ROCK AND ROLL History of American Music

Rock and Roll Rock and Roll is the genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the US during the late 1940’s and early 1950’s. Rock and Roll is a combination of predominantly African-American genres such as blues, jazz, and gospel.

1950’s – The Birth of Rock and Roll Rock and Roll music is born in the 1950’s from a fusion of electric blues, country and gospel music. The early 50’s were dominated by remnants of the big band era, which then transferred into Rock and Roll. Doris Day, Frankie Lane, Frank Sinatra, Rosemary Clooney, Elvis Presley and Nat King Cole.

1960’s Expanding the Boundaries The 60’s rock music comes of age and dominates the popular music charts. Rock diversifies with new styles such as surf, soul, folk rock, the British invasion, psychedelic and hard rock. Television became a factor and prime time variety shows. Bob Dylan, The Supremes, The Beach Boys, The Jackson Five, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones.

1970’s – Rock Becomes Big Business The early seventies are marked by the death of Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison. Pyschedelic music declines, but morphs into hard rock, progressive rock and heavy metal. Touring bands start playing in concert halls and sports arenas rather than small night clubs. James Taylor, Elton John, Billy Joel, Abba, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Bee Gees, Led Zeppelin, The Who, Bruce Springsteen, Pink Floyd, The Ramones, Blondie

1980’s – The Influence of Technology MTV (Music Television) is launched on the cable system The prevalence of music videos is influential in bringing numerous new bands to many people. The early 1980’s influence of hip hop and rap – rock and roll took a back seat.

brings Rock and Roll’s first #1 single – “Rock Around the Clock” by Bill Haley & his Comets on the billboard charts Top 40 radio is still dominated by “parent music” – and Rock and Roll was a “novelty” for the kids. Urban and southern white teenagers are turning to R&B radio stations and purchasing R&B records.

1956 RCA releases Elvis Presley’s first single “Heartbreak Hotel” – this song would be on the pop charts at #1 for seven weeks. Sun Records artist Johnny Cash hits #1 with single “I Walk The Line” Country music starts to cross over to Pop and Rock and Roll charts.

1957 DJ Alan Freed moves from Cleveland to New York City to start putting more Rock and Roll on the mainstream radios. Alan Freed’s short lived TV show “The Big Beat” and “American Bandstand” make way onto TV stations promoting Pop and Rock and Roll music Sun Records sign new artist Jerry Lee Lewis, who was Elvis Presely’s main musical “rival”

1958 Billboard introduces the Hot 100 Singles, a chart that tabulates both store sales and airplay. Elvis gets drafted into the Army – serves two years stationed in Germany. Entertainer Chuck Berry continues to reach top ten billboard success with hits like “Johnny Be Good”. Chart topping star Jerry Lee Lewis’ career suffers after it is discovered that he is married to his thirteen year old second cousin.

1959 A tragic plane crash in Iowa kills three of rock music’s biggest starts – Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Ritchie Vallens. Motown music is formed in Detroit by Berry Gordy. Rock and Roll accounts for 43% of all records sold in the US.

Group Work In your groups, go to:  Find your decade and read the paragraph on the left hand side and look at the timeline. Create five (5) key points from the decade – and chose on song or artist mentioned in the information You will present to the class

1960 Elvis comes back from the Army 21-year-old Eddie Cochtran is killed in a car accident Motown has it’s first top hit – “Shop Around” by the miracles First Grammy awards were hosted in Las Vegas and Frank Sinatra won for his “Nice and Easy” Chubby Checker writes a cover of “The Twist” – becomes nationwide dance craze

1961 Girl groups formed and became more popular Motown label had one of it’s first hit single Groups like “The Beach Boys” and “The Supremes” gained popularity. Pop and R&B charts gained hit single. Surf music emerges from So. Cal.

1962 Elvis gives up touring to pursue acting. The Beatle’s are rejected from DECA records but later signed by EMI Dancing was a popular performing art A UK band called “The Tornadoes” was the first UK band to go #1 in the US The Four Seasons scored their first #1 album

1963 Patsy Kline dies in plane crash Johnny Cash releases “Ring of Fire” – best selling song 12 year old Stevie Wonder releases first song on Motown label “Beatlemania” starts in UK – two #1 singles in US Bob Dylan releases first album to show off his song writing skills

1964 Television became more influential in pop culture The Beatles kicked off with their “British Invasion” Prime Time Pop music show became popular Other UK groups followed onto the US music charts American singer Sam Cook is shot in LA

1965 The Beatle’s were #1 for four weeks in the US with single “Yesterday” The Beatles had first big concert performance with 55,600 people in NYC Bob Dylan uses electric guitar for the first time and gets shamed for it The Rolling Stone have first #1 album and single The British Invasion continues with Dave Clark Five and The Yardbirds

1966 John Lennon “The Beatles are more popular than Jesus” Herb Alpert and the Tijuanna Brass have four albums in top ten in the US The Beatles perform their last official concert TV show “The Monkees” feature a group similar to The Beatles The Beach Boys hit #1 with album “Psychedelic”

1967 First issue of Rolling Stone magazine hits the stands. Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is #1 album o the year Elvis gets married to long time girlfriend Florence Ballard fired from The Supremes The Beatles manager dies of a drug overdose.

1968 Johnny Cash’s albums hit #1 – Folsom Prison Blues – recorded in an actual prison. The Beatles “Hello Goodbye” hits #1 in US and UK – launch their own album label Pink Flloyd lead singer checks into mental institution – he is replaced. “Hey Jude” – released by the bands own label NBC airs Elvis’s comeback special.

1969 Led Zepplin released their first album Dusty Springfield releases “Son of a Preacher Man” Crosby, Stills, and Nash release debut album Woodstock music festival happened The Jackson 5 release their first hit – “I Want you Back”

You and your partner will agree on a song that has a cover. This song needs to be school appropriate. You and your partner will listen to each song, you will fill out a compare/contrast worksheet and put together a keynote, powerpoint, Prezi, or google slide presentation. You need to include an audio example of each song. This needs to be embedded into your presentation and can be from YouTube.

Slide #1 – The original song. Title, artist, year and FIVE things you hear. Link to the song. Slide #2 – The cover song. Title, artist, year and FIVE things you hear. Link to the song. Slide #3- FIVE things that are the same between the two songs. Slide #4 – FIVE things that are different between the two songs.

Woodstock – Bethel, NY – August 15-17, 1969

Woodstock

“An Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace & Music” Held at Max Yasgur’s 600 acre dairy farm in the Catskill mountains in Bethel, New York. 32 acts performed outdoors to an audience of over 400,000 people. Widely regarded as one of the “50 moments that changed the history of music” according to Rolling Stone Magazine. Founded by a group of music producers.

Woodstock

Jimi Hendrix - Star Spangled BannerStar Spangled Banner

Janis Joplin - Take Another Little Piece of my HeartTake Another Little Piece of my Heart

The Who - My GenerationMy Generation

1970 The Beatles break up and release their final album “Let it Be”. The “Isle of Wight” festival is held in the U.K – beating Woodstock with attendance at 600,000. Drugs claim the life of Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix. Simon and Garfunkel break up and release their album “Bridge Over Troubled Water”. Goes #1 worldwide.“Bridge Over Troubled Water” Black Sabbath releases their debut album.

1971 Doors frontman Jim Morrison dies of a drug overdose. Ex-Beatle George Harrison organizes the Concert for Bangladesh in NYC. Ravi Shankar becomes an important figure in American music. Carole King releases her second hit single, It’s Too Late. UK artist David Bowie signs with RCA – single “Changes” reaches #1. “Changes”

1972 John Lennon’s visa expires and US immigration asks him to leave the country. Don McLean’s “American Pie” is the most popular single in UK hard rock bands start having more influence on American radio – prepares the US for hard rock music.

1973 Led Zeppelin play to 56,800 at Tampa Stadium, breaking the Beatles record for largest audience played to on American soil. The Summer Jam at Watkins Glen, NY breaks Woodstock record. Over 600,00 in attendance. The Allman Brothers and The Greatful Dead perform.. The Allman BrothersThe Greatful Dead

1974 Bob Dylan makes a comeback, performing for the first time since Led Zeppelin launch their own record label “Swan Song”. Mama Cass Elliot of “The Mamas and the Papas” dies in her sleep.“The Mamas and the Papas” Guitarist Mick Taylor quits The Rolling Stones. John Lennon joins Elton John on stage in NY during his concert.Elton John

1975 Stevie Wonder plays to a crowd of 125,000 at the Washington Monument for Human Kindness Day. Stevie Wonder Disco hits the charts thanks to The Bee Gees and Earth Wind and Fire.The Bee Gees Earth Wind and Fire.

1976 Bruce Springsteen jumps the fence at Graceland in an effort to meet Elvis, but is escorted out. Paul McCartney performs in the US for the first time since leaving the Beatles in Elton John discloses his bisexuality for the first time in Rolling Stone Magazine. Elton John

1977 Studio 54 dance club opens in NYC. Pre-recorded cassette tapes equal vinyl album sales for the first time. Elvis is found dead in his home in Memphis. The movie “Saturday Night Fever” takes disco to the big screen.“Saturday Night Fever”

1978 The Saturday Night Fever soundtrack is #1 from January through June. The Grateful Dead perform in front of the pyramids in Giza, Egypt. “Grease” was released – the album had three #1 hit singles. “Grease” Billy Joel releases first hit single.

1979 Disco continues to dominate the singles charts. The Sony Walkman is introduced in Japan. Eleven fans are trampled to death at a Who concert in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Timeline Project THIS IS YOUR FINAL PROJECT INSTEAD OF A TEST. YOU’RE WELCOME. Create a timeline of the major musical events that happened between 1950 and You will need two points per year, one of the points has to be a song that was released that year. The other point will be an important event that happened that year. You will need to write a 2-3 sentence synopsis of each event. You can use the powerpoint or other sources. This is due on Friday, December 11 th.