History of Rock &

Roll

Jo Loui
Beginning of Rock n’ Roll

• Started in the 1950s.

• Its roots lay in African American blues
and gospel.

• During the Great Migration many

African Americans moved to the cities
of the north and rhythm and blues
attracted the teenagers. Because of
segregation and racism, however, all
the great artists of Rock and Roll could
not get enough airplay and recognition.
 Beginning of Rock n’ Roll

• Record producers saw the potential of Rock and Roll and started
searching for a white artist who could capture the African
American sound.

• Sam Philips, a Memphis record producer, discovered then Elvis

Presley whose fame skyrocketed and who became an idol for
many teenagers.

• By 1957 Rock and Roll artists appeared very often on the music
charts and by 1959 approximately 43 percent of the records sold
consisted of rock and roll records.
 Rock n’ roll
fights racism

• From Memphis, this new style of

music spread to other cities, and
demand for Elvis records grew
bigger and bigger. He was the most
popular artist and entertainer.

• African American performers like

Chuck Berry, Fats Domino and Little
Richard started getting equally
successful and famous.

• Rock and roll managed to break

down the barriers and fight against
racism. Kids and adults came
together, danced and had fun
despite their race and color.
 Characteristics of
rock n’ roll and reactions to it
• Rock n’ roll was characterised by the use of
electric guitars and a steady drumbeat.

• In contrast to pop music, rock had a more

aggressive sound that indicated a sexual freedom
that the conservative people did not approve of.

• Moreover, rock and roll created a revolution.

Young teenagers went against the music their
parents used to love and older generations were
against rock and roll. Churches named it Satan's
music mostly because it originated from the
African Americans.

• Because Rock and Roll originated from the lower

classes and a segregated ethnic group, whites
found it was tasteless and so Rock and Roll
Bitch: https:// records were banned from many radio stations
www.youtube.com/watch? and schools.

v=a4g8PxsG_j4
 Reactions towards Rock n’
roll

• Young adults bought big houses and

were in need of stability and comfort.
They wanted to release the tension
caused by the war. They mostly
wanted to move, dance and roll.

• By the early '60s, Chuck Berry’s

Rock and roll is the most brutal, ugly,
degenerate, vicious form of expression
— lewd, sly, in plain fact, dirty — a
rancid-smelling aphrodisiac and the
martial music of every side-burned
delinquent on the face of the earth.
followers, especially the Rolling
Stones, transitioned from singles
artists into musicians capable of
producing albums. Embracing sex
and rebellion in their music, the
Rolling Stones created controversy
but also brought rock to new levels.

– Frank Sinatra
Pioneers of Rock n’ Roll

Bill Haley

• He was the frontman for the

group Bill Haley & His Comets.

• Became a superstar in the

1950s after releasing hits
including “Rock around the
clock,” “Shake, rattle and roll”
and “See you later, alligator”.

• Haley’s appeal was universal.

He had many fans and sold
millions of records around the
world.
 Pioneers of Rock n’ Roll

Bill Haley

• Haley told Rolling Stone in 1967. “We

put country & western together with
rhythm & blues, and that was rock.
The first three years were ours, all
ours, till Presley came along.” 

• “Rock Around The Clock” is one of

the best-selling records in history.
Dubbed “The Father of Rock ‘n’ Roll,”
Haley still has lots of devoted fans
around the world. With his way of
singing and his distinctive hairstyle,
he paved the way for generations of
stars in many different genres.

See you later, alligator: https://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Hb66FH9AzI
 Pioneers of Rock n’ Roll
Chuck Berry

• Characterised by incredible and smooth vocals.

• His guitar playing was influenced by rock and
roll, blues and country.

• By introducing R&B and guitar solos to the

genre, he created rules when it came to
playing rock and roll. His original pieces and
moves that accompanied his lyrics created the
basis for the genre’s growth and explosion.

• He used classic blues structures a lot, but was

also a great entertainer.

Sweet little sixteen: https://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLV4NGpoy_E
 Pioneers of Rock n’ Roll
Little Richard

• Characteristics of his singing

include wailing, moaning, screaming
and shouting.

• He merged R&B and boogie-woogie

with playful lyrics and created the
basis for Soul and Funk.

• He had lively dance moves and was

very fancy. Thanks to his cosmic and
faith-based music he still is one of
Rock’s most influential entertainers.
Tutti frutti: https://
www.youtube.com/watch?
v=Cj059o9OwqY
 The 60s

• In the 60s music did not only consist of pop love songs, but also
put an emphasis on social consciousness and political statements.

• Television supported the popularity of rock music and helped it

attract a younger audience. TV variety shows began showing rock
bands in prime time.

• The late 60s see the rise of rock music festivals, such as the
Monterey Pop Festival in 1967, the Woodstock Music and the Art
Fair in 1969.

• Elvis Presley and The Beatles dominate the charts.

Masters of war: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEmI_FT4YHU

 The 70s

• The Beatles break up in 1970, but continue to have

impact on the music as solo artists.

• During this time bands like Led Zeppelin added a darker

and heavier tone to rock, thus paving the way for styles
like hard rock, progressive rock and heavy metal. Bands
now start playing in sports arenas and stadiums.

• Some rock musicians started using complex elements

and arrangements and went against the mainstream
rock music that was being written. They focused on the
main characteristics of rock, namely: loud guitars, rude
attitude, and enraged singing. In the late 70s Punk rock
was born.
Rock and Roll: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lncr2g9XJHU
 The 80s

• 1980 is marked by the death of John Lennon.

• By the end of the 1980s college rock, the style that was played very often in college radios,
was very much against the mainstream rock that it received the name Alternative Rock.
Sometimes it was also called indie rock because the bands were often signed to independent
record labels.

• During that time MTV had its launch and music videos were shown throughout the whole
week and were used as a marketing tool and as a way of making bands and music styles
mainstream.

• Records and concerts are being made for charity purposes, such as the Band Aid, We Are The
World, Live Aid and Farm Aid concerts.

Radio Gaga-Live aid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-0ygW-B_gI

We are the world - Live aid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00OeznNG4hM

 The 90s - Present

• Alternative Rock, Grunge and Pop Punk are the mainstream styles
in the 1990’s and alternative bands like Red Hot Chilli Peppers and
Nirvana are very successful. However, after the death of Nirvana's
frontman Kurt Cobain, alternative music is slowly losing its shine
and then makes room for mainstream rock.

• With the beginning of the 21st century the most successful bands
followed their predecessors of the 1960s despite their differences
in the sound. While some combine hip-hop with metal, others
follow hard-rock and add a more contemporary sound.

Scar tissue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzJj5-lubeM

 Sources

• https://www.liveabout.com/what-is-rock-
music-2898293

• http://www.rockmusictimeline.com

• https://billhaley.com

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gD2Om1g3B3o

• https://www.ushistory.org/us/53d.asp