history of rock and roll

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INTRODUCTION Rock and
Roll started after the year 1955 with its roots being in Blues, Gospel,and
Jazz. This influenced vocal music, which was popular with the African
American population. Hep Harmony which added rhythm and harmony
was sung by groups such as The "Mills Brothers" and the "Ink Spots".
Small Swing Bands or Jump Bands featured saxophone soloists
and repeated phrases. These city style blues featured singers such as
Joe Turner, Dina Washington, T-Bone Walker, and composer-singer
Percy Mayfield. During this era, country blues traditions of the south
became influential in the North as well. Blacks moved from the South to
the North and Chicago became the center of blues recordings. This
emphasized electric guitars, harmonicas, and drummers who emphasized
after beats (beats 2 and 4 of the measure). Black gospel music was very
popular and given the label of rhythm and blues (R&B). This music was
carried on radio and popular with the disc jockeys. In the mid 50's,
Chuck Berry and Little Richard were popular and changed the face of
music, which was named rock and roll by the D.J.'s.
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1956-1962 At age 21, in 1956, Elvis
Presley was introduced to the public with his rockabilly style of music. His
first record, "Heartbreak Hotel" was recorded. It was the first of a
consecutive 14 records to sell over one million copies. He
inspired other country singers to sing rock and roll. This started a trend
for "cover" recordings. This was when white singers simplified versions of
Black recorded songs. White singers were played on more radio stations
and became very popular. Young listeners became their largest
audience. Young singers were hired to record songs featuring adolescent
issues. "Young Love", "16 Candles", and "Teenage Crush". Such
singers as Little Richard, Chuck Berry, and Jerry Lee Lewis became

famous and popular. Love ballads also became more
popular, with the musical audience looking for sentimental and honest
expression. This turned some of the more popular music from rock to folk
ballads. Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, and Peter, Paul, and Mary were the
more popular folk singers. 1963-1969
During this period, the Beatles became the most popular band of
the 1960's.In the 1950's, the Beatles were also known as Johnny and the
Moondogs and then the Moonshiners. They first became known as the
Silver Beatles. They brought about the renewal of rock and roll, starting
in Liverpool, England. John Lennon (10/9/40-12/8/80), led the Beatles as
the lead singer and songwriter. Also writing the songs for the Beatles
page 3was Paul
McCartney (6/18/42-present). George Harrison (2/25/43-present) added
to the sounds of the Beatles. In 1962, Ringo Starr (7/7/40-present)
became the drummer for the band. They were now known as The
Beatles, (the Fab Four). Their first song "Love Me Do" was recorded in
1962, after Ringo joined the band. In 1964, the Beatles 'invaded' the
United States, by bringing their music here and driving the crowds
wild. The Beatles bridged the generation gap and language barriers.
They were trend setters, with their style of dress and hair changing the
face of the young people. They also influenced the use of hallucinogenic
drugs, Indian music, and Eastern mysticism. The Beatles last concert
was in San Francisco in 1966. The band broke up in 1970. Lennon
went on to record solo albums and with his wife, Yoko Ono. McCartney
went on to form Paul McCartney and Wings, with his wife, Linda.
Harrison and Starr also went on to do solo albums. Ringo also starred in
some films. Rumors of a reunion were believed until the murder of John
Lennon in 1980. Some of the groups influenced by the Beatles were
The Who, Cream with Eric Clapton, and Chicago Blues. They brought
out sounds such as loud music, guitar screeches, and on stage smashing

of instruments. During this time, rock operas and rock musicals became
popular, such as Tommy, The Who and Hair. Formed in 1962 the
Rolling Stones started becoming popular. In 1964, The Rolling Stones
were first known as Muddy Waters. They had wild stage antics and brutal
lyrics. The group consisted of 5 members from London. Mick Jagger led
the group as the lead singer. Keith Richards on guitar, Brian Jones
(replaced in 1969 by Mick Taylor).
page 4Mick Taylor was replaced in 1976 by Ron Wood
(from Rod Stewart's band). Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer, Charlie
Watts made up the rest of the Stones. By the late 60's they called
themselves the world's greatest rock band. The Stones were number
one on both sides of the Atlantic, with their hit "Satisfaction" in 1965. The
Stones put out more than 35 albums. Many of their lyrics covered taboo
subjects ( for their time), such as sex and drugs. In the 1980's, thier
image mellowed and they went
on to other endeavors. In 1985, Jagger recorded a solo album, "She's
The Boss". Following this album, he did a hit remake with David Bowie of
"Dancing in the Streets". The Stones reunited in 1989, for a 4 month, 40
city tour, which was seen by over 3 million people. They rolled in over 70
million dollars from ticket and merchandise sales. Motown
became popular during the late 60's with the emergence of female
singers such as Diana Ross and the Supremes. Other Motown singers
such as the Temptations used dance and music together to enhance their
popularity. Stevie Wonder was also another Motown great. This started
the trend of soul music. During the 1960's hippies, drugs (LSD
and Acid), and protests filled the air of this time. Groups such as The
Mamas and The Papas, Country Joe and the Fish, Jefferson Airplane,
and the Greatful Dead were influenced by these trends. The
Woodstock Festival that took place in August 1969, showed that by this
time that music was an important element in the life of America's youth.

This brought about a whole different look at the music industry.
page 5 1970-1979 This
decade saw the division of rock into subdivisions beyond the general
categories of hard rock (extremely loud and electrically amplified) and
mellow rock (softer, and with acoustic instruments). Rock blended with
reggae, which emerged from Jamaica around 1972, and is a mix of rock,
soul, calypso, and other Latin rhythms. Other styles emerging in
the 70's were punk rock, bubble gum music, and heavy metal rock which
continued the hallucinogenic approach of acid rock, but using loud
volume, electronic distortion, and vulgar stage antics. Some bands
expressing these feelings were Kiss, Alice Cooper, Led Zeppelin.
Led Zeppelin, who is a British rock group was most popular during
1970s. The members were: lead singer Robert Plant (born 1948),
guitarist Jimmy Page (born 1944), bassist and keyboardist John Paul
Jones (born 1946), and drummer John Bonham (1948-80). Led Zeppelin
was founded in1968 by Jimmy Page. They released their first album,
Led Zeppelin, in 1968. Other popular albums included Led Zeppelin II
(1969), III (1970), and IV (1971), Houses of the Holy (1971), The Song
Remains the Same (1976), and In Through the Out Door (1976). Their
most famous song was `Stairway to Heaven' (1971). With the death of
Bonham in 1980, the band was at a great loss, and band members (Plant
and Page) went on to solo careers. The reunion of the remaining band
members was in 1985, for a Live Aid benefit concert in Philadelphia.
Another reunion took place in 1988 for Atlantic Records' 40th anniversary
celebration (John Bonham's son, Jason, played the drums).
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SUMMARY There were many other
bands not mentioned in this report that influenced music in the 60's, 70's,
and the 80's. Some of these bands include Pink Floyd, The Doors,
Eagles, Genesis, CSNY (Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young), The Monkees,

Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Chicago, Fleetwood Mac, Jackson Browne,
Michael Jackson, and many others. Rock and Roll has been an
important part of young peoples lives for decades and decades to come.
Music is a way of expression for some and a way of relaxing forothers.