Rock N Roll Research Paper

Rock N Roll was prevalent across the nation in the early 50s that affected the lives of millions of Americans in ways that were never expected. In analyzing the impacts of Rock N Roll, the most important subjects to focus on are political, cultural and economical. One of America’s most musical legendary icons took most of the credit (and blame) for the birth of Rock N Roll. He was none other than Elvis Presley, and will be the main focus referred to in this essay. In the eyes of the parents of the young kids and teenagers in the 50s and 60s, Rock N Roll was thought to be linked to juvenile behavior ("Rock ‘n’ Roll/Teen Rebels."). Although evidence and time have shown otherwise, and reveal the truth about the benefits Rock N roll brought to

Although the 1960s rolled around, and the voices of Elvis, The Beatles, and more, more heard on radio stations across the country and were being performed in venues constantly. Despite the language and messages that Rock and Roll portrayed, people started buy and paying for the music more and more and it was a domino effect from there. Economically, Rock and Roll was far more successful than any other music at that time, and “People today may be underwhelmed by the fact that Elvis sold 10,000,000 records in 1956. We've seen bigger numbers for a few artists in the decades since. But what folks need to recall is that Elvis sold that many records in a year when the total record sales in the USA that year was 90,000,000. That means that one artist - the King, of all the recording artists - accounted for 11% of all the records sold in the USA in 1956.” (Hauser, H.) It is because the most popular music in the country and people paid to travel to

In addition, “at the time, the music contained sexual connotation, this vulgarism and suggestive choice of words [which] made the teens want to listen to it more because their parents did not approve and teens felt like they had something to belong to. Parents feared that their children would start to act and dress like these musicians. So, parents tried to ban Rock and Roll music from many radio stations at the time.” ("Rock ‘n’ Roll/Teen Rebels.") Except Rock and Roll was not evil even though “churches proclaimed it Satan's music.” (Ushistory.org) Culturally, Rock and Roll music improved segregation, fashion, and freedom of expression. Before the age of Rock, there was little to no expression and very little individuality because this was right after the second world war that promoted the suburban lifestyle of cookie cutter housing, and, “parents dressed their children almost exactly the same; boys in high collared button up shirts, slacks, loafers, with hair slicked back, and girls in plain or patterned long dresses, high ankle socks, buckle shoes or flats, and hair done up in curls, sometimes with a nice big bow as a final touch. They were taught to stay quiet and respectful, listen to pure, innocent music, and wear plain, "normal" clothes. The teens wanted more, and rock was the stepping stone that helped them get just that.”