vocal harmonies and instrumental music provided by the singers

[Vladv1]

"The Beatles were just the start of the British Invasion: longhaired groups that espoused a new musical formula that was a combination of vocal harmonies and instrumental music provided by the singers themselves. The songs and their arrangements were almost as refreshing as the brash and irreverent personalities that created them. They had strange and descriptive names".

"Rainbow In The Dark", Ronnie James Dio.

What does "provide" mean here in other words? To compose? But the groups played a lot of covers as well. And the singers were not the only one to compose music in Brtish Invasion groups.

 

[teechar]

What does "provide" mean here in other words?

It's used in its usual sense - to give.

To compose?

No.

But the groups played a lot of covers as well. And the singers were not the only one to compose music in British Invasion groups.

I don't understand what's confusing you about the part you quoted.

... groups that espoused a new musical formula that was a combination of:

1- vocal harmonies and

2- instrumental music provided by the singers themselves.

That last part means that with those new groups, the singers played the instruments as well. This is in contrast to previous "formulae" whereby the singers just sang, and the accompanying musicians just played music.

 

[Tarheel]

I don't think I've ever heard them called "British invasion groups" before. They were British bands who thought they could sell more records and make more money by playing in front of American crowds. (They were right.)

 

[Skrej]

The term 'British Invasion' is a commonly used term to refer to the influx of British musicians influencing rock and pop music in the United States, starting in the 60's.

It was first used to describe the popularity of the Beatles, especially when they first toured the US, but the term was soon expanded to refer to the many musical acts of British origin that heavily influenced US culture.