Greatest Moments of Rock & Roll
by Lauren Stephenson
Rock-and-roll has been around for over half a century, transforming into new genres of music while having some highly significant moments along the way. Whether you think of Michael Jackson’s moonwalk, or the release of Elvis Presley’s very first album, there are some awesome moments of rock-and-roll. From the fifties to now, this genre of music has had countless great moments.
First and foremost, it’s safe to say that one of the primary moments of rock-and-roll was when young Elvis Presley recorded one of his first hit songs, ‘That’s All Right Mama’ at Sun Studios in Memphis. That year, in 1954, Elvis was only 19 years old (O’Hagan 1). Eventually, he became known as the King of Rock n’ Roll, with over 150 albums. Soon after Elvis became famous, women drooling for him all over the country, a new hit was released. Chuck Berry, an artist with similar style to the Rolling Stones and Bruce Springsteen, released ‘Maybellene’ in 1955 (O’Hagan 1). Many other hit songs were release that same decade, such as ‘Ain’t That a Shame’ by Pat Boone, ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ by Elvis, ‘Tutti Frutti’ by Little Richard, and Sam Cook’s ‘You Send Me’, which hit number one on the charts (“The 100 Greatest Moments in Rock Music” 3). Then, on February 23, 1959, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. Richardson were killed in a tragic plane crash, many calling it the day that music died. Soon after, Don McClean wrote ‘American Pie’, still a popular song today, to immortalize the three musicians. Although this was quite a tragedy, the fifties ended on a positive note when Berry Gordy founded Motown Records in January of 1959. Smokie Robinson said that this company was the first bridge between black and white music in America, which was huge. Artists like the Jackson 5, Diana Ross, and Stevie Wonder were all on the list of Motown’s legendary performers (“The 100 Greatest Moments in Rock Music” 3). Black artists actually ended up having the largest audience among young white Americans by the end of the decade (“Rock’n’Roll and Social Change” 33).
In the next decade, the sixties, plenty of significant moments of rock occurred. First, in 1964, the Beatles seemed to take over America. Of course, the band was already a hit in England, but by the beginning of that year, ‘I Wanna Hold Your Hand’ hit the top of the American charts, with four other hit songs following soon after. By March that same year, the Beatles held the top five chart positions in the United States (O’Hagan 2). Then, three years later, the Who took the spotlight with their attempt at a dramatic climax for ‘My Generation’ on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. The band rigged gunpowder underneath the drums to go off, but the charge ignited a bigger explosion than expected, burning one member of the band, causing another to faint, and one other to bleed. Needless to say, it was a memorable performance (“The 100 Greatest Moments of Rock Music” 5). That same year, two members of the Rolling Stones, Mick and Keith, were arrested for possession of hash and amphetamines. This moment of rock sealed the band’s reputation as the outlaws of rock’n’roll. Fortunately, the Stones were still a popular band, especially for songs like ‘(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction’, released in 1965 (Cooper 125). Another highly noted performance in the sixties was when Jimi Hendrix performed ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ at Woodstock Festival in 1969. Many interpreted the performance as a political protest, in front of 500,000 rock fans, against the Vietnam War. Hendrix passed away just a year later in his sleep, starting off a new decade (O’Hagan 2).
Then, starting the seventies off firmly, the first heavy metal record was released by a new band, and new genre of rock, thanks to Black Sabbath (O’Hara 3). Later that decade, on August 16th 1977, Elvis Presley, the King of Rock’n’Roll, died of heart failure. Unfortunately, most people believe that his death was due to prescription pills. Then, of course, there are still those who think that the King still lives. Another tragic death occurred that decade as well. Jimi Hendrix died on September 18, 1970. Startlingly, he passed away because he choked on his own vomit after taking barbiturates (“The 100 Greatest Moments of Rock Music” 5).
Sadly, the eighties didn’t start off so well for rock-and-roll. On December 8th, 1980, John Lennon of the Beatles was murdered. A man named Mark Chapman shot Lennon on his doorstep in New York. The world was shocked by this tragedy, especially because Chapman was a fan who just craved celebrity (O’Hagan 3). Two years later, though, rock/pop fans could get excited once again: Michael Jackson released the best-selling album of all time, Thriller. Jackson hit the top of the charts at age 25 with that album, going solo from Jackson 5, which had given him his first hit at a young age 12 (O’Hagan 3).
Finally, the nineties approached, bringing new bands and sounds with the new decade. First, Nirvana released “Smells Like Teen Spirit”, which was the single that made them famous. Other new bands, like Blur and Oasis went head to head, trying to win America’s vote. These two bands actually released new singles on the exact same day. Blur’s single went straight to number one, but Oasis still became successful (O’Hagan 4).
For over half a century, rock-and-roll has been going strong and transforming into new genres of music. Countless moments of rock were apart of shaping music into all the things it is today. No matter who your favorite band is, chances are you can thank the history of rock-and-roll and all of its great moments for the inspiration of its music.
Works Cited
Cooper, B. Lee. "The Classic Rock and Roll Reader: Rock Music from It's Beginnings to the Mid-1970s."Popular Music & Society 24.2 (2000): 124-126. Web. 6 May 2010.
O'Hagan, Sean. " 50 Years of Pop." Observer 2 May 2004: 1-5. Web. 3 May 2010.
"The 100 Greatest Moments in Rock Music: The 50s."Entertainment Weekly 28 May 1999: 1-6. Web. 1 May 2010.
Welch, Richard. "Rock'n'Roll and Social Change." History Today Ltd. 40.2 (1990): 32-39. Web. 1 May 2010.
First and foremost, it’s safe to say that one of the primary moments of rock-and-roll was when young Elvis Presley recorded one of his first hit songs, ‘That’s All Right Mama’ at Sun Studios in Memphis. That year, in 1954, Elvis was only 19 years old (O’Hagan 1). Eventually, he became known as the King of Rock n’ Roll, with over 150 albums. Soon after Elvis became famous, women drooling for him all over the country, a new hit was released. Chuck Berry, an artist with similar style to the Rolling Stones and Bruce Springsteen, released ‘Maybellene’ in 1955 (O’Hagan 1). Many other hit songs were release that same decade, such as ‘Ain’t That a Shame’ by Pat Boone, ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ by Elvis, ‘Tutti Frutti’ by Little Richard, and Sam Cook’s ‘You Send Me’, which hit number one on the charts (“The 100 Greatest Moments in Rock Music” 3). Then, on February 23, 1959, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. Richardson were killed in a tragic plane crash, many calling it the day that music died. Soon after, Don McClean wrote ‘American Pie’, still a popular song today, to immortalize the three musicians. Although this was quite a tragedy, the fifties ended on a positive note when Berry Gordy founded Motown Records in January of 1959. Smokie Robinson said that this company was the first bridge between black and white music in America, which was huge. Artists like the Jackson 5, Diana Ross, and Stevie Wonder were all on the list of Motown’s legendary performers (“The 100 Greatest Moments in Rock Music” 3). Black artists actually ended up having the largest audience among young white Americans by the end of the decade (“Rock’n’Roll and Social Change” 33).
In the next decade, the sixties, plenty of significant moments of rock occurred. First, in 1964, the Beatles seemed to take over America. Of course, the band was already a hit in England, but by the beginning of that year, ‘I Wanna Hold Your Hand’ hit the top of the American charts, with four other hit songs following soon after. By March that same year, the Beatles held the top five chart positions in the United States (O’Hagan 2). Then, three years later, the Who took the spotlight with their attempt at a dramatic climax for ‘My Generation’ on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. The band rigged gunpowder underneath the drums to go off, but the charge ignited a bigger explosion than expected, burning one member of the band, causing another to faint, and one other to bleed. Needless to say, it was a memorable performance (“The 100 Greatest Moments of Rock Music” 5). That same year, two members of the Rolling Stones, Mick and Keith, were arrested for possession of hash and amphetamines. This moment of rock sealed the band’s reputation as the outlaws of rock’n’roll. Fortunately, the Stones were still a popular band, especially for songs like ‘(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction’, released in 1965 (Cooper 125). Another highly noted performance in the sixties was when Jimi Hendrix performed ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ at Woodstock Festival in 1969. Many interpreted the performance as a political protest, in front of 500,000 rock fans, against the Vietnam War. Hendrix passed away just a year later in his sleep, starting off a new decade (O’Hagan 2).
Then, starting the seventies off firmly, the first heavy metal record was released by a new band, and new genre of rock, thanks to Black Sabbath (O’Hara 3). Later that decade, on August 16th 1977, Elvis Presley, the King of Rock’n’Roll, died of heart failure. Unfortunately, most people believe that his death was due to prescription pills. Then, of course, there are still those who think that the King still lives. Another tragic death occurred that decade as well. Jimi Hendrix died on September 18, 1970. Startlingly, he passed away because he choked on his own vomit after taking barbiturates (“The 100 Greatest Moments of Rock Music” 5).
Sadly, the eighties didn’t start off so well for rock-and-roll. On December 8th, 1980, John Lennon of the Beatles was murdered. A man named Mark Chapman shot Lennon on his doorstep in New York. The world was shocked by this tragedy, especially because Chapman was a fan who just craved celebrity (O’Hagan 3). Two years later, though, rock/pop fans could get excited once again: Michael Jackson released the best-selling album of all time, Thriller. Jackson hit the top of the charts at age 25 with that album, going solo from Jackson 5, which had given him his first hit at a young age 12 (O’Hagan 3).
Finally, the nineties approached, bringing new bands and sounds with the new decade. First, Nirvana released “Smells Like Teen Spirit”, which was the single that made them famous. Other new bands, like Blur and Oasis went head to head, trying to win America’s vote. These two bands actually released new singles on the exact same day. Blur’s single went straight to number one, but Oasis still became successful (O’Hagan 4).
For over half a century, rock-and-roll has been going strong and transforming into new genres of music. Countless moments of rock were apart of shaping music into all the things it is today. No matter who your favorite band is, chances are you can thank the history of rock-and-roll and all of its great moments for the inspiration of its music.
Works Cited
Cooper, B. Lee. "The Classic Rock and Roll Reader: Rock Music from It's Beginnings to the Mid-1970s."Popular Music & Society 24.2 (2000): 124-126. Web. 6 May 2010.
O'Hagan, Sean. " 50 Years of Pop." Observer 2 May 2004: 1-5. Web. 3 May 2010.
"The 100 Greatest Moments in Rock Music: The 50s."Entertainment Weekly 28 May 1999: 1-6. Web. 1 May 2010.
Welch, Richard. "Rock'n'Roll and Social Change." History Today Ltd. 40.2 (1990): 32-39. Web. 1 May 2010.
