1. History of Rock & Roll Blevins Junior High

2. History of Rock & Roll The Roots of Rock & Roll The Roots of Rock & Roll  The Blues  Country & Western

3. Rock Roots Slavery brought radically different customs and hypnotic rhythms Slavery brought radically different customs and hypnotic rhythms Drumming often forbidden Drumming often forbidden Mournful work songs, eerie chants frenzied dancing both threatening and alluring Mournful work songs, eerie chants frenzied dancing both threatening and alluring 19 th century white entertainers imitating blacks in minstrel shows 19 th century white entertainers imitating blacks in minstrel shows Cakewalk comically ridiculed slave owners Cakewalk comically ridiculed slave owners Cakewalk variations: Fox Trot, Charleston, Jitterbug, Twist Cakewalk variations: Fox Trot, Charleston, Jitterbug, Twist

4. Rock Roots Elvis captured the rising popularity of black R&B called rock and roll by DJ Alan Freed Elvis captured the rising popularity of black R&B called rock and roll by DJ Alan Freed Drum fearing whites were now “parents” Drum fearing whites were now “parents” Musical, racial, cultural boundaries crumbled around rock & roll Musical, racial, cultural boundaries crumbled around rock & roll Musical hybrids Musical hybrids  Elvis Rockabillies, Chuck Berry country & blues, Little Richard gospel and blues, Fats Domino New Orleans gumbo, Buddy Holly, pop and rock, Everly Bros polite country rock, all the above blended into “soul” by Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson and James Brown

5. Rock Around the Clock Released in 1954 wasn’t a hit until it was used in movie “Blackboard Jungle” Released in 1954 wasn’t a hit until it was used in movie “Blackboard Jungle” Became a teenager anthem for the developing generation gap Became a teenager anthem for the developing generation gap Not the first rock song but the first white rock song Not the first rock song but the first white rock song No single song was “first rock song” but many could be considered. No single song was “first rock song” but many could be considered.

6. The Blues Emphasis in feeling instead of musical technique Emphasis in feeling instead of musical technique Bending of notes or “blue notes” Bending of notes or “blue notes”  Sung naturally by voice and mimicked by bending guitar strings, sliding saxes, black and white keys played together on piano The “struggle” moaned in the blues of slavery changed from white vs black to young vs old or new generation vs establishment The “struggle” moaned in the blues of slavery changed from white vs black to young vs old or new generation vs establishment

7. 12 Bar Blues Evolved from call and response songs sung by slaves field holler work songs or church congregations Evolved from call and response songs sung by slaves field holler work songs or church congregations Text in aab form Text in aab form First “a” line uses tonic chord I (E) 4 bars First “a” line uses tonic chord I (E) 4 bars Repeated “a” uses subdominant chord IV (A) 2 bars Repeated “a” uses subdominant chord IV (A) 2 bars Return to tonic chord I (E) 2 bars Return to tonic chord I (E) 2 bars New line “b” sung to new dominant V (B) 4 bars New line “b” sung to new dominant V (B) 4 bars http://www.pbs.org/theblues/classroom/essays12bar.html http://www.pbs.org/theblues/classroom/essays12bar.html http://www.pbs.org/theblues/classroom/essays12bar.html

8. Blues Roots, Ragtime & Jazz African work songs African work songs Black church ring shouts, spirituals using bending notes, moans and shouts Black church ring shouts, spirituals using bending notes, moans and shouts Voicing escape to better life in heaven or north like Chicago Voicing escape to better life in heaven or north like Chicago Slow, gloomy, solitary blues and community sorrow and celebration of black church music occupied opposite ends of morality Slow, gloomy, solitary blues and community sorrow and celebration of black church music occupied opposite ends of morality

9. Blues Roots, Ragtime & Jazz Ragtime is a blend of black and white and the first of many black based styles: Ragtime is a blend of black and white and the first of many black based styles:  Blues, jazz, boogie-woogie, swing, r&b, rock & roll, soul, funk, disco, to rap Ragtime precision was transformed by the blues influence to more a more flexible style called jazz Ragtime precision was transformed by the blues influence to more a more flexible style called jazz

10. Classic Blues First vocal blues recordings began in 1920 after first jazz recordings made by Dixieland bands First vocal blues recordings began in 1920 after first jazz recordings made by Dixieland bands Dominated by female singers Dominated by female singers  Gertrude “Ma” Rainey  Bessie Smith Raised in dire poverty with physical and emotional suffering that helped her articulate the nature of the blues Raised in dire poverty with physical and emotional suffering that helped her articulate the nature of the blues Considered one of the finest singers of any style Considered one of the finest singers of any style One of the first bold white female blues singer Janis Joplin paid for a tombstone on Bessie Smith’s previously unmarked grave One of the first bold white female blues singer Janis Joplin paid for a tombstone on Bessie Smith’s previously unmarked grave

11. Rural Blues Field holler singing with guitar played slide style with a knife or bottleneck and harmonica Field holler singing with guitar played slide style with a knife or bottleneck and harmonica Discovered by W.C. Handy in a train station in Mississippi Discovered by W.C. Handy in a train station in Mississippi 1925 recordings by Blind Lemon Jefferson like “Match Box Blues” 1925 recordings by Blind Lemon Jefferson like “Match Box Blues”

12. Mississippi Delta Blues Called the Delta blues Called the Delta blues More aggressive style with guitars sounding like entire bands of driving rhythms, bass note figures, strong chords and cutting bottleneck slide melodies More aggressive style with guitars sounding like entire bands of driving rhythms, bass note figures, strong chords and cutting bottleneck slide melodies Robert Johnson king of delta blues is often referred to as the “Father of Rock & Roll” (Crossroads Blues) Robert Johnson king of delta blues is often referred to as the “Father of Rock & Roll” (Crossroads Blues) Mix of rhythm and lead playing at the same time still mystifies today’s great players Mix of rhythm and lead playing at the same time still mystifies today’s great players Rolling Stones recorded Johnson’s “Love in Vain” Rolling Stones recorded Johnson’s “Love in Vain”

13. Urban Blues Started after WW1 1914-18 blacks began moving north into the cities for a better life with better jobs Started after WW1 1914-18 blacks began moving north into the cities for a better life with better jobs Amplified for the clubs and dance floors and on records in the late 30’s Amplified for the clubs and dance floors and on records in the late 30’s “T-Bone” Walker first to exploit the electric possibilities on the guitar “T-Bone” Walker first to exploit the electric possibilities on the guitar

14. Urban Blues Memphis Memphis B.B. King “Three O’Clock Blues” 1951 B.B. King “Three O’Clock Blues” 1951 “Howlin’ Wolf” Chester Burnett “Smokestack Lightnin” 1956 “Howlin’ Wolf” Chester Burnett “Smokestack Lightnin” 1956 John Lee Hooker “Boogie Chillen” 1948 John Lee Hooker “Boogie Chillen” 1948 Muddy Waters “ Muddy Waters “ Willie Dixon and Howlin’ Wolf at Chess Records Willie Dixon and Howlin’ Wolf at Chess Records Jimmy Reed and Elmore James Jimmy Reed and Elmore James http://www.digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/best_cov ersongs.html http://www.digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/best_cov ersongs.html http://www.digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/best_cov ersongs.html http://www.digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/best_cov ersongs.html

15. Urban Blues Memphis Memphis B.B. King B.B. King “Howlin’ Wolf” Chester Burnett “Howlin’ Wolf” Chester Burnett John Lee Hooker John Lee Hooker Muddy Waters Muddy Waters Willie Dixon and Howlin’ Wolf at Chess Records Willie Dixon and Howlin’ Wolf at Chess Records Jimmy Reed and Elmore James Jimmy Reed and Elmore James http://www.digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/best_cov ersongs.html http://www.digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/best_cov ersongs.html http://www.digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/best_cov ersongs.html http://www.digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/best_cov ersongs.html

16. The Blues = the Roots of Rock & Roll Original blues musicians around 50’s were not heard by many whites and thought to be too old fashioned to young black listeners Original blues musicians around 50’s were not heard by many whites and thought to be too old fashioned to young black listeners The happier feel of rhythm and blues became popular and eventually turned into rock and roll The happier feel of rhythm and blues became popular and eventually turned into rock and roll

17. Rhythm & Blues definition Rhythm and Blues is perhaps most commonly understood as the term used to describe the sophisticated urban music that grew out of the urbanization of the blues which began in the 1930s. Rhythm and Blues is perhaps most commonly understood as the term used to describe the sophisticated urban music that grew out of the urbanization of the blues which began in the 1930s.

18. Country & Western The sound of the rural white south The sound of the rural white south rockabilly - a fusion of black music and country music that was popular in the 1950s; sometimes described as blues with a country beat rockabilly - a fusion of black music and country music that was popular in the 1950s; sometimes described as blues with a country beat Rockabilly examples: Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Buddy Holly Rockabilly examples: Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Buddy Holly Country music starts back to the early settlers music of European folk songs transformed by the struggle of life in the new land called America. Country music starts back to the early settlers music of European folk songs transformed by the struggle of life in the new land called America.

19. Bill Monroe Founder of bluegrass music with the fiddle, the hard rhythm drive of mandolin, with a touch of religious sounds and the blues. “Blue Moon of Kentucky” Founder of bluegrass music with the fiddle, the hard rhythm drive of mandolin, with a touch of religious sounds and the blues. “Blue Moon of Kentucky” Bluegrass Definition: Bluegrass Definition:  An early form of country music that combines the gospel- tinged vocals of the Blue Ridge Mountain region with folk melodies. Instrumentation generally includes guitars, banjos, mandolins and fiddles. A type of music that comes from Kentucky where the grass is a blue green color. Kentucky is also called the Bluegrass state. Blue grass music is also called Hillbilly Music or Old Time Country.  http://www.roughstock.com/history/bgrass.html http://www.roughstock.com/history/bgrass.html

20. The Carter Family Began recording in 1927 in Bristol, TN Began recording in 1927 in Bristol, TN Recorded over 300 songs through 1941 Recorded over 300 songs through 1941 Some sacred, some secular. Some written and some stolen by A. P. Carter Some sacred, some secular. Some written and some stolen by A. P. Carter Strumming and thumb-picking of Maybelle’s guitar playing with mixed bass lines and strummed chords Strumming and thumb-picking of Maybelle’s guitar playing with mixed bass lines and strummed chords “Will the Circle Be Unbroken”, “Wabash Cannonball”, Wildwood Flower “Will the Circle Be Unbroken”, “Wabash Cannonball”, Wildwood Flower Family played into the 70’s Family played into the 70’s June Carter married Johnny Cash June Carter married Johnny Cash

21. Jimmie Rodgers (1897-1933) Grew up in Mississppi where he became familiar with both black and white styles Grew up in Mississppi where he became familiar with both black and white styles Worked on the railroad until getting tuberculosis Worked on the railroad until getting tuberculosis http://www.jimmierodgers.com/home.html http://www.jimmierodgers.com/home.html http://www.jimmierodgers.com/home.html Mixed blues licks and bent notes into his country style Mixed blues licks and bent notes into his country style Famous for trademark blue yodels Famous for trademark blue yodels

22. Western Swing Jimmie Rodgers moved to Texas where his drifting loner style blended with the cowboy themes. Jimmie Rodgers moved to Texas where his drifting loner style blended with the cowboy themes. Country was expanded to Country and Western Country was expanded to Country and Western Western music is smoother and more sentimental style Western music is smoother and more sentimental style Singing Cowboys: Gene Autry, Tex Ritter, Roy Rogers and Sons of the Pioneers Singing Cowboys: Gene Autry, Tex Ritter, Roy Rogers and Sons of the Pioneers Big beat dance style swept through southwest later called western swing Big beat dance style swept through southwest later called western swing

23. Bob Willis (1905-75) King of Western Swing King of Western Swing Incorporated black styles with dixieland and big band swing style of Kansas City Count Basie to his country 2 step Incorporated black styles with dixieland and big band swing style of Kansas City Count Basie to his country 2 step With his band The Texas Playboys shocked the crowd by being the first country band to use drums at the Grand Ole Opry in 1945 With his band The Texas Playboys shocked the crowd by being the first country band to use drums at the Grand Ole Opry in 1945

24. Steel Guitar Country developed the sound of the steel or lap guitar from the Hawiian lap guitar Country developed the sound of the steel or lap guitar from the Hawiian lap guitar Bottletop guitar influence but now played flat with the pedal steel guitar Bottletop guitar influence but now played flat with the pedal steel guitar Often mimicked jazz sax solos in timbre, style using blue notes and bent notes Often mimicked jazz sax solos in timbre, style using blue notes and bent notes

25. The Grand Ole Opry Western swing remained popular in southwest and California Western swing remained popular in southwest and California Southern country music reached a wide audience thanks to live broadcasts from the Grand Ole Opry Southern country music reached a wide audience thanks to live broadcasts from the Grand Ole Opry Mother church of Country Music that influenced many musicians Mother church of Country Music that influenced many musicians

26. Roy Acuff (1903-92) Acuff first star of the Grand Ole Opry where he became an institution in Nashville publishing only country music. Acuff first star of the Grand Ole Opry where he became an institution in Nashville publishing only country music. WWII brought Americans from all different regions together and was a major factor in the spread of country music as well as others. WWII brought Americans from all different regions together and was a major factor in the spread of country music as well as others. Roy was more popular than Frank Sinatra Roy was more popular than Frank Sinatra

27. Ernest Tubb Sang as a Jimmie Rodgers clone until he lost his tonsils and couldn’t yodel anymore Sang as a Jimmie Rodgers clone until he lost his tonsils and couldn’t yodel anymore Developed the “Honky Tonk” style Developed the “Honky Tonk” style Also popularized the use of lead electric guitar and choked acoustic Also popularized the use of lead electric guitar and choked acoustic

28. Hank Williams (1923-1953) Acuff’s traditional and Tubb’s rootless honky- tonk were fused by Hank Williams. Acuff’s traditional and Tubb’s rootless honky- tonk were fused by Hank Williams. Born in rural Alabama gave him roots in the southern tradition but his rambling life, addictions to alcohol and pain killers from a back problem and bad marriage gave his songs a unique melancholy sound Born in rural Alabama gave him roots in the southern tradition but his rambling life, addictions to alcohol and pain killers from a back problem and bad marriage gave his songs a unique melancholy sound Sometimes his songs were called white man’s blues Sometimes his songs were called white man’s blues

29. Country Music in the Rock Era Rock & Roll challenged the country sound and was winning audiences Rock & Roll challenged the country sound and was winning audiences The country was becoming less rural and more urban. Clung to an image of the way it used to be on the farm as a dying culture. The country was becoming less rural and more urban. Clung to an image of the way it used to be on the farm as a dying culture. At the opposite end of the rock counterculture in the 60s. At the opposite end of the rock counterculture in the 60s. Johnny Cash, Roger Miller, Glen Campbell had hits that hit the pop charts Johnny Cash, Roger Miller, Glen Campbell had hits that hit the pop charts Rock’s incorporation of country styles were made by Bob Dylan, Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, Poco, Gram Parsons. Rock’s incorporation of country styles were made by Bob Dylan, Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, Poco, Gram Parsons.

30. Country Music in the Rock Era Grand Ole Opry moved from original location to “Opreland” theme park in 1974. Grand Ole Opry moved from original location to “Opreland” theme park in 1974. New direction for country music led by Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton with others like John Denver, Anne Murray and Olivia Newton-John. New direction for country music led by Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton with others like John Denver, Anne Murray and Olivia Newton-John. 80s saw revival of country styles with Ricky Skaggs, George Strait, Clint Black, Randy Travis, while Johnny Cash and George Jones had comebacks 80s saw revival of country styles with Ricky Skaggs, George Strait, Clint Black, Randy Travis, while Johnny Cash and George Jones had comebacks Rock fans unable to relate to rap or heavy metal have embraced country’s emphasis on adult emotions and straight forward singing. Garth Brooks outselling Michael Jackson. Rock fans unable to relate to rap or heavy metal have embraced country’s emphasis on adult emotions and straight forward singing. Garth Brooks outselling Michael Jackson.