Music: Rock and Roll

973 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Civil rights movement impact on rock and roll

Rock and roll also called simply “rock” is a form of popular music. Rock has had a social impact on society more than any other type of music. Rock is also one of the most famous music genres not only in the United States but also in the whole world. It began in the late 1940s and early 1950s when blacks and whites were are at the height of segregation.
The elements of rock and roll can also be seen in rhythm and blues as far back as the 1920s.
Rock and roll has been an important part of people’s lives for decades and will continue to impact people for years to come. Rock music will continue to shape what is popular in our viewpoints and also our belief system.
Rock and roll came about as a musical style in America as far back as the 1920s. Early rock and roll had elements of boogie woogie, jazz, and rhythm and blues. It also influenced Appalachian folk music, gospel, country, and western. The disc jockey Alan Freed was credited with starting the phrase “rock and roll” to describe the music that he played over the radio in the
1950s. During the late 40s and early 50s, rock music had a stronger beat and a wilder style.
In 1954, Elvis Presley began recording with Sam Philips. Elvis played a rock and country style called rockabilly. Elvis was probably the first celebrity musician and teen idol. His music brought together music from both sides of the color line. Elvis’ music and image made it seem that it was a time for change. “This emerging rock-and-roll culture brought a wave of
...

... middle of paper ...

...nd create change.” (Umesh)
Since the beginning of rock and roll, this kind of music has been a lifestyle and not just a music genre. Rock music often shapes what is popular in our America society’s belief
Clay 4 system and their viewpoint. Rock music often highlights the culture, attitudes and opinions of our lives. As the past decades show, rock music has evolved with a unique style as our times change. As our lives continue to change and as we adapt to these changes rock music is the most popular kind of music and will probably continue to remain that for ever.

Show More
Related

  • 1960s and Rock 'N' Roll

    558 Words  | 2 Pages

    What emerged after the explosion of rock and roll in the 1950s abandoned the roll and has now come to be known just as classic rock. This rock that was created following the decade of The King became a completely unique and different sound that changed the musical landscape and what was once a single, unified genre gave way for multitudes of variation in its sounds. These new sounds, that came mostly from abroad, had been notably influenced by the American rock of the 1950s, such as Elvis, Buddy Holly and Chuck Berry. These pioneers of rock came to be the essential reason for the arrival of the British Invasion and other sounds that defined the decade of the 1960s.

    Read More

  • Rock and Roll in the Early Fifties

    1698 Words  | 4 Pages

    In Rock- The History of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Yorke provides a chronological approach to rock and roll from 1877- 1974. Although it is not extremely detailed, a general overview of each year’s music is presented. Throughout the book, many descriptive summaries of individual artists may be found along with classic pictures.

    Read More

  • Rock And Roll Impact On Culture

    956 Words  | 2 Pages

    Although the style of ‘Rock music’ is easily adaptable to many different sounds, it is still thoroughly identified by its definingly amplified rhythm. The sudden worldwide popularity of rock and roll resulted in an unparalleled social impact. Rock ‘n’ Roll influenced lifestyles, fashion, attitudes, and language in a way few other social developments have equaled. The social impact is so large that rock stars are worshipped worldwide. In its early years, many adults condemned the style of music, placing a stigma on its name, and forbid their children from listening and following its ways.

    Read More

  • Influence Of Rock And Roll Music

    876 Words  | 2 Pages

    The birth of Rock and Roll Music was a mixture of popular music and African American country blues and hillbilly music. However, Rock and Roll music was influence since the 1950’s by two particular African American artists like Muddy Waters and Howlin` Wolf. Through their distinct voices, style, deliverance, and performances that helped the music in the 1950’s give rise to this new style of music genre Rock and Roll. During the World War II era, this style of music was looked at; as traditional music and, through the music people could tell their story, not just about their struggles but the real struggles going on around them, like, isolation between black and white people. Most artists were sharing their values and trying to associate through

    Read More

  • History of rock and roll music outline

    542 Words  | 2 Pages

    I.     First I will start by discussing the various genres that created rock music in the 50’s and 60’s.

    Read More

  • Revolution of music in the 1960s

    1658 Words  | 4 Pages

    Music tends to follow the trends of its listeners; genres come and go with popularity. Rock and roll was considered to have its golden era in the 1960s (Rock and Roll). It stood out with unforgettable performances by Sly and the Family Stone, The Jefferson Airplane, The Who, Grateful Dead, Santana, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and Janis Joplin (Rock and Roll). The Beatles were one of the top rock and roll bands. It is said that their music “combined the distinct sounds of Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Elvis Presley, and others which shaped a sound that dominated the sixties with its creativity and style” (Holland 105). Jimi Hendrix brought a new style of music called “acid rock”. He changed the way music was played by experimenting with different melodies, different chord...

    Read More

  • Rock n Roll & 20th Century Culture

    1464 Words  | 3 Pages

    Rock ‘n’ roll and 20th Century Culture According to Philip Ennis, rock ‘n’ roll emerged from the convergence of social transformations which resulted from World War II (Ryan 927). Despite its pop culture origins, rock music is arguably one of the strongest cultural factors to develop in this century. Artists such as Lennon, McCartney and Dylan defined the emotions of a generation and, in the last decade, it as even been acknowledged by members of the establishment which it hoped to change as a major influence in the country. In order to understand how rock went from a sign of rebellion to a cultural icon, it is necessary to understand where it came from.

    Read More

  • All Shook Up: How Rock 'n' Roll Changed America

    792 Words  | 2 Pages

    In closing, the undoubtable influence of music, more specifically of Rock ‘n’ Roll on American society is responsible for a number of changes to the status quo. These range from sexual liberation and racial desegregation all culminating with other influences to create an intergenerational identity. Despite the desperate attempts of older generations to smother these influences, these changes ultimately shaped the years that followed, molding the country into what it is today. Along the way these changes as well as individual involvement in them has also eased the lives of many through empowerment and a feeling of community and purpose. Despite a lull and renewal Rock ‘n’ Roll continues to serve as an agent of influence and change in today’s youth culture and continues to burn in the heart of past generations of loyal fans.

    Read More

  • The Evolution of Rock and Roll Music

    1240 Words  | 3 Pages

    Rock and Roll has the most incredible history. Before there was rock and roll, there was blues. Most people think rock music started with Elvis Presley, but he didn’t record his first single until 1953. The first recorded song described as “Genuine Rock-and-Roll” was “Rocket ’88” by pianist Ike Turner and singer Jackie Brenston in 1951. Rock-and-Roll music in the 1950’s was described as a mixture of jazz, blues, country, and has a strong guitar, bass, and drums.

    Read More

  • What Defines Alternative Rock

    818 Words  | 2 Pages

    Rock music is a term that should be familiar. Originally dubbed “rock and roll” in the 1940’s and 1950’s, rock and roll is almost always fronted by an electrical guitar and heavily influenced by blues, R&B, and even country music. By the late 1960’s and early 1970’s rock and roll began to be shortened to just “rock music”, and the entire style starting branching out into other sub-genres such as punk rock, heavy metal, garage rock, hard rock, among others. The sub-genre in question however is Alternative Rock, which is generally defined as despite following the fundamentals of rock music, it strays away from what is considered “mainstream” at the time by using concepts such as extensive underground music association, muddied or distorted guitars, more prominent use of power chords, and even a sort of rebellious or defiant attitude in lyrics and sound.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Rock And Roll Today And 1950's

    1392 Words  | 3 Pages

    The rise of rock and roll into the limelight is to a large extent attributed to the teenagers of the 1950’s. Early rock music listened to by teenagers during the 1950’s was formed by blending together Rhythm and blues with country music. This kind of ...

    Read More

  • How Rock and Roll Changed America

    1919 Words  | 4 Pages

    Rock and Roll was the start of a new revolution in America. It introduced the world to many of the famous artists that continue to be a part of our lives today. "Artists who became popular in the 1950s such as Elvis, began to pave the way for others such as Jerry Lee Lewis and Buddy Holly" (The History of Rock 'n' Roll until 1960). With the introduction of rock 'n' roll, there came many new changes to the lives of many Americans. Rock and Roll was a major contributor for the change in teens' behavior in the 1950s because it encouraged new freedoms for teenagers, encouraged new fads among teenagers, and caused a generation gap.

    Read More

  • The Impact of Rock 'n' Roll on the Civil Rights Movement

    1581 Words  | 4 Pages

    Rock 'n' roll came from a type of music called rhythm and blues (R&B), which consisted of doo-wop and gospel music. It was popular mostly in the south during the 40’s but it soon grew to urban cities. It was Les Paul’s invention of the electric guitar in 1952 that added a new sound and made rhythm and blues into the rock 'n' roll we all know and love today. Most of the artists from R&B were African American, and in their song they would reference sexual matters. So together it gave a bad connotation towards the music and their race, therefore both were never fully accepted in the north. The term “rock” was slang mostly used by African Americans meaning a form of music that was easily danced to. Meanwhile “roll” was usually a euphemism for sex, such as “a roll in the hay”. It was Alan Freed who first popularized the term “rock and roll” for this gen...

    Read More

  • History of Rock and Roll

    1146 Words  | 3 Pages

    Many people and many styles of music influenced Rock and Roll. The styles included Blues, Jazz, Gospel, Bluegrass, Boogie-Woogie, and Rockabilly. Each was a major factor into the introduction of a new style of music called Rock ‘N’ Roll.

    Read More

  • Rockabilly Essay

    1639 Words  | 4 Pages

    2. What is the difference between a.. Describe the “rockabilly” sound pioneered by Sun Records in the mid-1950s. The term rockabilly has been used to describe a type of music that was very unique and without a doubt one of the most influential genres of music in the development of rock and roll. Dating back to the 1950’s, Rockabilly was a new and interesting form of music.

    Read More

More about Music: Rock and Roll

Open Document