EARLY ROCK N ROLL
Music and Culture in the 1950s
FROM 1930S-1950S
Blues music evolved over time, meshing with Jazz music
New upbeat Blues/Jazz styles emerged such as “Boogie
Woogie” and “Rhythm and Blues”
Racial tensions were at an all time high in the US due to
Segregation laws and lack of Civil Rights
Listen to Boogie Woogie!!!
SEGREGATION IN THE U.S.
T H E ROA D T O RO C K N RO L L
 Early Rock n Roll started in the 1950s
America was very conservative, living in a post WORLD
WAR II society.
Music on the radio was clean-cut and geared towards
White adults.
Music created by black musicians was hidden or
underground because of Segregation. (Think about the
movie “Hairspray”)
W H AT C O N S E RVAT I V E
AMERICA LOOKED LIKE
1950s
PSA:
DINNER
1950s
PSA:
Popular
ABOUT THE MUSIC
Lyrics in “black” and “white” music talked about the
same subjects:
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•
•
•
•
School
Cars
Dancing
Teenagers
Love
Teenagers didn’t care about the “color” of music, they
just wanted to dance.
THE BIRTH OF ROCK N ROLL
 In 1954 Alan Freed was the first WHITE DJ to play “black” music on the
radio.
 He coined the term “Rock n Roll”, which categorized the genre.
 He played a Bo Diddley song called: “Hey Bo Diddley”
 Bo Diddley was the link from Rhythm and Blues to Rock n Roll.
 Popularized a famous Rhythm from Africa that is used in many Rock n
Roll songs.
 Bo Diddley inspired a new brand new type of music to emerge.
ALAN FREED AND BO DIDDLEY
F I V E FAT H E R S O F RO C K N RO L L
 Used inspiration from Blues, Jazz, Rhythm n Blues and folk music to
create new style of music.
• Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy
Holly
CHUCK BERRY
POPULAR SONGS
UNIQUE
CHARACTERISTICS
“Johnny B. Goode”
“Roll Over Beethoven”
“Run Rudolph”
Duck Walk
Guitar riffs
Fun Fact: Chuck Berry has been arrested multiple times
LITTLE RICHARD
POPULAR SONGS
UNIQUE
CHARACTERISTICS
“Tutti Frutti”
“Long Tall Sally”
“ Good Golly Ms. Molly”
Wooooo when singing
Flamboyant
Boogie Woogie piano playing
Fun Fact: Little Richard gave up music for 20 years to become a
minister. He was also on Full House
ELVIS PRESLEY
POPULAR SONGS
UNIQUE
CHARACTERISTICS
“Jailhouse Rock”
“Suspicious Minds”
“Heartbreak Hotel”
“Love Me Tender”
(50 #1 hits!!!!0
Soulful voice
1st white rock n roller
Curled lip
Dancing/gyrating
Fun Facts: Elvis died in the bathroom. His daughter married
Michael Jackson! Elvis had a twin brother.
JERRY LEE LEWIS
POPULAR SONGS
UNIQUE
CHARACTERISTICS
“Great Balls of Fire”
Crazy Piano playing
“ Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” Mumbly voice/ strong accent
Fun Fact: Jerry Lee Lewis has been married over 6 times!
BUDDY HOLLY
POPULAR SONGS
UNIQUE
CHARACTERISTICS
“ Everyday”
“That’ll Be The Day”
“ Not Fade Away”
“Peggy Sue”
Geek look
Hiccup in voice
Sweet/sincere singing
Fast guitar playing
Fun Fact: Buddy Holly has been referenced in music by Weezer
and in the song “American Pie”, He was 22 when he died.
WHICH FATHER IS IT?
 Can you identify the musician based on just HEARING their
music?
 How can you tell them apart?