“People often ask us why we call ourselves Under the Streetlamp. For us, that simple image epitomizes all the joy, intimacy, and passion wrapped up in the era of music we like to call the ‘American Radio Songbook.’ Thoroughly diverse and infused with an indomitable spirit, this music is iconically American.
Certainly much can and has been said about the great melodies, clever lyrics, and exceptional performers of the era but some credit at least is due to the unique manner in which the music was shared. Long before iTunes, cable or mp3 players there was radio, and it was king. Never mind that there were only one or two FM stations to choose from at the time. While that may seem unbearable to some, for music lovers it was remarkable. The country listened as Jazz, Swing and the Blues gave birth to Doo-Wop, Rock ‘n Roll and Soul and everybody got to experience it over the radio. As a result (and with the help of great DJ’s like Alan Freed and Wolfman Jack) one could experience Etta James, The Four Seasons and Johnny Cash all on one station! Whether you wanted to Twist and Shout with The Beatles, Cry with Johnny Ray, gaze upon a Blue Moon with The Marcels, or Save the Last Dance for Sam Cooke, all you had to do was turn on the radio.
Suddenly you could hear folks from all different walks of life expressing the unique rhythms of the American experience. And as a population, people started singing along with their own families in their own neighborhoods. In cramped urban dwellings residents congregated on the stoops and in the streets. There was no better place to share your joy of this music than standing with your buddies in your own spotlight on the corner, singing under the streetlamp. Those guys, imitating instruments with only their voices, and their gals… those were our parents. Our parents are the baby boomers who were Twistin’ the Night Away and they filled our homes with the sounds of the almighty radio that they loved. We’re here to honor that tradition. We are the proud inheritors of America’s rich musical legacy. So for us, this music, it’s a family affair.
Before the dawn of genres like ‘adult-contemporary-pop,’ ‘alternative-punk-rockabilly,’ or ‘neo-hip hop-soul,’ there was just music. No matter what your personal tastes you had access to it all. Maybe that’s why our fans know the words to ALL of our songs and not just a few of them. We here at Under The Streetlamp certainly hope you continue to sing along with us as we do our best to breathe new life into this incredible music we all know and love!”
-Cunio, Michael, Chris, & Shonn
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