Module 5: Origins of Rock and Roll

New Orleans Dance Blues

" Blueberry Hill" is an example of New Orleans Dance Blues - New Orleans dance blues referred to the rhythm and blues genre that evolved in New Orleans alongside jazz. Fats Domino was a blues pianist who became famous for the style with his smooth tenor voice and jazzy piano skills

Memphis Rockabilly

" Hound Dog" is a good example - Elvis Presley was "discovered" by Sam Phillips when he came to the Sun Recording Studio to record a couple of songs as a birthday gift for his mother. When Phillips heard the voice of Elvis he knew he had found the link between African American blues artists like B.B. King and white audiences: a white singer with an African American sound. After experimenting with several songs they recorded " That's Alright Mama" and the rockabilly genre was launched to the public " Great Balls of Fire" is a good example of Jerry Lee Lewis' music - Jerry Lee Lewis was another successful singer who recorded with Sun Records. Like the early Elvis Presley recordings, his music captured a raw, high energy performance style that is a reminiscent of blues artists like Little Richard. His career was cut short due to his marriage to his 13-year-old cousin

Doo Wop

" Only You" by the Platters; song of the 1950s - Doo Wop refers to the vocal renditions of a 2 eighth note rift, just as bebop referred to the instrumental rendition of the same riff. Doo Wop groups were quartets or quintets of African American singers who performed with simple accompaniment. The first Doo Wop record to make it into the top ten billboard singles was "h-Boom" by the Chords.

Northern Rock band

" Rock around the Clock" by Billy Haley and the comets (good example) -developed out of boogie-woogie style jump blues. Bill Haley and His Comets began as a western swing band, but changed their style under the influence of blues artist Louis Jordan

Chicago Rhythm and Blues

" School Days" is an example of Chuck Berry's music. It is also a great example of music intended for high school-aged teenagers - The blues was well-established in Chicago in the 1930s and 40s with artists like Muddy Waters and Sonny Boy Williamson, but the genre remained a regional favorite with a mostly African American audience until Chess Records changed its name to rhythm and blues and broke into the pop market with Chuck Berry. Chuck Berry combined the rockabilly style with the strong back beat of rhythm and blues and added light, youth-oriented lyrics.

5 styles of rock and roll

- Northern Band Rock and Roll -New Orleans dance blues -Memphis Rockabilly -Chicago rhythm and blues -Doo Wop

Early Rock Styles

- Rock and roll began as the music of teenagers - After World War II for the first time in American history, teenagers became a market force, and a musical genre evolved that would appeal to the exclusively

When did rock and roll get started?

Around 1954

New Orleans

Blueberry Hill

Rockabilly

Hound Dog

Emergence of Rock and Roll

Rock and Roll emerged around 1954 as a synthesis of the simple chord progressions of the blues, the syncopated rhythms of jazz, and the catchy lyrics of Tin pan Alley

Northern Rock Band

Rock around the clock

Chicago

School Days

Doo wop

Sh'Boom

1954-1956

five basic styles of rock and roll evolved simultaneously, but independently, defined by region