1950s

Characteristics Blend of black rhythm and blues and country and western Strong rhythm w/ accent on off beat Used electric guitars Youth oriented lyrics Optimistic mood of music paralleled the post WWII optimism in society

Rock-n-Roll Listeners Rock-n-Roll formed the teen generation Parents despised Rock-n-Roll, considered it as a fad Rock-n-roll gave teens the opportunity to “break away” from the music their parents listened to Parents/adults disapproved b/c of the black ties to rock-n-roll music, would have been shocked to know that black people associated the term rock and roll w/ sex, so opposed to it some states attempted to place bans on rock-n-roll, they blamed rock-n-roll for many riots and as an attempt to integrate American Society

Impact of Rock-n-Roll on American Society White teens were listening to black music Teens became consumers-easier access to jobs, had more $, bought rock-n-roll records

Alan Freed Cleveland DJ who began playing black R&B-called this music Rock and Roll so he could attract white listeners to his show Name of his show Moondog’s Rock and Roll Party Hosted Moondog Coronation Ball on March 21, 1952 (date considered to be the birthdate of rock and roll) Moved Show to NY in 1954 Despite his legal troubles, he was still inducted into R-n-R Hall of Fame in 1986

Black Artists Little Richard Fats Domino Chuck Berry Little Richard-quite the energetic pianist, wore mascara and 6” pompadour, “Tutti Frutti” Chuck Berry-wrote his own lyrics, famous for his own stage “duck walk,” “Johnny B. Goode” Fats Domino-although he played the piano sitting down and was calmer than Little Richard, he still stirred audiences “Ain’t that a Shame” Chuck Berry

Doo Wop Characteristics Vocal group harmony Wide range of Voices Simple Beat &Light instrumentation Simple music & lyrics The Platters Teenagers There were many Doo-Wop groups but most of them were one hit wonders, Frankie Lyman, 13 yr old teenager in the teenagers was pretty scandalous-danced w. white girl on Freed’s show and had three wives at one time married in different years-just didn’t divorce

Billy Haley & the Comets White Artists Billy Haley & the Comets Buddy Holly Pat Boone Jerry Lee Lewis “Great Balls of Fire,” married 13 yr old cousin-ruined his career Bill Haley & the Comets-originally started out as a country band then changed musical style “Rock Around the Clock” Buddy Holly & the Crickets- “That’ll be the Day” “Peggy Sue”, “American Pie” by Don McLean was a song about Holly’s tragic death Pat Boone-adults approved of him b/c of his nice image, sang cover songs of “Tutti Frutti” and “Ain’t that a Shame” Everly Brothers, Ricky Nelson, Fabian- teen idols Jerry Lee Lewis

Teen Idols Ricky Nelson Fabain

And then there was… Elvis!!!

Elvis-The King of Rock –n-Roll

Elvis talking about being called “Elvis the Pelvis” Elvis Hits in the 1950s Heartbreak Hotel (1956) Hound Dog (1956) All Shook Up (1957) Teddy Bear (1957) Jailhouse Rock (1957) One Night (1958) A Big Hunk O’ Love (1959) Elvis talking about being called “Elvis the Pelvis”

The official website of Elvis Elvis Link The official website of Elvis

American Bandstand Philadelphia Dance TV Show Dick Clark was assigned the ABC show-later named American Bandstand in 1956 Bandstand was more than just a show-teens watched to learn the latest dances, styles, and behavior “Regulars” danced on the show-some even had their own fan club and were often the “feature” in teen magazines Dancing on Bandstand

The End