accepted
• Reservations: Recommended; email info@arizonasenioracademy.org or call 647-0980
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