Rock and Roll is the basis, the foundation on which all modern rock styles are based. The origin of the name is related to the blues tradition and was an allusion to a sexual act. As for the music itself, it is a simplified blues. It is reduced to three four chords played at a fast tempo and with electrified instruments. As already mentioned when describing RnB, this genre of music was mainly reserved for the black population, however Alan Freed noticed that white youths were also eager to reach for records with this genre. In 1951 he referred to it as "rock and roll" and began to promote it on the radio was also the organizer of the first rock and roll concerts. It can be considered that with the "invention" of rock over roll and, more specifically, the adaptation of the blues for a wider audience, Freed contributed to the lowering of the racial barrier.… Read more
Characteristics of Rock and Roll
It is simple in terms of rhythm and harmony, and exhibited a faster and more aggressive sound than its contemporary genres of popular music. The standard composition of the band included the following instruments: lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bass guitar, piano or organ and drums. The lyrics were simple, but carried a deeper message, mainly about youth problems.
Artists
The biggest names in popular music are associated with rock and roll, American representatives and precursors of this trend were Elvis Presley, Bo Diddley, Ritchie Valens, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran, among others. In the 1960s it begins to flow out of the US and conquer Europe. The greatest rock and roll musicians were born in the British Isles. Such performers and groups as The Beatles, Queen, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, Led Zeppelin,The Dave Clark Five, The Searchers and The Animals are permanently inscribed in the history of music.(Most of them later went in the direction of a heavier sound becoming precursors of other varieties of rock or metal).
History
As already mentioned, rock and roll is the basis for all other varieties of rock, and in its pure form it really only existed in the 1960s. Genres directly derived from it include psychedelic rock, hard rock, soft rock and so on. In later decades there were attempts to revitalize the original rock and roll - as punk rock, psychobilly, rockabilly and retro rock and roll.
The 1950s marked the birth of rock and roll, which was to become an alternative for the youth of the time. All in all, it's hard to clearly determine which song was the first rock and roll Rock over roll of that period contributed to the blurring of racial barriers, was an expression of rebellion, tolerance, the music inspired the youth and the lyrics of rock and roll songs were much more socially suggestive than was the case in other genres. Rockabilly and its greatest representative Elvis Presley, known as the King of Rock and Roll, appears then.
The 1960s are mainly associated with the slogan "Sex, drugs and Rock'N'Roll", this has to do with the lifestyle of the stars of this music at the time. Musicians of this era shocked at concerts, drank alcohol and took drugs in public places. A variety of rock called Garage rock also emerged. The hallmark of this genre was cheap, low-volume and uncomplicated productions. And it was named so because the band members practiced mostly at one of their own in the garage.
Perhaps the most important event of the decade was the Woodstock festival, held August 15-18, 1969, at the M. Yasgura farm in Bethel, near New York. Its slogan was: Peace, Love and Happiness, and its stars included Santana, Janis Joplin, The Who, Jimi Hendrix.
The 1970s continued the trend of the previous decade. But heavier sounds , although lighter than heavy metal, also began to appear. This is also the time of stadium concerts, initiated by the band The Bitels at Shea Stadium in 1965. This is the period of the development of heavy metal and bands such as Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Twisted Sister, AC/DC.
The 1980s is the period of the rock divide, but about that in another piece.
Final word
Rock and roll is a really prolific genre both in terms of performers and culture. As a basis for other genres, it has worked very well. And now I invite you to take a closer look at it in its purest form, that is, at songs primarily from the 1960s.