In the 1940’s, the music of African Americans was primarily jazz (which in turn became rhythm and blues), and white music was either country or very schmaltzy pop, as demonstrated in hit recordings by artists such as Doris Day and Pat Boone
When white country and western music, which was popular in the South, converged with rhythm and blues, the rock and roll revolution was born.
Elvis Presley came from Memphis, and loved African American music with a passion. Young people of the 1950’s loved his music because it was the perfect combination of rebellion and entertainment. He wore sideburns, a stray forelock of hair on his forehead, and always looked like he was smirking.
Elvis did more to break down the racial barriers separating the whites and blacks in this country than most people will ever realize. That is one reason there was so much resistance to his music in the 50's and 60's and why it remains so popular today. This is not an overstatement. Presley brought music that had previously been played and enjoyed by minorities to the forefront. When people discovered they had music in common, they could talk about that subject and enjoy it together. Then conversations were started on other interests and a
Elvis’ audience consisted of all races, ages, and gender; his style of music combined gospel, country, blues, and Rock and Roll. His “ Rockability” brought together thousands of people to his shows and events. Elvis’ music related to his thousands of fans, his dancing entertained thousands, and his movies, inspired by
Rhythm and Blues also known as R&B has become one of the most identifiable art-forms of the 20th Century, with an enormous influence on the development of both the sound and attitude of modern music. The history of R&B series of box sets investigates the accidental synthesis of Jazz, Gospel, Blues, Ragtime, Latin, Country and Pop into a definable from of Black music. The hardship of segregation caused by the Jim Crow laws caused a cultural revolution within Afro-American society. In the 1900s, as a method of self-expression in the southern states, the Blues gradually became a form of public entertainment in juke joints and dance halls picking up new rhythm along the way. In 1910, nearly five million African Americans left the south for the
He wanted to get a rifle, but his mother talked him into getting the guitar instead. Did you know in 1954, Elvis auditioned to be in a gospel quartet, and was turned down? He definitely proved them wrong. Elvis, at only 19, began his singing career in 1954, and by 1956 was an international sensation. Being so young when he started, it is amazing to see that he had many different musical influences. Pop and country were influences at the time, gospel from his family, church, and the all-night gospel concerts that he frequently attended, and the R&B music he heard as a Memphis teen. Elvis went to Sun Records and paid four dollars to make his first record as a gift for his mom, and ended up being discovered. In 1954, Elvis began his singing career with Sun Records label. They were looking for a new sound that blended the best of black music, and the best of white music. Luckily, Elvis helped fit that part perfectly. He ended up recording approximately twenty-four songs at Sun Records Studio. In late 1955, his recording contract was sold to RCA Victor. Elvis’ breakthrough hit was Heartbreak Hotel, released in 1956. With a sound and style that uniquely combined his diverse musical influences, he blurred and challenged the social and racial barriers of the time. He brought in a whole new era of American music and popular culture. Globally, he has sold over one billion records, more than any other artist. His American sales have earned him gold, platinum or multi-platinum awards for 150 different albums and singles, far more than any other artist. His talent, good looks, sexual attractiveness, charm, and good humor made him loved by millions,as did the humbleness and kindness he demonstrated throughout his life. He is regarded as one of the most important figures of twentieth century popular culture (Remembering Elvis, 40 Years
Rock and Roll is a genre of popular music that originated in the United States of America during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It is derived from African American roots in musical styles such as gospel, boogie woogie, jazz, jump, and rhythm & blues but also has strong roots from hillbilly music which would later be known as country. Rock and Roll has really been in existence since the
After many of World War II’s harmful effects, the 1950s served as a period of time of musical change that reflected the dynamic of society as well as the traditional norms and values. Many factors contributed to this transformation. For example, the civil rights movement heightened many racial tensions, and the music produced consequently manifested this tension in itself. Rock-n-roll and R&B music universalized music typically associated with African-Americans, and many African-American musicians gained fame; however, as with any relatively-widespread success, there were many musicians as well who missed their opportunities due to the same racial segregation. While “radical” genres such as R&B and rock-n-roll laid the foundation for music future forms of music, the standard pop, jazz, and country music adhered to traditional values, and thus continued to maintain popularity amidst phenomena such as the Elvis craze.
Rock and roll is a style of music that has roots traced all the way back to the 1800s. It is made up of jazz, blues, folk, country, and rhythm and blues. The rhythm and blues contribution to rock originated from the African American culture (??). Performers like Chuck Berry, Ray Charles, and Little Richard aided in the formation of rock and roll music. The generation that was highly impacted by this new sound was the baby booming population that arose after World War II ended. Black and white teenagers loved every aspect of rock and roll and listened to the music together at the staged concerts Alan Freed created. These young adolescents played a major role in the desegregation movements of the 1960’s and learned a great deal of information from their folk icons Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan. This new form of music gave them new freedom, thoughts, and expression. Middle aged and older adults would say that the creation and evolution of rock and roll corrupted their children or the youth they saw on the streets. Many believed that rock and roll did not corrupt the young it revolutionized them. Rock and roll desegregated young African Americans and whites, it gave a new way for adolescents to express themselves, and it created a new way for the youth to be involved in social or political causes.
White artists have been taking these genres of music and changing it. They rid the music of its black feel, sound, and color. Jazz is a type of music genre that was created by African Americans in the 1910s. “Yet when jazz gained mainstream popularity in 1917, its face was neither black nor Creole. The first jazz record released to the masses was that of the self-proclaimed ‘Original Dixieland Jazz Band,’ a group of five white musicians” (Ainsley). When jazz grew in popularity, white artist were giving the credit for originating this form of music. When artists talk about taking away the color of genres like jazz and rock-n-roll, this means getting rid of the African Americans sound. “When appropriating black musical forms, white artists such as Paul Whiteman often reshape and redefine the styles to “minimize their association with ‘Blackness’” (Hall qtd. in Ainsley)”. One artist that was known for appropriating African American music was Paul Whiteman. Then another famous musician, Elvis Presley, started doing the same with his music. “In the early 1950s, Sam Phillips—the Sun Records executive who helped Elvis rise to stardom—proclaimed, ‘If I could find a white man who had the Negro sound and the Negro feel, I could make a billion dollars’” (qtd in Ainsley). Popular music artists like Paul Whiteman and Elvis Presley took these genres and made it into own style. They take
Elvis was born in 1935 in Mississippi, he was supposed to be a twin but his brother was stillborn. He grew up an only child. In 1948 the Presleys moved to Memphis, where in his high school days would hang around Beale Street where B.B. King was known to perform at, drawn into the music style of the blues. After graduating in 1953, he planned out his normal life of becoming a truck driver, and in his spare time recorded a couple songs at a recording service Sam Phillips started up that anyone could record a song for four dollars. Upon going back to the studio he met Sam Phillips who
The development of Rock ‘n’ Roll in the late 1940s and early 1950s by young African Americans coincided with a sensitive time in America. Civil rights movements were under way around the country as African Americans struggles to gain equal treatment and the same access to resources as their white neighbors. As courts began to vote in favor of integration, tensions between whites and blacks escalated. As the catchy rhythm of Rock ‘n’ Roll began to cross racial boundaries many whites began to feel threatened by the music, claiming its role in promoting integration. This became especially problematic as their youth became especially drawn to ...
Presley helped spread the rock n’ roll genre, which opened up many people’s eyes and many people’s perspective. Presley not only integrated the whites and blacks, he also allowed people to have freedom to express themselves. The American culture started to develop because of white audiences starting to listen and take pleasure in African American music. “Elvis’ success paved the way for African American performers such as Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Fats Domino, and Bo Diddley.” (Wallace, 108) This helps to illustrate how much of an influence Presley had set, for not only white culture, but for black culture as well. Without Presley, white and black culture would have had a different
It was no coincidence that rock ‘n’ roll and the civil rights movement started at the same time. The genre originated from African American music and was greatly discriminated against. Traditional white Americans would target anything bad about it. But as the teenager demographic of the 1950s started increasing the sales of the music, the genre started gaining more popularity. It was the style of Elvis Presley and his new voice that made girls weak in the knees and boys want to be him. Artists such as Presley had enough influence to change the view of their devoted fans on civil rights issues. Soon as protest songs and rock ‘n’ roll became more popular and influential, it began a gap between the young adult generation and their parents which led to the rebellion of the civil rights movement. Through these factors rock ‘n’ roll influenced a great deal over the civil rights movement.
Now a days, many believe that jazz is not that important of music genre, but with our history, jazz plays a big role. “Jazz does not belong to one race or culture, but it is a gift that America has given to the world.”, quoted by Ahmad Alaadeen. Jazz in the 1920’s opened the eyes of whites and invited them into African American culture; it evolved Americans to where we are today since it brought a change to the music scene, an acceptance of African Americans, and a change of lifestyles.
“Rhythm and blues is a combination of soulful singing and a strong backbeat” (Cahoon, 2004). Rhythm and blues was created by and for African Americans between the ends of World War II. By 1946 the style of swing music started to fade away where early R&B artists started breaking away from using big bands and emphasizing using blues-style vocals and song structures. “Billboard magazine coined the term rhythm and blues to rename its’, “race records,” chart in 1949, reflecting changes in the social status, economic power, and musical tastes of African Americans” (Cahoon, 2004). Rhythm and blues was like a stepping stone for the popularity of Rock and Roll. There were several focal points for rhythm and blues music, but the main focal point for early R&B originated in Atlanta, Georgia. The first radio station to play rhythm and blues was in 1949. Even though the R&B late night show on WGST was a big hit in the African American community, it featured a white disc jockey named Zenas “Daddy” Sears. (Cahoon, 2004)
Powell, A. (2007). The Music of African Americans and its Impact on the American Culture in the 1960’s and the 1970’s. Miller African Centered Academy, 1. Retrieved from http://www.chatham.edu/pti/curriculum/units/2007/Powell.pdf