History Of Rock Music

Rock music, where did it all begin? Believe it or not a black man who played black music, originally founded rock music in the mid 50s, this man was Chuck Berry. Rock music became popular almost over night, and was accepted with open arms by the younger generations. This was largely due to younger generations who were excited by the thought of having music that expressed their rebellious streak and their desires to promote anti-conformism.

This style of music is a far cry from the modern rock music of today that has evolved over the decades and branched out into a multitude of different genres and sub-genres to create music that is more a way of life than entertainment. However, the still prominent fact that rock music is a form of self-expression and non-conformist desire still remains strong even after all this time.

Rock music grew stronger and stronger with idols such as Elvis Presley, around this time many of the black rock and roll artists left the rock music scene and in their place were a host of other white rockers with a style and look all of their own.

After Elvis Presley’s famous entrance, other well known rock idols and bands started popping up from everywhere, but something was lost along the way, rockers started losing sight the whole reason that rock and roll had become popular in the first place, which was non conformist and rebellious attitudes.

During this time rock music, took a huge nosedive with the younger generations, who were uninterested in a mixture of country music, folk songs, and rock music. This was in the late fifties and musicians such as Buddy Holly and the Everly Brothers were foremost rockers in the rock music scene.

Just as things were looking bleak, Bob Dylan entered the scene during the Vietnam War and held the heart and attention of many youth of the era with his songs of the Vietnam War and civil rights. Around this time, the Beach Boys changed the rock music scene with their new style of rock music.

California had its own unique spin on rock and roll, which contained very sophisticated and vocal harmonies; this style of rock music was a change from the empathetic shouting that had first been introduced by the black musicians in the mid 50s.

In the early sixties, Britain took on a whole new aspect of rock music and created a rage with bands such as the Rolling Stones and the Animals. During this era, the Yard birds also debuted and although they were in the shadows of the Rolling Stones, they were in fact the beginnings of something great, the musicians from this band were later on to revolutionize rock music all over again.

Nevertheless, it was the birth of the Beatles that created a worldwide mania and the beginning of rock music as a business was really born. Following the Beatles, the second generation of rockers were the Kinks and the Who, the Who had changed rock music forever with their mechanically amplified guitars and songs dedicated to the angry frustrated youth of the 60s

The seventies saw the death of Jimmy Hendrix, and the Doors Jim Morrison, and rock music cooled down. New bands, such as Nirvana and the Eagles, began a more peaceful revival of country music mixed with soft rock. The seventies were characterized by a quieter time in rock music.

The nineties saw the age of electronic music, and this new rage spread all over the world, and saw an era of many different genres of rock music, blended music and dance music mixed together. The 90s were also the decade of heavy metal and bands such as Guns and Roses and Metallica. This style of music split into a myriad of other sub-genres such as the funk-metal of Red-Hot-Chilli-Peppers, Rage Against the Machine and Faith No More.

It is hard to believe that today’s rock music began with a single black man, singing a hybrid type of the blues, and flourished over the last five decades to become not only a choice, but also a way of life.

Rock music has evolved to become an array of different styles and sub categories, which provide enjoyment for a multitude of different tastes in music. What the future holds for rock music may not be known, although it is safe to say the rock music will still be around for the next five decades.

Rock Music Has Many Genres

Rock music is a popular from of music that is accompanied by instruments like drums, guitar and bass. Rock music in itself has many styles that were incorporated by musicians who loved this music. One can come across rock music where instruments like synthesizers, piano and organ is also used. Rock music began in the early fifties in United States and the United Kingdom and like all popular music has it own loyal fan following. Rock music was subsequently mixed with many other elements of music to give their own touch to rock music. Rock song subsequently over the years had many new genres added in its fold.

So in 1970s jazz was blended with rock to create jazz rock music, and then it was blended with folk music resulting in folk rock and later Latin, soul and funk music also had its influences on rock music at times. Today we have different categories under rock music and some of the popular ones are heavy metal rock, progressive rock, blues rock, soft rock, punk rock and techno rock among others. In the 1980's and 1990's many new additional genres of rock music such as Brit pop rock, Indie rock, alternative rock, hard rock and grunge style rock were introduced. The United Kingdom is another country where rock country flourished and British rock is also as famous as American rock music all over the world.

One of the greatest rock music band The Beatles is from Britain and they are famous worldwide for their songs and rock music. Through 1970 Pink Floyd was the most influential band in the rock music scene. This group had four artists and all of them were from Britain. The kind of rock music that Pink Floyd was sang was known as psychedelic rock. The folk scene combined with rock gave the new term folk rock. Here all the traditional songs were combined with the instruments that were traditionally associated with rock music. This genre of music was pioneered by Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie. Some of the other popular rock folk rock music artists include Joni Mitchell, Neil Young and The Band.

Progressive rock is one genre of rock music which went beyond the established musical norms and was more experimental in nature. Singers and musicians that were associated with this genre loved to experiment with different types of instruments, beats, musical forms of type of songs. Bands that played progressive rock music borrowed elements from jazz, folk, electronic and classical music to experiment with rock that turned out to be very successful. Some of the bands that were into singing progressive rock included Camel, Can, Barclay James Harvest, King Crimson, Magma and Yes among many others. Music be it of any kind rock music, house music, gospel music, folk music or country music each has its own touch and of course its own group of loyal followers.

1970s Rock Music

1970s Rock music is part of a popular genre because people are searching for something genuine and classic. It has been said that 1970s rock music is a lot better than the style people listen to today because 1970s rock music was a legitimate form of music. There were extremely talented composers of 1970s rock music, and many were even considered to be Masters.

The 1970s rock era looks more and more like the last great era of rock music experimentation and creative upheaval. When I consider the range and diversity of the music that was being produced and selling well, Joni Mitchell, Bob Marley, Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan, and Led Zeppelin come to mind as top producers of 1970s rock music.

The top 20 rock, (or related sub-genre) songs of the 1970s were:

1. Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin
2. Imagine - John Lennon
3. Hotel California - The Eagles
4. What's Going On - Marvin Gaye
5. Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen
6. Layla - Derek and the Dominos
7. Superstition - Stevie Wonder
8. Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
9. Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon and Garfunkel
10. Let's Stay Together - Al Green
11. Let It Be - The Beatles
12. Maggie May - Rod Stewart
13. American Pie - Don McLean
14. Won't Get Fooled Again - The Who
15. Stayin' Alive - The Bee Gees
16. Free Bird - Lynyrd Skynyrd
17. Brown Sugar - The Rolling Stones
18. Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye
19. Go Your Own Way - Fleetwood Mac
20. Papa Was A Rollin' Stone - The Temptations

1970s Rock had several sub genres, some of which include progressive rock, heavy metal, and punk rock.

Progressive rock

Two of the most popular progressive rock bands of the seventies were Pink Floyd and The Moody Blues, because they played music that was more intricate.; At times progressive rock meant using different instruments or producing music with unusual sounds.

Heavy Metal

Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and Black Sabbath are examples of Heavy Metal bands from the 1970s rock era.; They originally played blues based music that was very loud.

Punk Rock

Punk rock from the 1970s was straightforward, loud and rough.; Punk musicians quite often had bizarre hair, ripped clothing, leather jackets and leather boots.; The Sex Pistols, the Clash and the Ramones were a few of the most well-liked.

Some of the most well-known bands from the 1970's era were: Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, The Bee Gees, Black Sabbath, Blondie, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen,; Chicago, David Bowie, Elton John, James Taylor, John Lennon, Kiss, Led Zeppelin, Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney; Wings, Paul Simon, Pink Floyd, Queen, The Eagles, The Osmonds, The Police, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Village People, ZZ Top.

Rock Music

Rock music features vocals, electric guitars, a powerful backbeat, and the occasional saxophone. A key element is Rock n Roll, and the terms are used interchangeably. "Rock n Roll" is a nautical expression and refers to the motions of a ship. It entered black spiritual music in 1916; "Rocking" was used by African Americans to describe the bliss they experienced at religious events and their accompanying music. Simultaneously, black secular musicians used the term for dancing or sex.

Wynonie Harris' 'Good Rocking Tonight' started the "rock" fad in 1947, though people became aware of it only in 1954, owing to tracks like 'Shake, Rattle, and Roll' and 'Rock Around The Clock'. In the mid-50's, when Rock n Roll scaled popularity charts, record companies began promoting singers. RCA backed Elvis Presley - the first superstar rock musician, Decca backed Bill Haley and Buddy Holly, while Capitol promoted Gene Vincent. Thus, R&B artists faded into oblivion.

In 1955, 'Rock Around the Clock' was the biggest hit in rock history. Bill Haley & His Comets toured Europe and Britain was quick to adopt rock. Cliff Richard scored the first ""British Rock"" hit with 'Move It'. Subsequently, The Beatles rose in popularity and launched a US tour with a rapturous response, dubbed 'Beatlemania'. In their wake other British bands headed to the US, notably Rolling Stones. This spawned crude imitators in the US, dubbed as ""Garage Rock"". In late 1950s, there was an antagonism towards electric instruments and revival of traditional music, leading to the birth of ""Folk Rock"".

Rock as a socially-unifying force was seen in rock festivals of the late '60s, the most famous of which was Woodstock - a three-day arts and music festival. It represented the culture of the 1960s and the "Hippie Era". Many famous musicians appeared during the rock festival, which was captured in the movie, 'Woodstock'.

Rock Music Associated With The Carnal and Demonic

Rock music is traced back to 1950's era of Rock and Roll and Rockabilly. Rock music languishes until promoter William Till stages its comeback in 1881 at the Royal Polytechnic in London. Rock music makes its big-screen debut in What's Up, Doc. Rock music has always been associated with the carnal and demonic. Rock music took a step back from its drug-fueled experiments of just a year before, and turned to less-experimental sounds, while the topics became angrier.

Artists

Artists such as Joe Turner, Louis Jordan and Willie Mae 'Big Mama' Thornton were concocting what we now know as the earliest form of Rhythm and Blues. In Chicago Leonard Chess and his brother were recording artists like Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf and even the young Chuck Berry. This was a return to pop aesthetics with shorter songs, less disdain for the singles charts and a genuine crossover appeal in the wake of serious artists like Bowie. Though he was one of the few artists who did not jump on the psychedelic bandwagon, his then revolutionary efforts inspired countless bands who did. The truly unique artists with vision and virtuoso skills have been cast aside while well-hyped mediocrity is promoted. Rock and Roll generally refers to rock music recorded around the 1950s including mostly southern artists like Bill Haley and Elvis Presley.

The artists try to take the roots of rock and apply them to a more classically influenced structure. The performing style is still a heavily amplified theatre of blood, guts and gore, including costumed artists and pyrotechnic blasts fused with angry detuned guitars. King, and Howlin Wolf were just a few of these important Chicago blues artists. Eventually rock artists came to be expected to write and even produce their own songs, becoming responsible for everything about how their records sounded--but that would have to wait for Marvin Gaye, Brian Wilson and Lennon & McCartney. Modern artists like Prince, Lindsey Buckingham, and Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis who use synths and samplings, are rather like the spiritual descendants of those white suburban teenagers, taking their distinctive sound with them regardless of the particular artist they happen to be working with.

Guitar

Guitars, bass, drums and many other instruments play catchy tunes that borrow elements of traditional country, rockabilly and rhythm and blues music. By 1962, they were adding electric guitars and a proper drummer and, following a dues-paying, hard-living year in Hamburg with a residency at the Star club, they emerged as The Beatles. The Rock Music is a type of popular music accompanied by vocal melody that is prominent, with instruments like guitar, drums and bass. It usually has a strong back beat, and has more of electric or acoustic guitar.

No longer the exclusive playground of teenagers; pop and rock music now has over 50 years of history to mull over and debate. By the end of the sixties rock music as we know it was blending with other genres to create new sub-genres.

Rock Music Fiction

Looking for something different to read? Tired of the same old chick-lit, thrillers, romances, and teen vampire books? If you're like most people you listen to rock music-on the radio, on CDs, and at concerts. Believe it or not, there is a growing genre of fiction devoted to rock music and rock musicians.
They aren't all just about sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll (although a generous sprinkling of these ingredients doesn't hurt!). Many rock music novels strive to capture something about the creative process, the everyday life of a musician, or the impact that rock music has on listeners. Here are a few choice examples of works of fiction that are based in the punk, pop, heavy metal, or rock genre.
The Best in Rock Fiction (June Sawyers and Anthony DeCurtis, editors. Hal Leonard, 2004). This engrossing collection features short stories including T. C. Boyle's "All Shook Up" and Tom Piazza's "Burn Me Up," plus more than a dozen excerpts from published novels. Authors include Nick Hornby, William Gibson, Sherman Alexie (with an excerpt from Reservation Blues), Don DeLillo, Madison Smartt Bell, Jeffrey Eugenides, Rick Moody, and Scott Spencer. In "Ground Beneath Her Feet," Salman Rushdie explores the Orpheus and Eurydice myth in a rock 'n roll context.
Carved in Rock: Short Stories by Musicians (Greg Kihn, editor. Thunder's Mouth Press, 2003). A collection of short stories written by some of the biggest names in rock including Joan Jett, Kinky Freidman, Jim Carroll, Richard Hell, Ray Davies, Graham Parker, Eric Burden, Pete Townshend, John Entwistle, Exene Cervenka, and Wayne Kramer. Given the success that many of these legends have as songwriters, it's no surprise that these engaging and varied tales open new doors of literary experience.
Pistonhead (Thomas A. Hauck. Something.hot Communications, 2009). My own entry into the rock fiction arena. Pistonhead reveals the daily life of Charlie Sinclair, a struggling Boston musician who works in a factory by day and plays guitar for his band Pistonhead at night. He's stressed-out, confused, oversexed, underfed, has an apartment full of mice, and can't get rid of his overbearing ex-girlfriend who tries to make booty calls. When his life can't get much more depressing, he faces a personal crisis and it looks like his dreams of a career in music are over. They aren't--he just has to change his idea of success.
High Fidelity (Nick Hornby. Riverhead, 1995). Although the protagonist is the owner of a record store (remember record stores?), this classic novel is the most successful of the rock music genre. We meet Rob Fleming, owner of a vintage record store in London, whose girlfriend, Laura, leaves him for another man. Rob realizes that he lives not for sexual conquest but for the monogamy that he, until now, dismissed as hopelessly square. The 2000 movie version starred John Cusack and Danish actress Iben Hjejle, and was nominated for a Golden Globe.
Noise: Fiction Inspired by Sonic Youth (Peter Wild, editor. Harper Perennial, 2009). A collection of stories inspired, as the title says, by the music of punk rock legends Sonic Youth. The all-star contributors include Hiag Akmakjian, Christopher Coake, Katherine Dunn, Mary Gaitskill, Rebecca Godfrey, Laird Hunt, Shelley Jackson, J. Robert Lennon, Samuel Ligon, Emily Maguire, Tom McCarthy, Scott Mebus, Eileen Myles, Catherine O'Flynn, Emily Carter Roiphe, Kevin Sampsell, Steven Sherrill, Matt Thorne, Rachel Trezise, Jess Walter, and Peter Wild.