The term, "Rock 'n' Roll", was first used by Cleveland disc jockey, Alan Freed, in 1951. The music style of rock 'n' roll evolved from 'rhythm 'n' blues', which came from the blues. The use of electric guitars, an intense,rhythmic beat, energetic and youthful lyrics are the hallmarks of rock 'n' roll. The youth of America was hooked almost immediately. While the older generation called it the 'devil's music', and a harmful 'negro influence', like the song says, "rock 'n' roll is here to stay!"
Because of this tumultuous beginning, rock 'n' roll has always represented rebellion, anti-establishment, and freedom. Indeed, America was the rightful, (dare I say), only place it could have born and flourish like it has. Like the country it was born in, rock 'n' roll has changed with the times, survived some bad ones, and keeps on going forward.
But we're gonna move backwards to the late '50's, when songs like 'Great Balls of Fire', by Jerry Lee Lewis, 'Johnny B. Goode', by Chuck Berry, and 'Jailhouse Rock', by the not yet crowned 'King of Rock 'n' Roll', Elvis Presley. Popular artists only back then, all of these fellas', along with others, are now legends. Rock 'n' Roll had a tapping foot in the door and wasn't about to back off. At the opening of the 1960's, this new musical offshoot of rhythm 'n' blues still contained much of the bluesy, laid back, sound of it's fore-runner, but along soon came 'doo-wop'. Songs like, "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" and "Duke of Earl', were big hits. Songs like Roy Orbison's 'Only the Lonely' and 'In the Still of the Night', were also examples of the sound style.
African-Americans were also coming into the forefront of popular music like never before. Artist like the before-mentioned Chuck Berry, Sam Cooke, Little Eva, The Platters, Ray Charles and Ben E. King, just to name a few, were getting the recognition never thought possible less than a decade before. In 1960, one time boxer and auto worker, Berry Gordy Jr. was urged by long-time friend, Smokey Robinson, to begin his own record company. The two men were avid and talented songwriters. Robinson even had his own group, 'The Miracles'. Named 'Motown Records', after motor city, the nickname given to Detroit, Michigan, where the record company was located, from humble beginnings soon rose a musical giant. Throughout the '60's, a large host of African-American artist would pump out hit after hit. Soul music that had a strong pop sound was sweeping the youth of the nation.
Songs like, 'Tears of a Clown', 'Tracks of my Tears', 'Can't Help Myself', (Sweety Pie, Honey Bunch), 'Baby Love' and 'I Heard it Through the Grapevine', were instant classics. Along with Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, there were a host of legendary artist like, Diana Ross and the Supremes, The Four Tops, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and beyond the '60's there were, The Jackson 5, Micheal Jackson, and the Pointer Sisters. I can't imagine even Berry Gordy seeing the long lasting and powerful influence of Motown, as well as a legacy that has forever been stamped on pop music history.
Because of this tumultuous beginning, rock 'n' roll has always represented rebellion, anti-establishment, and freedom. Indeed, America was the rightful, (dare I say), only place it could have born and flourish like it has. Like the country it was born in, rock 'n' roll has changed with the times, survived some bad ones, and keeps on going forward.
But we're gonna move backwards to the late '50's, when songs like 'Great Balls of Fire', by Jerry Lee Lewis, 'Johnny B. Goode', by Chuck Berry, and 'Jailhouse Rock', by the not yet crowned 'King of Rock 'n' Roll', Elvis Presley. Popular artists only back then, all of these fellas', along with others, are now legends. Rock 'n' Roll had a tapping foot in the door and wasn't about to back off. At the opening of the 1960's, this new musical offshoot of rhythm 'n' blues still contained much of the bluesy, laid back, sound of it's fore-runner, but along soon came 'doo-wop'. Songs like, "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" and "Duke of Earl', were big hits. Songs like Roy Orbison's 'Only the Lonely' and 'In the Still of the Night', were also examples of the sound style.
African-Americans were also coming into the forefront of popular music like never before. Artist like the before-mentioned Chuck Berry, Sam Cooke, Little Eva, The Platters, Ray Charles and Ben E. King, just to name a few, were getting the recognition never thought possible less than a decade before. In 1960, one time boxer and auto worker, Berry Gordy Jr. was urged by long-time friend, Smokey Robinson, to begin his own record company. The two men were avid and talented songwriters. Robinson even had his own group, 'The Miracles'. Named 'Motown Records', after motor city, the nickname given to Detroit, Michigan, where the record company was located, from humble beginnings soon rose a musical giant. Throughout the '60's, a large host of African-American artist would pump out hit after hit. Soul music that had a strong pop sound was sweeping the youth of the nation.
Songs like, 'Tears of a Clown', 'Tracks of my Tears', 'Can't Help Myself', (Sweety Pie, Honey Bunch), 'Baby Love' and 'I Heard it Through the Grapevine', were instant classics. Along with Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, there were a host of legendary artist like, Diana Ross and the Supremes, The Four Tops, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and beyond the '60's there were, The Jackson 5, Micheal Jackson, and the Pointer Sisters. I can't imagine even Berry Gordy seeing the long lasting and powerful influence of Motown, as well as a legacy that has forever been stamped on pop music history.
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