1. Elvis and Rockabilly

2. Bill Haley and the Comets Haley from Western swing traditionHaley from Western swing tradition Some success with cover of Rocket 88Some success with cover of Rocket 88 –Renamed band “the Comets” –Starts performing R&B covers Hits with Rock Around the ClockHits with Rock Around the Clock –For most of song, fast shuffle rhythm –Occasionally beat evens out, esp. during guitar solos

3. Bill Haley and the Comets Style combination of Western swing, boogie- woogie, and R&BStyle combination of Western swing, boogie- woogie, and R&B Not a huge impact in this country, but in England, bigger than ElvisNot a huge impact in this country, but in England, bigger than Elvis –Starts English teens singing rock and roll Strong crossover appealStrong crossover appeal Frequently involves mixture of stylesFrequently involves mixture of styles Most defined by strong rhythmic activityMost defined by strong rhythmic activity Descended from swing jazzDescended from swing jazz –Stripped down instrumentation: 2- 3 horns + percussion section –Plus a blues shouter – male vocalist with strong, supported blues voice Up-tempo numbers with boogie- woogie feelUp-tempo numbers with boogie- woogie feel Riff-based accompanimentsRiff-based accompaniments –Rough, “honking” instrumental timbres Four- or eight-beat style beatFour- or eight-beat style beat “Slice of life” vignettes“Slice of life” vignettes Showmanship importantShowmanship important “Father of rhythm and blues”“Father of rhythm and blues” –Showman, comic, and bandleader Ex. Choo-Choo-Ch-BoogieEx. Choo-Choo-Ch-Boogie –Shuffle style beat –Boogie-woogie walking bass –Riff-based –Verse/chorus blues form Verse = 12 bar bluesVerse = 12 bar blues Refrain = 8 bar bluesRefrain = 8 bar blues Country blues carried north to citiesCountry blues carried north to cities New style starts to develop in ChicagoNew style starts to develop in Chicago –Drums, bass, harmonica and/or piano added to singer+guitars –Role of each instrument specified Forms:Forms: –12 or 16 bar (aaab) blues –blues verse/chorus Often riff-basedOften riff-based Strong rhythm sectionStrong rhythm section Amplification usedAmplification used Aggressive and extroverted: shouted vocals, hard timekeepingAggressive and extroverted: shouted vocals, hard timekeeping Major influence on urban bluesMajor influence on urban blues Ex. Hoochie Coochie ManEx. Hoochie Coochie Man –Waters (guitar), piano, bass, harmonica –Verse/Chorus blues form 16 bar blues; first 8 verse, 2nd 8 chorus16 bar blues; first 8 verse, 2nd 8 chorus –Stop time: 1 1/2 beat riff, 2 1/2 beats for vocals –Dense textures –Shuffle rhythms Afro-Cuban influences prominent in New Orleans R&BAfro-Cuban influences prominent in New Orleans R&B Major influence: Professor Longhair (Roy Byrd)Major influence: Professor Longhair (Roy Byrd) Walking bassWalking bass Boogie-woogie pianoBoogie-woogie piano Shuffle rhythmShuffle rhythm PLUS “reverse” clave rhythmPLUS “reverse” clave rhythm 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X rather than… 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + X X X X X Influenced by Professor Longhair and Latin- flavored boogie-woogieInfluenced by Professor Longhair and Latin- flavored boogie-woogie Signature characteristic - fast, even tripletsSignature characteristic - fast, even triplets Laid-back styleLaid-back style Ex. Mardi Gras in New OrleansEx. Mardi Gras in New Orleans –Dense textures, often polyrhythmic as well –Clave rhythm –12-bar blues

4. Elvis Presley Is most of Elvis’ music rock and roll?Is most of Elvis’ music rock and roll? –Jailhouse Rock? –Mystery Train? –Hound Dog? –All Shook Up?

5. Elvis Presley Regardless of beat structure, Elvis is rock and roll ---Regardless of beat structure, Elvis is rock and roll --- Figure though which R&B/rock and roll reaches large white audienceFigure though which R&B/rock and roll reaches large white audience

6. Elvis Presley (1935-1977) Born Tupelo, Mississippi into poor familyBorn Tupelo, Mississippi into poor family Begins playing guitar age 11Begins playing guitar age 11 Influences: Muddy Waters, Jimmie RodgersInfluences: Muddy Waters, Jimmie Rodgers Moves to Memphis 1948, absorbs blues, R&B sceneMoves to Memphis 1948, absorbs blues, R&B scene Early 1954 goes into Sun studios to record demoEarly 1954 goes into Sun studios to record demo

7. Elvis Presley (1935-1977) Early 1954 goes into Sun studios to record demoEarly 1954 goes into Sun studios to record demo Second session records That’s All Right Mama and Blue Moon of KentuckySecond session records That’s All Right Mama and Blue Moon of Kentucky By August featured on Grand Old OpryBy August featured on Grand Old Opry August 1956 TV appearances make a sensationAugust 1956 TV appearances make a sensation

8. Elvis - Major Influences Brings huge number of vocal styles into rock and rollBrings huge number of vocal styles into rock and roll Persona in which country and R&B, black and white cultures meshPersona in which country and R&B, black and white cultures mesh Style combination of honky-tonk, Western swing, R&B, with unique vocal styleStyle combination of honky-tonk, Western swing, R&B, with unique vocal style Creates sub-genre of rock and roll = rockabillyCreates sub-genre of rock and roll = rockabilly

9. Rockabilly Combination of country and R&B, but with more weight on the country elementsCombination of country and R&B, but with more weight on the country elements Less blues influence on vocal style than Berry, Little RichardLess blues influence on vocal style than Berry, Little Richard –Rather, hiccups, stutters –vibrato (quavery) vocal effects Fast, nervous tempos of bluegrassFast, nervous tempos of bluegrass

10. Rockabilly Combination of country and R&B, but with more weight on the country elementsCombination of country and R&B, but with more weight on the country elements Less blues influence on vocal style than Berry, Little RichardLess blues influence on vocal style than Berry, Little Richard Accented backbeat, but even beats of country musicAccented backbeat, but even beats of country music

11. Rockabilly “rock” or “honky-tonk” instrumentation“rock” or “honky-tonk” instrumentation –lead electric guitar –acoustic rhythm guitar –string bass –drums songs from R&B repertoire, or in similar stylesongs from R&B repertoire, or in similar style

12. Carl Perkins (1932-1998) Born rural TennesseeBorn rural Tennessee Working as country singer when heard Elvis on radioWorking as country singer when heard Elvis on radio Decided to pattern style after ElvisDecided to pattern style after Elvis Went to Sun records, auditioned for Sam PhillipsWent to Sun records, auditioned for Sam Phillips First record - Blues Suede Shoes - major hitFirst record - Blues Suede Shoes - major hit

13. Blue Suede Shoes Country influences audibleCountry influences audible But heavy doses of blues as wellBut heavy doses of blues as well –Stop time –guitar style –riff-based

14. Buddy Holly (1936-1959) Born Lubbock, TXBorn Lubbock, TX Formed Western swing band in high school; worked as back-up band for Bill HaleyFormed Western swing band in high school; worked as back-up band for Bill Haley Models vocal style after Elvis after meeting at gigsModels vocal style after Elvis after meeting at gigs First recording, in 1956, unsuccessfulFirst recording, in 1956, unsuccessful

15. Buddy Holly (1936-1959) That’ll Be The Day a hit in 1957That’ll Be The Day a hit in 1957 Rapid string of seven hit records with band The CricketsRapid string of seven hit records with band The Crickets Killed in plane crash in 1959 - “The Day The Music Died”Killed in plane crash in 1959 - “The Day The Music Died”

16. Buddy Holly - style Equal parts of country, R&B, and rock and rollEqual parts of country, R&B, and rock and roll –Guitar style: R&B influenced –Vocal style: country + Elvis –Musical forms, Chuck Berry-influenced lyrics: rock and roll Compositions most sophisticated of early rock artistsCompositions most sophisticated of early rock artists

17. Not Fade Away Riff-based, but combines with stop timeRiff-based, but combines with stop time Stuttering vocal styleStuttering vocal style Multiple rhythmic layersMultiple rhythmic layers –beat –style beat –Bo Diddley beat –backbeat

18. Well…All Right Very different style - more pop orientedVery different style - more pop oriented Verse/refrain, with weight on versesVerse/refrain, with weight on verses Forward-looking: Blind Faith records a decade laterForward-looking: Blind Faith records a decade later

19. Jerry Lee Lewis (1935- ) Born Ferriday, LouisianaBorn Ferriday, Louisiana Primary influences - boogie-woogie piano, New Orleans R&B style of Professor LonghairPrimary influences - boogie-woogie piano, New Orleans R&B style of Professor Longhair Often categorized as rockabilly, but more in common with Little RichardOften categorized as rockabilly, but more in common with Little Richard

20. Great Balls of Fire Percussive, boogie-woogie piano stylePercussive, boogie-woogie piano style –With addition of glissandos, triplets of New Orleans style Frantic performing styleFrantic performing style Honky-tonk/hillbilly vocalsHonky-tonk/hillbilly vocals Blatantly sexual lyricsBlatantly sexual lyrics

21. Everly Brothers (Don 1937 - and Phil 1938 - ) Born into family of country musiciansBorn into family of country musicians Parents ran radio station in Iowa, so heard and performed everythingParents ran radio station in Iowa, so heard and performed everything Earliest recordings for Candice label in NashvilleEarliest recordings for Candice label in Nashville

22. Everly Brothers - Style “Old-Timey” vocal harmony in thirds“Old-Timey” vocal harmony in thirds High tenor range - influence from blues and gospelHigh tenor range - influence from blues and gospel “rock” instrumentation + piano“rock” instrumentation + piano catchy melody linescatchy melody lines gentle rock timekeepinggentle rock timekeeping