When the defiant beat of Rock n Roll burst onto the American Scene in the mid-1950s, few people remained impartial about its sound or impact.

Transcription

1 1 P a g e NAME: PERIOD: Rock n Roll When the defiant beat of Rock n Roll burst onto the American Scene in the mid-1950s, few people remained impartial about its sound or impact. BRAINSTORM What are characteristics of Rock n Roll? Instruments Drumset, electric guitar, electric bass, keyboards Evolved out of R&B and country music Has a racist history people liked the music black R&B musicians created but wanted to hear it from white musicians Fast tempo WHAT IS ROCK N ROLL? Rock n Roll grew out of blues and R&B but is a combination of many styles of music. It often has a driving beat and simple melody. It has mass appeal - People are more likely to like things they can sing to. It is musical poetry. It often includes: simile (Comparison using like or as ), metaphor (comparison NOT using like or as ), and imagery (using descriptive words to paint a picture) WHERE DID IT COME FROM? During the 1920s-1930s, many white Americans enjoyed listening to African-American R&B musicians. They often objected to that music if it was performed by the original black musicians but found it acceptable when it was performed by white musicians. SAM PHILLIPS Sam Phillips was a D.J. who started the Memphis Recording Service in 1950.

2 2 P a g e Memphis Recording Service later became Sun Records. From he recorded black R&B artists that included B.B. King, Little Milton, Herman Little Junior Parker, Rufus Hound Dog Thomas. Sam Phillips was concerned his black artists would not be able to break through into the White mainstream media. He began searching for a white artist who could play and sing in this same exciting and alive way. A few black R&B singers were able to break through this racial barrier but most were unsuccessful Rock and Roll had to fight racism. Midnight Special is a folk song popularized by an African- American blues singer. It did not become famous until it was covered the white group, Creedance Clearwater Revival. It has since been covered by ABBA, Van Morrison, and Paul McCartney. ROCK N ROLL Using your ipad, can you find who coined the term Rock n Roll? Alan Freed ALAN FREED In 1951, Alan Freed began playing this type of music for a multi-racial audience. He is credited with creating the phrase Rock n Roll to describe this Rollicking R&B Music ELVIS PRESLEY Elvis received his first guitar at 11. His early influences included gospel music, hymns, country, and blues.

3 3 P a g e In 1947 his family moved to Mempis and he began listening to blues and R&B. In 1950 he began hearing Sam Phillip s Sun Records recordings. In 1953 he paid $4 to record My Happiness at Sun Studios. During a break in a 1954 recording session Elvis began singing a blues song, That s All Right. It was released 2 weeks later with and caused a sensation. Two months later he released Good Rockin Tonight and in less than a year he became the most popular entertainer in the mid-south. In 1955 Colonel Tom Parker arranged for RCA to buy out Elvis contract for $ 35,000. Many adults believed Rock n Roll would be destructive to the youth of America. In 1956, Elvis appeared on the famous Ed Sullivan Show. While they loved his music, they thought his dancing was immoral so they only showed him from the waist up. LITTLE RICHARD Little Richard was born Richard Wayne Penniman. Producer Bumps Blackwell was looking for a new Ray Chalres for Specialty Records. On September 13, 1955 Richard recorded Tutti Frutti. They wanted Richard to be popular so he was forced to change many of lyrics to meet the mass appeal. Little Richard s vocal style influenced Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, and many more. In October 1957 he left show business to enroll at a Bible college. He returned in 1959 but was never as popular. In 1962, he toured the UK supported by The Beatles and The Rolling Stones who were big fans.

4 4 P a g e CHUCK BERRY Chuck Berry was born in St. Louis. His influences included Muddy Waters, T. Bone Walker, and Nat King Cole. In 1955 Waters discovered him at a club in Chicago and introduced him to Leonard and Cliff Chess of Chess Records. In September 55 he recorded Maybellene, (a remake of the country hit, Ida Red ) which reached #5 on the pop charts and #2 on the R&B charts. Some of his hits include Roll Over, Beethoven, School Days, Johnny B. Goode, and Sweet Little Sixteen. Chuck Berry influenced numerous guitarists including Jimi Hendrix and Keith Richards. He had legal troubles in 1960 and would never regain his popularity. BUDDY HOLLY Buddy Holly was born Charles Hardin Holley. Buddy Holly was working with Bob Montgomery to bring elements of Rhythm and Blues into country music. They were influenced by Elvis to give their music a harder rhythm and blues edge. In October 1955, DECA Records wanted only Holly for a record deal. He recorded Love Me and Modern Don Juan, which were modest hits. He called it quits with Decca in Holly rerecorded That ll Be the Day which reached #2 on the R&B charts. He was the first white performer to use the Hiccup Technique on a popular recording. In 1958 he toured England, where he had an influence on The Beatles. THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED FEBRUARY 3, 1959 Holly participated in a 2-week tour of the northern Midwest. The tour featured Dion and the Belmonts, Frankie Sardo, J.P. Richardson, and Ritchie Valens.

5 5 P a g e After a performance in Iowa, Holly chartered a plane to Fargo, North Dakota. The plane crashed shortly after takeoff killing the pilot, Holly, Richardson, and Valens. The three singers are immortalized in Don McClean s 1971 anthem, American Pie. BRITISH BANDS DISCOVER ROCK N ROLL IN THE EARLY 60S In 1961, Brian Epstein discovered The Beatles. They were doing covers of 1950s American rock and roll standards. Early influences were Little Richard, Chuck Berry, and Buddy Holly. The Liverpool sound is the same as the rock from five years ago. George Harrison In 1962 drummer Ringo Starr replaced Pete Best. Around the same time, the band began to do original songs by Paul McCartney and John Lennon. BEATLEMANIA In January 1963 I Want to Hold Your Hand reaches #1 on the pop charts. In February 1963 The Beatles debuted on The Ed Sullivan Show. The Beatles quickly became popular in America. The sensation was called Beatlemania They influenced Bob Dylan, Brian Wilson, Frank Zappa, and The Rolling Stones. THE WHO The Who were led by guitarist Pete Townshend and vocalist Roger Daltrey. They were known for wild antics in their live performances such as smashing instruments. In 1969 they released Tommy, the first commercially successful rock opera. Their song, Who are You? is the theme song for the TV show, CSI.

6 6 P a g e THE ROLLING STONES Most successful of the hard rock, blues-inspired British bands. They were known for pushing the envelope of what was acceptable in lyrics. Sympathy for the Devil (1968) was a deliberate attempt to offend their critics.