1. Early Rock ’n’ Roll Stars

2. Three Prominent African Americans Performing in Rock: R&B Side Chuck Berry Chuck Berry –Addressed his songs to teenage America (white and black) in the 1950s Little Richard Little Richard –Outrageous performance style attracted attention through strangeness, novelty, and sexual ambiguity Fats Domino Fats Domino –Most directly embodied the continuity of R&B with rock ’n’ roll

3. Charles Edward Anderson (“Chuck”) Berry (b. 1926) Born in California, grew up in St. Louis Born in California, grew up in St. Louis –Absorbed blues and R&B styles –One of the first and most successful black musicians to consciously forge his own version of blues and R&B styles for appeal to the mass market

4. Listening and Analysis: “Maybellene” Distantly modeled on country song Distantly modeled on country song “Ida Red”  Primary elements have roots in R&B  Thick, buzzing timbre of Berry’s electric guitar Blue notes and slides in both voice and guitar Blue notes and slides in both voice and guitar Socking backbeat of the drum Socking backbeat of the drum Derived from twelve-bar blues structures Derived from twelve-bar blues structures

5. Listening and Analysis: “Maybellene” Original elements: Original elements: –Explosive tempo –The lyrics describe a lover’s quarrel in the form of a car chase. –Punning invented verb form (“motorvatin’”) –Humorous details (“rain water blowin’” under the automobile hood, which is “doin’ my motor good”) –Breathless ending in which the singer catches Maybellene in her Cadillac at the top of a hill –Implied class distinction in the lyrics  Top-of-the-line Cadillac Coupe de Ville and “V-8 Ford”

6. Listening and Analysis: “Maybellene” Verse-chorus form based on the twelve-bar blues Verse-chorus form based on the twelve-bar blues Chorus: “Maybellene, why can’t you be true”—follows twelve-bar blues chord pattern Chorus: “Maybellene, why can’t you be true”—follows twelve-bar blues chord pattern Verse—no chord changes—all on the “home” (or tonic) chord Verse—no chord changes—all on the “home” (or tonic) chord Voice delivers rapid-fire lyrics using brief, repetitive patterns of notes. Voice delivers rapid-fire lyrics using brief, repetitive patterns of notes. Verses build enormous tension, so that when the choruses and chord changes return, there is a feeling of release and expansion. Verses build enormous tension, so that when the choruses and chord changes return, there is a feeling of release and expansion.

7. Chuck Berry Songs became celebrations of American teenage culture and its music. Songs became celebrations of American teenage culture and its music. –“Roll over Beethoven” (1956) praises R&B at the expense of classical music. –“School Day” (1957) –“Rock and Roll Music” ( 1957) –“Sweet Little Sixteen” (1958) –“Johnny B. Goode” (1958)

8. Richard Wayne Penniman (“Little Richard”) (b. 1932) Early career as an R&B performer Early career as an R&B performer –Hit the pop charts in 1956 with the song “Tutti-Frutti” –Delivered in an uninhibited shouting style, complete with falsetto whoops Epitomized the abandon celebrated in rock ’n’ roll lyrics and music Epitomized the abandon celebrated in rock ’n’ roll lyrics and music –The sound of his recordings and the visual characteristics of his performances made Little Richard a strong influence on later performers.

9. Listening: “Long Tall Sally” Built on the twelve-bar blues, adapted to reflect the more traditionally pop-friendly format of verse-chorus Built on the twelve-bar blues, adapted to reflect the more traditionally pop-friendly format of verse-chorus –The first four bars of each blues stanza are set to changing words—verses—while the remaining eight bars, with unchanging words, function as a repeated chorus.

10. Antoine “Fats” Domino (b. 1928) Born and raised in New Orleans Born and raised in New Orleans An established presence on the R&B charts for several years before scoring rock ’n’ roll hits An established presence on the R&B charts for several years before scoring rock ’n’ roll hits Pop breakthrough was in 1955 with “Ain’t It a Shame” (Number Ten pop, Number One R&B) Pop breakthrough was in 1955 with “Ain’t It a Shame” (Number Ten pop, Number One R&B) –Popularized distinctive New Orleans sound

11. Antoine “Fats” Domino (b. 1928) First African American to beat white cover versions in the mid 1950s First African American to beat white cover versions in the mid 1950s Recorded a number of standards in contradistinction to artists like Chuck Berry and Little Richard Recorded a number of standards in contradistinction to artists like Chuck Berry and Little Richard 1956 remake of “Blueberry Hill” proved to be his most popular record 1956 remake of “Blueberry Hill” proved to be his most popular record Recorded a rocking uptempo version of “My Blue Heaven” Recorded a rocking uptempo version of “My Blue Heaven” –A striking and amusing contrast to Gene Austin’s original recording

12. Independent Labels Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and Fats Domino all achieved their successes recording on independent labels. Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and Fats Domino all achieved their successes recording on independent labels. –Chuck Berry—Chess in Chicago –Little Richard—Specialty Records in Hollywood –Fats Domino—Imperial in Los Angeles

13. Early Rock ’n’ Roll Stars on the Country Side Elvis Presley (1935–77) Elvis Presley (1935–77) Born in Tupelo, Mississippi Born in Tupelo, Mississippi  Moved to Memphis, Tennessee as a teenager  “Discovered” by Sam Phillips, owner of Sun Records, a small independent label in Memphis  First recordings were for Sun Records –“That’s Allright” – “Mystery Train” The biggest rock ’n’ roll star to come from the country side of the music The biggest rock ’n’ roll star to come from the country side of the music

14. Elvis Presley (1935-77) RCA Victor RCA Victor –Bought out Presley’s contract from Sun in late 1955 for $35,000 –Turned the “hillbilly cat” into a mainstream performer without compromising his appeal to teenagers Presley’s manager, Colonel Thomas Parker, saw to it that Presley was seen repeatedly on television variety shows and in a series of romantic Hollywood films. Presley’s manager, Colonel Thomas Parker, saw to it that Presley was seen repeatedly on television variety shows and in a series of romantic Hollywood films.

15. Listening: “Don’t Be Cruel” Based on the twelve-bar blues Based on the twelve-bar blues Presley’s vocal is heavy with blues-derived and country inflections. Presley’s vocal is heavy with blues-derived and country inflections. –Striking regional accent –“Hiccupping” effect –Strong backbeat from R&B –Opening electric guitar figure from western swing bands Imposed on all these diverse and intense stylistic elements is a wash of electronic reverb Imposed on all these diverse and intense stylistic elements is a wash of electronic reverb An attempt by the engineers at RCA’s Nashville studios to emulate the distinctive “slap-back” echo sound of Presley’s previous recordings on Sun Records An attempt by the engineers at RCA’s Nashville studios to emulate the distinctive “slap-back” echo sound of Presley’s previous recordings on Sun Records

16. “Hound Dog” “Hound Dog” Presley’s version of a song that had been a major R&B hit in 1953 for Big Mama Thornton On the other side of “Don’t Be Cruel” Presley’s version of a song that had been a major R&B hit in 1953 for Big Mama Thornton On the other side of “Don’t Be Cruel” Big Mama Thornton’s version is full of sexual innuendo. Big Mama Thornton’s version is full of sexual innuendo. Such sexual implications are gone in Presley’s rendition. Such sexual implications are gone in Presley’s rendition.

17. Presley’s Popularity Presley’s extraordinary popularity established rock ’n’ roll as an unprecedented mass-market phenomenon. Presley’s extraordinary popularity established rock ’n’ roll as an unprecedented mass-market phenomenon. His reputation as a performer and recording artist endured up to his death in 1977 at the age of forty-two. His reputation as a performer and recording artist endured up to his death in 1977 at the age of forty-two. Graceland, his home in Memphis, Tennessee, is now a public museum visited by upwards of 600,000 people annually. Graceland, his home in Memphis, Tennessee, is now a public museum visited by upwards of 600,000 people annually. Elvis Presley’s principal importance as a musical influence and innovator rests on his achievements during the early years of rock ’n’ roll. Elvis Presley’s principal importance as a musical influence and innovator rests on his achievements during the early years of rock ’n’ roll.

18. Buddy Holly (Charles Hardin Holley) (1936–59) Clean-cut, lanky, bespectacled Clean-cut, lanky, bespectacled Born in Texas Born in Texas Began his career with country music but soon fell under the influence of Presley’s musical style and success and formed a rock ’n’ roll band, the Crickets Began his career with country music but soon fell under the influence of Presley’s musical style and success and formed a rock ’n’ roll band, the Crickets Holly’s first record in his new style, “That’ll Be the Day,” rose to Number One on the pop charts in late 1957 and established his characteristic and highly influential sound. Holly’s first record in his new style, “That’ll Be the Day,” rose to Number One on the pop charts in late 1957 and established his characteristic and highly influential sound. –Combined elements of country, R&B, and mainstream pop

19. Buddy Holly (Charles Hardin Holley) (1936–59) Holly’s vocal style exhibits elements of both fine country singing and fine blues singing, full of country twang and hiccups. Holly’s vocal style exhibits elements of both fine country singing and fine blues singing, full of country twang and hiccups. Expressive blue notes Expressive blue notes Mixture of toughness and vulnerability Mixture of toughness and vulnerability The Crickets’ instrumental lineup The Crickets’ instrumental lineup –Two electric guitars (lead and rhythm), bass, and drums provided strong support for Holly’s voice. –During instrumental breaks, Holly’s lead guitar playing was active, riff-based, and hard-edged in a way that reflected the influence of Chuck Berry.

20. Listening: “That’ll Be the Day” Form Form –Structured like a typical pop song, alternating verses and choruses of eight bars each –At the instrumental break, the Crickets play a twelve-bar blues pattern On some later records, like “Oh, Boy!” and “Peggy Sue,” Holly used a twelve-bar blues structure for the song itself On some later records, like “Oh, Boy!” and “Peggy Sue,” Holly used a twelve-bar blues structure for the song itself

21. Buddy Holly (Charles Hardin Holley) (1936–59) Killed in a plane crash in 1959 along with Richie Valens and the Big Bopper (J. P. Richardson) Killed in a plane crash in 1959 along with Richie Valens and the Big Bopper (J. P. Richardson) The Beatles modeled their insect-based name, their four-piece instrumental lineup, and aspects of their vocal style on the Crickets. The Beatles modeled their insect-based name, their four-piece instrumental lineup, and aspects of their vocal style on the Crickets. Songs Holly wrote and recorded include “Everyday,” “Not Fade Away,” and “Rave On.” Songs Holly wrote and recorded include “Everyday,” “Not Fade Away,” and “Rave On.”

22. Listening: “La Bamba” Traditional Mexican folk song Traditional Mexican folk song –In the style of son jarocho, a fiery, up- tempo genre that alternates vocal refrains with rapid improvisational passages, accompanied by an ensemble of stringed instruments

23. Adaptation by Ritchie Valens (1941–59) Performed/recorded in 1958 in Los Angeles Performed/recorded in 1958 in Los Angeles Helped create a distinctive Los Angeles rock ’n’ roll sound Helped create a distinctive Los Angeles rock ’n’ roll sound Lyrics exclusively in Spanish Lyrics exclusively in Spanish Sonic texture of the recording shaped by the unique tone quality of the instruments used Sonic texture of the recording shaped by the unique tone quality of the instruments used Valens’s recording career lasted only 8 months, cut short by the plane crash that also killed Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper. Valens’s recording career lasted only 8 months, cut short by the plane crash that also killed Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper.