Rock and Roll

Mr. Cowan

The History of 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 Rock and Roll?

“Good Rockin’ Tonight”: Roy Brown “Rocket 88”: Jackie Brenston“Rock Around the Clock”: Bill Haley“That’s Alright Mama”: Elvis

4 Songs to Consider...

• 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”

From R and B to Rock and Roll...

• Fast paced piano playing • Flamboyant outfits • Wanted to be “different and exciting” • Hit songs include: “Lucille”, “Tutti Frutti”,

“Good golly miss Molly”, “Long Tall Sally”

Little Richard

Little Richard“Intro to Little Richard”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzylKK8huQc&list=PL390141A638523E5F&index=1

Lucille: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3-OaNevkfgLong Tall Sally: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVIttmFAzekTutti Frutti: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kM1khne_sg

• 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”

Chuck Berry

Johnny Be Goode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLMK9-Ns-TY

Chuck Berry

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:

Social Change and Rock and Roll

1) Television: made space available on radio as network shows moved from the radio to tv2) 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

Rock and Roll....

5) Civil Rights movement made whites more accepting of black music 6) Prosperous time = teens had $$$ to spend7) Baby Boom = more teens

Rock and Roll...

• 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

Racist 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

Record company backlash

• 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...)

The Blanching of Rock and Roll

Pat Boone.....

“Tutti-Frutti”

Little Richard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kM1khne_sgPat Boone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vv-LAbMbEn4https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBzzlUIEWHA

Example #1

“Tutti-Frutti” Little Richard: #17 on charts (Boone #12) They didn’t want me to be in the white guys' way. ... I felt I was pushed into a rhythm and blues corner to keep out of rockers' way, because that’s where the money is. When 'Tutti Frutti' came out. ... They needed a rock star to block me out of white homes because I was a hero to white kids. The white kids would have Pat Boone upon the dresser and me in the drawer 'cause they liked my version better, but the families didn't want me because of the image that I was projecting

Example #1

“Sh-Boom”

The Chords: sensual sound, deep voice, distortion, less reverb = more breathing, sax solo, #5 on pop chartshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBgQezOF8kY

The Crew Cuts: innocent, safe, no solo or improvisation, cartoon/comedy (not threatening), #1 on pop charts, #1 song of the year https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9G0-4TWwew

Example #2

“Ain’t That A Shame”

Fats Domino: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbfMlk1PwGU

Pat Boone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8dx0oE--VI

Example #3

And then things just got weird…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeKjmB2DaAs

Video: Rock and Roll: Episode #1: Renegades