Rock and Roll

1. Rock and Roll AMU4EI Mr. Cowan

2. What is Rock and Roll? • What evolved out of early blues and rhythm and blues • African American term for sex • DJ Alan Freed popularized the term • What is the first Rock and Roll song ever?

3. 4 Songs to Consider... • “Good Rockin’ Tonight”: Roy Brown • “Rocket 88”: Jackie Brenston • “Rock Around the Clock”: Bill Haley • “That’s Alright Mama”: Elvis

4. From R and B to Rock and Roll... • White teens begin to favour musicians who put on shows • Older blues players were getting to be too old • Little Richard and Chuck Berry became the new “heroes” to teens • 2 are known as the “godfathers of rock and roll”

5. Little Richard • Fast paced piano playing • Flamboyant outfits • Wanted to be “different and exciting” • Hit songs include: “Lucille”, “TuttiFrutti”, “Good golly miss Molly”, “Long Tall Sally”

6. “Intro to...” (pt.1 8 mins) “Lucille”“Tuttifrutti”

7. Chuck Berry • Wanted to appeal to white teen audience • Blended Rhythm and Blues with country to create a newer sound...eventually lead to rock and roll • Hits included: “Maybelline”, “Rock and Roll Music”, “Johnny Be Goode”

8. Chuck Berry • Johnny Be Goode

9. Social Change and Rock and Roll • The popularity of a wild, teen oriented rock and roll can be attributed to a number of social changes that occurred in the 1950’s

10. Changes that promoted Rock and Roll… • 1) Television: made space available on radio as network shows moved from the radio to tv • 2) Disc Jockeys around the country became obsessed with the new sound • 3) Portable transistor radio hit the market (allowing teens to listen to whatever) • 4) The car radio became the norm

11. Rock and Roll... • 5) Civil Rights movement made whites more accepting of black music • 6) Prosperous time = teens had $$$ to spend • 7) Baby Boom = more teens

12. Racist Backlash • The integration of white and black youths elicited a racist response from many white adults • Whites protested that Rock and Roll “brings out animalism and vulgarity” and is “the devil’s music” • Radio stations began banning rock and roll as a result

13. Record company backlash • Crooners and labels spoke out against R and R • Sinatra: “the most ugly, brutal, desperate, vicious form of expression it has been my misfortune to hear” • DJ’s who lost listeners also rebelled • Many feared that African Americans were taking over....sound familiar?

14. The Blanching of Rock and Roll • Record companies began fearing the indie labels and needed a plan • Feared the economic consequence of a new popular music that they could not control • Once the white audience was gone, they would have nothing • Labels began releasing “covers” • (cover your ears...)

15. Pat Boone.....

16. TuttiFrutti • Pat Boone vs. Little Richard

17. Example #2 • “Sh-Boom” • The Crew Cuts: innocent, safe, no solo or improvisation, cartoon/comedy (not threatening), #1 on pop charts, #1 song of the year • The Chords: sensual sound, deep voice, distortion, less reverb = more breathing, sax solo, #5 on pop charts

18. Video: Rock and Roll: Episode #1: Renegades