Classic for a Reason: SONGS FROM THE BIG CHAIR
With Classic for a Reason, music historians Ken Womack and Kit O'Toole revisit classic albums for in-depth analysis and discussion.
With Classic for a Reason, music historians Ken Womack and Kit O'Toole revisit classic albums for in-depth analysis and discussion.
Class Schedule: April 23, 28, & 30, 2026 | 7:30 – 9:00 PM
The early 1960s began the girl group renaissance, with prominent Brill Building songwriters and emerging producers such as Phil Spector crafting hits. Motown would further set the template, with Martha and the Vandellas, the Velvettes, and the Marvelettes inspiring even British Invasion groups. Perhaps no one defined the girl group aesthetic like the Supremes, one of the most successful (and influential) acts of the 1960s.
Zoom Link will be provided upon registration.
Join music historians Ken Womack & Kit O’Toole as they revisit classic record albums. With Classic for a Reason, Ken & Kit will take listeners on a guided tour of our history’s most enduring popular musical accomplishments.
Alexis (Martin) Foley ’20 has a B.A. in History from Monmouth University. She is currently an HR business partner with Consumer Fragrances.
Class Schedule: February 12, 17, and 19 | 7:30 – 9:00 PM
Whether you are embarking on your memoir or crafting your first work of fiction, the task of the writer is to develop compelling characters that connect with readers. Taking the “me out of memoir” allows you to develop your parents and loved ones as characters. In this three part course, we will utilize description, dialogue, and action to create characters that resonate with readers of any genre. No experience necessary, just a willingness to create characters to jump off the page!
Zoom Link will be provided upon registration.
Class Schedule: January 22, 27, & 29, 2026 | 7:30 – 9:00 PM
The 1960s may be remembered for the British Invasion, soul, and the birth of the Beatles and art rock. However, the early-to-mid 1960s is also known for its “girl groups,” trios or quartets singing Brill Building compositions and other pop. Motown also perfected the girl group formula, with the Supremes reigning as one of the most successful and influential acts of the 1960s. Indeed, the girl group tradition continues today with Fifth Harmony, Blackpink, and many others. However, the genre’s roots extend back even further, to the 1960s.
Join music historians Ken Womack & Kit O’Toole as they revisit classic record albums. With Classic for a Reason, Ken & Kit will take listeners on a guided tour of our history’s most enduring popular musical accomplishments.
Class Schedule: December 11, 16, & 18, 2025 | 7:30 – 9:00 PM
By the late 1970s, disco dominated the airwaves and conquered film, television, advertising, and fashion. Its ubiquity, however, led to an inevitable backlash in the form of Chicago’s infamous “Disco Demolition Night” event at Comiskey Park. Did that signal the end of the genre? Hardly—it merely changed labels, transforming its sound and becoming “House” or “Electronic Dance Music (EDM).” In the present day, artists such as Dua Lipa, Beyoncé, and Sabrina Carpenter have incorporated the sound into their own music.
Zoom Link will be provided upon registration.
Class Schedule: November 6, 13, & 20, 2025 | 7:30 – 9:00 PM
In Detroit in the 1960's Motown Records produced hits as efficiently as the Ford Motor Company produced automobiles. It was the "Sound of Young America" conceived by Berry Gordy J and sung by performers like The Supremes, The Temptations, Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder. Using audio and visual content, we'll trace the amazing musical journey from the power soul of "Dancing in The Streets" and "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" to the psychedelic soul of "What's Going On" and "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" to the pop soul of The Jackson 5. Timeless music that moved us then and moves us now.
Zoom Link will be provided upon registration.
At the mid-point of the 1960’s and after Beatlemania had hit America and the world, The Beatles released their sixth album. Rubber Soul, often referred to as “the departure record,” proved a crucial artistic leap in the band’s career and sound, forever altering what was possible within pop music and the concept of the album overall. In celebration of the 60th anniversary of this landmark release, this course will explore the personal, cultural, and sonic landscapes that shaped the record, from the new sights and sounds The Beatles were consuming, through the impact upon their writing, their peers, and the music world thereafter.