Rock and roll

Rock and roll—often spelled "rock & roll" or "rock 'n' roll"—is a genre of music that originated in the United States in the 1950s and went on to become one of the most influential forms of popular music worldwide. It evolved from a combination of other genres, including blues, boogie, jazz, gospel, rhythm & blues (R&B), and country. The style emerged simultaneously in many parts of the United States, driven especially by Black artists, but the term "rock and roll" was popularized by Cleveland, Ohio, radio disc jockey Alan Freed in the early 1950s. Crucially, Freed and other disc jockeys also helped develop the genre itself by breaking down racial audience barriers, especially for young people. While the social factors involved in the creation of rock and roll were diverse and complex, a central component was the intersection of Black American culture with White youth culture.

Today, the genre is generally referred to as "rock music" or simply "rock" and has branched into many diverse subgenres ("rock and roll" is sometimes used specifically to indicate the early, basic style). Some of the prominent subforms that have evolved throughout the history of rock include psychedelic rock, hard rock, progressive rock, and alternative rock. In addition to its various subgenres, rock gave rise to new styles that have come to be considered distinct, such as punk and heavy metal. It also hybridized with other forms, as in the case of jazz-rock and country rock, and exerted a major influence on pop music. Some of the rock icons who helped change the face of music forever include Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, the Beatles, and Led Zeppelin. Into the twenty-first century, rock and roll continues to enjoy roots revivals while also still exploring new ground.

Overview

As rock and roll emerged as a musical genre in the 1950s it quickly became popular throughout the United States. White artists began turning traditional Black music, such as R&B, into pop (short for “popular”) hits. Additionally, in some cases the original R&B versions crossed over to the pop charts, which helped Black artists gain a White following. Advancements in music technology also spurred the development of rock and roll. For example, improvements in electric guitar and amplifier design ushered in new sound possibilities that became an integral part of the genre. Better radio and sound recording technology helped bring more music to wider audiences.

White musician Bill Haley and his group, the Comets, are often considered the first band to have a true rock-and-roll hit. In 1953, the group's "Crazy Man Crazy" peaked at number twelve on the charts. Two years later, the group scored rock and roll’s first number-one hit with "Rock around the Clock." Other key artists during the early years of rock and roll included Elvis Presley, Little Richard, and Chuck Berry. Presley’s "Heartbreak Hotel" reached number one on the charts in 1956. Presley eventually became the first artist in history to have nine singles on the Hot 100 chart simultaneously.

Presley and other early rock stars became very popular, but there was also considerable backlash. Conservative elements of society often objected to the sexual innuendo in many rock and roll lyrics and dance moves. Some critics also argued that the music caused rebellious, destructive, or otherwise dangerous behavior. The music industry met these concerns in part by promoting less controversial, pop-inflected rock songs and artists. Many music historians consider the classic era of true rock and roll to end with the 1950s. However, the genre did not die out.

In the 1960s rock and roll evolved rapidly. Rock music of the decade reflected the counterculture movements of the time and challenged political authority. New music production effects emerged, including the Brill Building sound and the Wall of Sound developed by producer Phil Spector. This also contributed to the splintering of rock into numerous subgenres. Bubblegum pop and Motown carried on the mainstream commercial hits. Folk music artists, notably including Bob Dylan, often crossed over into rock, bringing social commentary and political lyrics with them and embracing amplified electric instruments. Later in the decade, psychedelic rock became popular among the hippie culture, and innovative artists like Jimi Hendrix and Santana explored new realms of creativity.

A movement called the British Invasion also greatly helped shape rock and roll. British rock bands, including the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and the Kinks, came to America between 1964 and 1966 and dominated the charts. Originally influenced by American blues, rockabilly, and early rock and roll, they established a new style incorporating pop and other influences that proved hugely popular. A second wave of British Invasion bands, including The Who and the Zombies, also found success in America. Many of the bands eventually became rock-and-roll icons and, in the later 1960s, pushed songwriting craft and studio recording technology to new heights.

Perhaps no band had as much influence on rock and roll as the Beatles. Band members John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr took the music world by storm during the British Invasion and quickly became the most popular musical act in the world. The Beatles helped the progression of rock and roll by experimenting with new sounds and techniques throughout their career. For instance, they delved into the psychedelic realm and helped change rock music forever. The group scored six of the top ten best-selling albums of the 1960s, including the top four spots with Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967), Abbey Road (1969), Revolver (1966), and The Beatles (also known as The White Album) (1968). Additionally, many of the singles the band released during its career, such as "Yesterday," "Hey Jude," and "Let It Be," topped the charts. Although the group disbanded in 1970, the Beatles are widely regarded as the most popular and influential rock artists of all time.

The 1970s brought more new styles and subgenres to the rock-and-roll genre. Hard rock, led by the band Led Zeppelin, and glam rock, led by David Bowie and Marc Bolan of T. Rex, became mainstream and influenced other emerging genres, such as heavy metal. Singer-songwriters such as James Taylor and Joni Mitchell also became popular, blending rock with folk and pop. Progressive rock, or prog, focused on musical virtuosity and blended complex forms with experimental sounds and equipment such as synthesizers, as exemplified by groups such as Pink Floyd and Yes. Later in the 1970s, the stripped-down, raw style of punk rock emerged partly as a reaction against the increasing complexity of prog and mainstream "stadium" rock. Drawing direct inspiration from the basic forms of 1950s rock and roll, punk soon became influential itself.

Beginning in the 1980s, television provided rock and roll—and other music genres—with a new marketing tool. Music videos, which were broadcast on networks such as MTV and VH1, brought many rock-and-roll artists into the mainstream. During this time, artists such as Michael Jackson and Madonna became hugely popular as crossover stars combining elements of rock and electronic music with pop and celebrity glamour. So-called heartland rock also became popular, with acts such as Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty drawing more on roots styles and the singer-songwriter image. As in earlier eras, however, these mainstream trends quickly spawned movements of artists seeking to distinguish themselves as different. Though it began mainly in local scenes and was distributed by independent record labels, "alternative" rock was soon itself a major force in the music industry, particularly entering the 1990s. This subgenre included many different musical styles, such as grunge and indie pop. Alternative bands such as R.E.M., Nirvana, and Pearl Jam found worldwide success. Socially conscious rock also gained popularity, as in the case of the feminist rock movement known as Riot Grrrl.

The 1990s and 2000s alternative scene also saw interest in reviving earlier musical styles, including subgenres of rock and roll that had fallen out of favor. Britpop saw bands such as the Smiths and Oasis draw inspiration directly from the British Invasion and other elements of rock's 1960s "golden era" as well as later synthpop. The lo-fi (low fidelity) movement harkened back to blues, early punk, and 1960s garage rock with a do-it-yourself (DIY) spirit, and some artists found mainstream success. One example was Beck, who also merged rock with hip-hop and rap in some of his popular works. The early decades of the twenty-first century saw an explosion of roots-oriented rock bands, with some of the more popular examples, such as the White Stripes, the Black Keys, and Kings of Leon, incorporating sounds from classic rock, blues rock, and Southern rock.

Not all rock groups focused on the past, however, and forward-thinking genres such as post-rock, various hybrids of rock and electronica, and further evolutions of hard rock and metal continued to emerge. Though the proliferation of subgenres often blurs the lines of what can be considered rock and roll, the genre as a broad whole remains one of the driving forces in music.

Bibliography

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