THE HISTORY OF
ROCK AND ROLL
Middle School Music
Rock Music in the Fifties
• In the early 1950's new recording technologies such
as the long playing album, jukeboxes, electric guitars
and electric bass guitars are created. These new
technologies change the way people create and
listen to music.
• A huge change also occurs in what people are
listening to and what records they are buying. White
teenagers begin listening to traditionally African
American music such as Rhythm & Blues.
The Fifties Continued
• Blues, boogie, jazz, gospel, R&B vocal groups, and
country begins to influence the music created by
both African American and white musicians. The new
music style is eventually given a name - Rock and Roll.
• By 1953 and 1954 hit songs from the R&B Charts
begin to cross over to the Top 40 Pop Charts. In 1955
Rock and Roll has its first nationwide #1 hit when Bill
Haley's "Rock Around The Clock" tops the charts. At
first, it is considered a fad by most. In 1955 African
American R&B artists Little Richard and Chuck Berry
score big Pop hits.
The Fifties Continued
• In January 1956 Elvis Presley tops the Pop Charts with
his first single release “Heartbreak Hotel”. By the end
of the year he would be the first artist ever to have
nine singles in the Hot 100 at one time. By 1957 rock
and roll artists dominate the popular music charts
and in 1959 rock and roll records account for 43% of
all records sold.
• The end of the decade is marked by tragedy as a
February 1959 plane crash takes the lives of rock and
roll stars Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Ritchie
Valens.
Fifties Genres and Artists
• Rhythm & Blues: Little Richard, Bo Diddley, Chuck
Berry, Ray Charles, BB King
• Pre-Rock / Pop: Doris Day, Nat King Cole, Frank
Sinatra, Dean Martin
• Folk Revival: Pete Seeger, The Weavers, The Kingston
Trio
• Rock & Roll / Rockabilly: Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly,
Jerry Lee Lewis , Johnny Cash
Rock Music in the Sixties
• In the sixties rock music owns the popular music
charts. Elvis Presley continues to score hits in the
early part of the decade. Music continues to diversify
with the folk revival, girl groups and surf music.
Labels bring more African-American artists to the pop
charts.
• By 1964 American artists are sharing the charts with
U.K. bands such as The Beatles and The Rolling
Stones. In the U.S. garage bands emerge, inspired by
the British Invasion.
The Sixties Continued
• Sixties song writing moves beyond pop love songs
and begins to include social and political issues. Later
in the sixties psychedelic music reflects hippie
culture. Bubblegum music is created to generate
radio friendly music.
• In the sixties, television becomes a major force in
rock music as networks try to attract a younger
audience. American Bandstand contributes afternoon
teen idol format, while the Ed Sullivan Show and
other variety shows begin showcasing rock bands.
The Sixties Continued
• In the late sixties outdoor rock music festivals begin.
In the summer of 1969 the Woodstock Music & Art
Fair draws 500,000 people to a three day concert in
New York.
• The Beatles dominate the sixties record charts with 6
of the top 10 albums of the decade and 21 of the
decades' top 100 singles. Their nearest competitor is
Elvis Presley with 9 of the decades' top 100 singles
and 4 of the decades' top 100 albums.
Sixties Genres and Artists
• 60's Soul: Otis Redding, Issaac Hayes, Aretha Franklin
• British Invasion: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The
Kinks
• Psychedelic Rock: Grateful Dead, Pink Floyd,
Jefferson Airplane
• Hard Rock: Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix Experience,
The Doors
• Folk Revival: Bob Dylan, Peter Paul & Mary, Gordon
Lightfoot
• Motown: The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin
Gaye, The Jackson Five
Rock Music in the Seventies
• The Beatles break up in 1970, but all four members
continue to have successful solo careers. The early
seventies are marked by the deaths of Jimi Hendrix,
Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison who all die at the age
of 27. Psychedelic music declines, but changes into
hard rock and heavy metal.
• Touring bands move from playing clubs to playing
sports arenas. Big time bands, such as the Rolling
Stones, Pink Floyd, The Who and Led Zeppelin travel
in private jets and play to thousands in arenas and
stadiums.
The Seventies Continued
• A clear distinction emerges between Top 40 radio and rock
radio stations. Car stereos become common, first with FM
radios, then 8-Track tapes, followed by cassette tapes.
• The early seventies are dominated by singer songwriters and
soft rock. Reggae moves out of Jamaica to become a worldwide genre. Disco dominates the radio and dance floors in the
late seventies. Punk rock emerges in the late seventies and
bands begin incorporating synthesizers instead of just drums
and guitars.
• The hugely popular Elvis Presley dies in 1977 at age 42. Huge
crowds flock to his Memphis home, Graceland.
Seventies Genres and Artists
• Heavy Metal: Led Zeppelin, The Who, The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith,
AC/DC
• Country Rock: The Eagles, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Neil Young
• Punk Rock: The Ramones, The Clash, Patti Smith
• Blues Rock: Eric Clapton, Steve Miller Band, Bad Company
• Reggae: Bob Marley and the Wailers, Peter Tosh
• Singer Songwriters: James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon, John
Denver, Carly Simon
• Soft Rock: Elton John, The Carpenters, Billy Joel, Fleetwood Mac
• Pop: ABBA, Jackson Five, Cher, Rod Stewart, Barbara Streisand,
Dianna Ross
• R&B / Urban: Stevie Wonder, Bill Withers, Al Green, Marvin Gaye,
Issaac Hayes
Rock Music in the Eighties
• John Lennon, one of the former members of The
Beatles is assassinated by a fan in 1980 just as he was
coming back into the public eye with a new album.
• MTV (Music Television) is launched on 300 cable TV
systems in 1981. By 1983 MTV is available on 2,000
cable systems and is extremely popular. MTV is
dedicated to playing music of all genres and is
watched across the world.
The Eighties Continued
• VH1 (another American cable network) is launched in
1984 with a more classic rock format. The prevalence
of music videos as a 24/7 marketing tool is influential
in bringing numerous new bands and music styles
into the mainstream, including heavy metal,
synthpop and new wave.
• Rap and Hip-Hop music also begins to gain popularity
with successful artists such as the Beastie Boys, Run
DMC and LL Cool J.
The Eighties Continued
• The number of successful female artists across many
different genres, such as Whitney Houston, Madonna
and Paula Abdul is reflected in singles and album
sales.
• Records and concerts to benefit charity are
supported by many rock music artists. These include
Band Aid, We Are The World, plus the Live Aid and
Farm Aid concerts.
Eighties Genres and Artists
• Rap/Hip-Hop: Run DMC, LL Cool J, Salt n Peppa, Public Enemy,
Beastie Boys
• R&B / Urban: Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Prince, Whitney
Houston, Janet Jackson
• Pop: Madonna, Bryan Adams, Paula Abdul, Billy Joel, Phil Collins,
Kylie Minogue
• Mainstream Rock: Tom Petty, Aerosmith, Journey, Bon Jovi
• Heavy Metal: Iron Maiden, AC/DC, Ozzy Osbourne
• Hair/Glam Metal: Motley Crue, Poison, Guns & Roses
• Thrash/Speed Metal: Slayer, Metallica, Megadeth
• Alternative: R.E.M., Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Jane's Addiction, Nine
Inch Nails
Rock Music in the Nineties
• Alternative Rock becomes popular and explodes into the
mainstream during the 1990's. Many alternative bands,
including REM, The Smashing Pumpkins, Red Hot Chilli
Peppers, and grunge bands like Nirvana, and Pearl Jam
become mainstream. Electronic music becomes more
mainstream as well.
• In the 90's Hip-Hop continues to expand in influence and
grow in diversity. With huge growth in sales, radio airplay
and overall success for artists like Public Enemy, Queen
Latifah, Salt n' Pepa, Ice T, Dr. Dre, Eminem, Tupac
Shakur, Cypress Hill and many others.
The Nineties Continued
• Pop and teen-pop becomes popular with the Backstreet
Boys, *NSYNC, Hanson and The Spice Girls having major
success. Late in the decade female teen pop artists such
as Jennifer Lopez, Destiny's Child, Christina Aguilera, and
Britney Spears become popular. R&B also scores big with
Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and TLC. Female
songwriters such as Sarah McLachlan, Alanis Morissette,
Jewel, and Sheryl Crow become popular.
• The internet becomes a factor in how music is listened to,
taking away the need for artists to have a major label
album release.
Nineties Genres and Artists
• Alternative: REM, Smashing Pumpkins, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Pearl
Jam, Radiohead
• Pop Punk: Green Day, The Offspring, Blink 182
• Pop: Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, Hanson, The Spice Girls, Jennifer
Lopez, Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears
• Songwriters: Sarah McLachlan, Alanis Morissette, Tori Amos, Jewel,
Sheryl Crow
• R&B: Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, TLC, Celine Dion, Boys II Men
• Metal: Kid Rock, Rage Against the Machine, Metallica
• Hip Hop: Dr. Dre, Tupac Shakur, Snoop Dogg, Jay-Z, Eminem,
• Country: Garth Brooks, Faith Hill, Shania Twain