- Culture of Akron, Ohio
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Akron street art, derived from the graffiti subculture
The culture of Akron is shaped by the rubber industry, immigration, the city's location and variety, history, and notable natives. Many major American cultural movements first emerged in the city. As the rubber industry was booming, so was the city's population, attracting immigrants from all parts of the globe. Akron became a melting pot in the early 20's, descendents from different racial groups significantly help define the worldwide cuisine. Aside from the North Hill neighborhood of Akron's history in jazz during the early 1900s, for decades Akron has produced musicians in many of genres. Major artist from Akron include Howard Hewett, Chrissie Hynde (who owns The VegiTerranean restaurant in the Northside Lofts), Devo, James Ingram, Buckner & Garcia, Rubber City Rebels, and The Black Keys.
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Literature
The city is the birthplace of former Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress Rita Dove, whose book Thomas and Beulah largely took place in Akron, and make references to landmarks such as, the All-America Bridge, Quaker Square silos, and the constant smell of burned rubber and oats, deemed the Perfume of Akron. The city is also the hometown of Former literary editor of Esquire, Adrienne Miller, who wrote the novel, The Coast of Akron.[1]
Comic books
The local pizza shop in Akron, Luigi's, is the inspiration for the pizza shop, Montoni's, in the comic strip Funky Winkerbean, written by native comic strip creator Tom Batiuk.[2] In the Flaming Carrot Comics, Iron City, where the Carrot lives, was made similar to Akron and another working-stiff town, Pittsburgh.
Popular music
Akron has also produced a diverse range of popular musical artists, such as:
- rock singer/guitarist/songwriter Chrissie Hynde, lead singer for The Pretenders
- blues-rock band The Black Keys
- soul singer James Ingram
- country singer David Allan Coe
- new wave band Devo
- post-rock band If These Trees Could Talk
- rock bands Chi-Pig and Hammer Damage
- rock n roll artists Robert Quine, Glen Buxton, Rick Renstrom, Lux Interior, Tin Huey, and Jani Lane
- R&B singers Howard Hewett, James Ingram, and Ruby Nash Curtis[3]
- protopunk band Rubber City Rebels
- heavy metal singer Tim "Ripper" Owens
- jazz musician Jeff Golub
- folk musician Len Chandler
- guitarist Dominic Frasca
- drummer Neal Smith
- baroque pop songwriter Pete Nischt
- singer-songwriters Joseph Arthur, Roger Hoover, and Brian Lisik
- vocalist Helen Jepson
- various artists Ralph Carney, Buckner & Garcia, Harvey Gold, Rachel Sweet, Vaughn Monroe, Liam Lynch, Russell Oberlin, Nikola Resanovic, Mike Lenz, and The Waitresses
References
- ^ "Book Reviews - The Coast of Akron by Adrienne Miller". Reviewsofbooks.com. http://www.reviewsofbooks.com/coast_of_akron/. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
- ^ Renner, James. "The Cleveland Free Times :: Cover :: A Funkier Winkerbean". Freetimes.com. http://www.freetimes.com/stories/15/7/a-funkier-winkerbean. Retrieved 2009-04-28.[dead link]
- ^ "Bio - Ruby & the Romantics - Discover". Wayango. http://www.wayango.com/ruby-the-romantics/bio/. Retrieved 2009-04-30.
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