| Disco incorporates stylistic musical elements of Rock, | | | | and into major concert venues, and greatly contributed |
| Funk and the Motown sound while also drawing from | | | | to popularizing Disco's fashion and culture. The movie's |
| Swing, Soca, Merengue and Afro Cuban styles and | | | | soundtrack arguably stands as the most thorough |
| groves. It is above all else drum driven dance music. | | | | compilation of Disco music. |
| Consequently, the role of the drummer is to make the | | | | The genre began to fade toward the turn of the |
| beat prominent and unwavering at all times. Although | | | | decade, only to return in the mid 1990s with a trendy |
| some elements of Disco appeared in the music of | | | | "retro revival" in dance clubs, sampling of it on popular |
| Funk groups such as Sly and the Family Stone, the | | | | songs, and through live Disco party cover bands. Since |
| style really began to develop in the early to mid 1970s | | | | Disco is dance music, the drumming style is simple and |
| when dance clubs ("Discotheques"), such as the | | | | consistent. Common drumming characteristics are a |
| Peppermint Lounge and Studio 54 in New York City | | | | "four on the floor" bass drum pattern, a steady 2 & 4 |
| began to gain popularity. Major record labels began | | | | on the snare, and hi hat patterns such as straight 16th |
| supplying clubs with dance music on the first known | | | | notes or open hi hat notes on upbeats. The tempo |
| pressings of 12" promo vinyl records (developed by | | | | range of most Disco songs is quarter note = one |
| music promoter Tom Moulton), which offered longer | | | | hundred and eight to one hundred and twenty beats |
| mixes ("remixes") of 3 minute standard popular songs. | | | | per minute. |
| Disco emerged on the radio with a series of early hit | | | | Country music has influenced Disco in many ways, and |
| singles including "The Hustle" (Van McCoy & the Soul | | | | one of the most prominent forms of Country music is |
| City Symphony), "Love to Love You Baby" (Donna | | | | the slow ballad, with the 12/8 and 4/4 grooves which |
| Summer), "Rock The Boat" (Hues Corporation) and | | | | are the most common types and used throughout |
| "Never Can Say Goodbye" (performed by Gloria | | | | many Country Ballads, including Willie Nelson's hit "Night |
| Gaynor, written originally by the Jackson Five). The | | | | Life" and "Crazy," also written by Willie Nelson, but |
| genre reached its greatest popularity in the years 1977 | | | | most famously performed by Patsy Cline. The tempo |
| and 1978, culminating with the movie "Saturday Night | | | | has a narrow range of quarter note = fifty and up to |
| Fever," which pushed Disco high onto the music charts | | | | eighty beats per minute. |