Rock And Roll Research Paper

The Origin of Rock and Roll

When many great things come together an even greater thing is born. It doesn’t just happen overnight but when it’s finally finished something amazing comes out of it. Rock and Roll followed this pattern. Rock n’ Rock has been apart of America’s pop culture since the 50’s and has been influenced by various things including different, genres, record companies, cities, and artists. This made it appeal to so many different people and thrive in the culture for so many years.

You need to know what Roll and Roll or Rock n’ Roll for short is before learning the origin of it. So what defines Rock and Roll? Dictionary.com defines it as a style of popular music that derives in part from blues and folk music and is

He formed a style called “Rockabilly” which was the sound of Rock and Roll. “To form this musical style, he fused the country-western music of the South with the rhythm and blues of African Americans and the pop music that dominated the radio and recording industries. The combination of musical genres and sounds into a new style of music was Elvis’s true gift and his contribution to popular culture. That this integration of musical styles took place just prior to the civil rights movement, prefiguring social integration, makes this moment in pop culture history seem momentous. (http://www.dummies.com/Elvis)” That wasn’t all he was influnetal too, he influencedesed fashion. “So it wasn’t a surprise when Presley’s rock ’n’ roll music, his hairstyle, and his fashion sense became a part of this new culture for teenagers. (http://www.dummies.com/Elvis)”

In his later career he even changed the style of the music he played to appeal to older audiences. He also pursued being an actor in the 60’s. “Because his career went through so many changes, he was popular with different types of people for different reasons. Even after his death, his popularity remains strong among a wide variety of people. This wide popularity, as well as his important role in American musical history, makes him a cultural icon.

Rock and Roll especially interested white, middle classed teenagers. Unlike them their parents did not like it at all. To them it was considered “Satan’s Music.” They were used to the laid back tone of Sinatra. “Children listened to whatever their parents were listening to until the 1950s when Rock ‘n’ Roll made its debut. Previously before World War II, music was restricted to just the radio and infrequent record buying. Parents usually listened to “white” music which included Tin Pan Alley or genres of music such as swing or polka. Parents loathed the new genre because they thought it was “corrupting” their kids.”