The Beginning:
how rock & roll got its start
by Jesse McBride
The introduction of rock and roll music sparked a cultural movement throughout the nation. Rock and roll music changed the entire shape of music and the generation of teenagers growing up in the 1950’s. Rock and Roll is the music of America, the youth of rebellion, and of the common sprit that ties all that together. Rock and Roll music is not just mere music; it is a statement, a personality, a lifestyle.
The Blues, Jazz, and Gospel
The blues is a uniquely American musical form, born in the southern middle states sometime between the years 1800 and 1900. “Blues lyrics were about struggle, adversity, and on occasion, celebration” (Friendlander, 16). Blues influenced some of rock’s biggest names such as The Who and The Rolling Stones as well as Led Zeppelin, all of which have strong lyrical versus and a light, optimistic tempo/tone. Even more relevant today than the Stones and Zeppelin would be blues rock performer John Mayer who’s use of meaningful lyrics and classic blues like rhythm give his performance music an early rock feel. “Jazz was called an improvisational expression that developed throughout the first half of the 20th century” (George-Warren, 18). It was in the 1920’s that jazz’s first true innovator, trumpeter Louis Armstrong, revolutionized jazz by turning it into a soloist’s art form simply on the impact of their improvisations. Although during the Swing Era, jazz essentially had become pop music; its roots of improvisation had already been implemented into the creation of rock. With the improvisation of jazz and the addition of heavy electric instruments, jazz-fusion rock was born and with Miles Davis, Grateful Dead and Frank Zappa; this fusion of jazz and rock were brought to the mainstream waves of the music world. Gospel emerged as a style in the early 1930’s from traditional black religious cultures. “Gospel’s influence on American popular music is immense. The melismatic singing of gospel can be heard throughout the entire history of rock music” (Larson, 10). Rock gospel is still very popular today and a Grammy Award is given out every year for the category. Recent winners and very popular rock gospel artists include Audio Adrenaline, TobyMac, Third Day and dc Talk. The genre’s mix of rock rhythm and gospel’s lyrical praise to Christianity has been officially recognized with the Grammy Award since the 1991 award ceremonies. Once blues went electric, it was a natural progression to speed it up in a heavier beat and make it more danceable, and with this change the genre of rhythm and blues was created. R&B has its effects on rock music through the most popular style of R&B: doo-wop. “During the late forties and early fifties, it became fashionable for amateur teenage vocal groups to perform a capella on street corners and on the front steps of apartments buildings” (Scaruffi). The Beach Boys had a blend of rock created from the essence of doo-wop. Their big hits in “Surfer Girl”, “Why Do Fools Fall in Love?” and “Surfin'” are examples of doo-wop inspired rock.
Country Music Influences
“Some forms of classic rock and roll also had significant roots in white folk and country music” (Friedlander, 18). While the United States enjoyed the Big Band Era, country music formed its own equivalent, the western swing band. The increase use of the fiddle as well as bass, drums and steel and electric guitars helped to transition western swing into modern country. Hank Williams is regarded to as the father of modern country. Although Williams audience was perceived as southern white folk, he had a large number of black listeners as well. During performances, Williams would get on the microphone and deliver stories and lyrics through the accompany of steel guitars, fiddles, electric and acoustic guitars, and basses. “By the mid-1950’s some youngsters, influenced by Williams, yearned for more” (Scaruffi). Those youngsters wanted the lyrical connection of Williams’ stories along with the new attitude of the time and wanted the southern “twang” of Williams’ music to be lessened and increased with a more universal sound. “Conscious of the power and emotionality of rhythm and blues, they sought to add “the beat” to authentic country music” (Friedlander, 19).
Elvis
Mississippi had just the name for this new style of music, Elvis Presley. Arguably the most famous rock and roll artist of all time, Elvis infused a large portion of his musical lyrics and sound to that of country and honky-tonk, yet it was the attitude and delivery of Elvis’ music that made him a leader in the new world of rock and roll
"Generation Rock"
Rock music wasn’t simply adapted by the combination of popular musical genres. Rock and roll’s true existence was adopted by a generation of teenagers who eventually came to question the tenets of the dominant culture. Rock and roll is not just music; it is an attitude and way of life. Rock and roll was formed through a number of different genre’s and classifications of music, which led it to be like nothing heard before so it adopted a fan base of younger adolescents who were looking for a release into the new world and the upbeat future of technology and wonder. “The teenagers of the time began to develop their open cultural values, social arrangements, fashions and awareness of the world around them” (Larson, 22). The teens had become a class all of their own. There were strong feelings of discontent for many of these teens. Disconnect from parents, from authority, from each other. If it were not for the attitude and values of the teenagers that adopted this blend of music, rock and roll would never have been adopted into the radio waves. Music can only be as popular as the audience makes it, without the teenagers of the time and their need for something different, rock and roll music may very well have never taken off. The new style of music known as rock and roll is more than just a musical transformation, it would prove to be a cultural revolution that would become the anthem to a new time in the world’s history.
Works Cited
Friedlander, Paul. Rock and Roll: A social History. Boulder, Colorodo Westview Press, 1996. Paper.
George-Warrne, Holly. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame : The First 25 Years : The Definitive Chronicle of Rock & Roll as Told by Its Legends. New York. Collins Design, 2009. Paper.
Larson, Thomas E. History of Rock and Roll. St. Louis, Missouri. Kendall Hunt Publishing Company, 2004. Paper
Scaruffi, Piero. “History of Rock and Roll.” Scaruffi.com. 2003. Web. 4 May 2010.
George-Warrne, Holly. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame : The First 25 Years : The Definitive Chronicle of Rock & Roll as Told by Its Legends. New York. Collins Design, 2009. Paper.
Larson, Thomas E. History of Rock and Roll. St. Louis, Missouri. Kendall Hunt Publishing Company, 2004. Paper
Scaruffi, Piero. “History of Rock and Roll.” Scaruffi.com. 2003. Web. 4 May 2010.
