Pentecostalism In Rock And Roll Essay

1305 Words3 Pages

Most people have many preconceptions about what influenced the popular genre of Rock and Roll. Many think that Rock and Roll was heavily influenced by either Jazz or Blues music, but there are a few scholars who disagree with this thought. Writer Craig Mosher argues the point that pentecostalism was the biggest influence on Rock and Roll. Not only does Mosher think that pentecostalism was the heaviest influence on Rock and Roll, but Randall Stephens also attests that pentecostalism had a large influence on Rock and Roll. However, Stephens takes a much different approach than Mosher by using specific examples, telling the historical background of pentecostalism, and finally gives the church background of famous rockers. Another view on what influenced Rock and Roll is voiced by Michael Allen. Allen states that Blues, R&B, Country and a flare of Gospel music all eclectically influenced Rock and Roll. Allen gives specific examples and talks about the historical context and importance of Rock and Roll. Out of all three authors Mosher most effectively supports his central argument of how pentecostalism was a huge influence on rock and roll. Mosher openly starts off the argument by stating what other people think about the influence “church music” had on Rock and Roll. He begins with what is known about the relationship
How he shows pentecostalism in different genres and different artists shows how spread and influential pentecostalism has been and how much pentecostalism has helped shaped our music today (Mosher 109-110). Unlike Mosher, Stephens just discusses how pentecostalism shaped Rock and Roll in the fifties and sixties, not how pentecostalism has translated over to passing decades and genres, which takes away from his argument (Stephens

Show More
Related

  • Chuck Berry: The Rise Of The King Of Rock & Roll

    924 Words  | 2 Pages

    There is without a doubt that the 1950s saw the rise of the King of Rock 'n' Roll, known as Chuck Berry. His musical take on rhythm and blues was a large influence on many successful artists that rose the following decade, but most notably The Rolling Stones. This paper examines the earlier musical career of Chuck Berry and how The Rolling Stones modeled themselves upon him and then expanded themselves further.

    Read More

  • A Critical Review of All Shook Up

    753 Words  | 2 Pages

    The book depicts the story of culture conflicts of the music, which arose from the introduction of the foot-tapping, hip-swaying music now known as rock n' roll (Graarrq). The outcome of rock n’ roll coincided with tremendous uproar in the movement to grant civil rights to African American. Trapped in the racial politics of the 1950s, rock n’ roll was credited with and criticized for promoting integration and economic opportunity for blacks while bringing to “mainstream” cloture black styles and values (Altschuler). Black values were looked over and kind of not important to whites. Whites were very much so well treated then blacks were, however no one spoke out until the outcome of rock n’ roll.

    Read More

  • The Influence of Race on Rock and Roll

    1192 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the 1950s rock-n-roll established its own marks in history. It spread throughout the decade in a thrilling, substantial, and even livid to those Americans trying to get rid of all sorts of conflicts and challenges that occurred during this time period. As exciting as this music was, the novel “All Shook Up” portrays how rock-n-roll brought many changes to the American culture and later to the sixties. It expresses many concerns such as race relations, moral decays, and communism, but in ways that are partially true.

    Read More

  • The History Of Rock And Roll

    816 Words  | 2 Pages

    I believe that the history of rock and roll demonstrates a link between culture and social class race, and age; by the way a genre brings all the people in these different categories into one big group. When rock and roll began to emerge people from different cultures and social classes started to come together as a group by the way they dressed. It was not only the music but also the fashion it brought along with it. People from this era changed the way they dressed, styled their hair and their means of transportation. This brought together people from different cultures and social class, race and age all together.

    Read More

  • Rock n Roll & 20th Century Culture

    1464 Words  | 3 Pages

    Through Elvis Presley, rock ‘n’ roll changed the face of American music, and influenced a whole generation’s political philosophy. Composer Leonard Berstein once said, “He introduced the beat to everything and changed everything-music, language, clothes; it’s a whole new social revolution-the 60s come from it” (Wattenberg 6B). To his credit, Elvis embraced rhythm and blues not as a from to be imitated, but as a form to honored and interprete... ...

    Read More

  • All Shook Up: How Rock 'n' Roll Changed America

    792 Words  | 2 Pages

    Music can be traced back into human history to prehistoric eras. To this day archeologists uncover fragments of ancient instruments as well as tablets with carved lyrics buried alongside prominent leaders and highly influential people. This serves as a testament to the importance and power of music, as well as its influence in society. Over its many years of existence, music’s powerful invocation of feelings has allowed it to evolve and serve many purposes, one being inspiring change. American journalist and author Hunter S. Thompson once said, “Music has always been a matter of energy to me, a question of fuel. Sentimental people call it inspiration, but what they really mean is fuel.” This fuel is the very things that powers the influence of Rock ‘n’ Roll on American society, that author Glenn C. Altschuler writes about in his book, “All Shook Up – How Rock ‘n’ Roll Changed America.” Between 1945 and 1965 Rock ‘n’ Roll transformed American society and culture by helping to ease racial integration and launch a sexual revolution while most importantly developing an intergenerational identity.

    Read More

  • We Need Less Christian Bands and More Christians Making Music for God and the Culture

    1697 Words  | 4 Pages

    Stevenson, Wayne. "Why Is Christian Music Inferior?" Voices.yahoo.com. Yahoo.com, 2 Jan. 2007. Web. 29 Apr. 2014.

    Read More

  • The Decade Of The 1950's

    1938 Words  | 4 Pages

    Ask any American citizen what they know about the fifties and some part of their answer will include the term “Rock and Roll” or “Elvis”. Although the 50’s were mostly known for rock and roll, country and gospel music actually found their roots first. Country music grew out of the Appalachian Mountains. Appalachian music in the early 1950’s had influences from old English, Irish, and Scottish folk music. Rural roots like these were also a strong contributing factor towards gospel music. Gospel music increased in popularity during the 50’s but began in early African-American slave history. According to Ganzel (2007), “...one of the hallmarks of gospel music--and in turn, soul, R&B and rock-n-roll--is the call-and-response form that has direct roots to the African-American slave history and tradition” (p.15-16). Folk music also found its beginning in agrarian communities. One musician who represented this genre was Bob Dylan; he found his inspiration from life and politics (Ganzel 2007). These very rustic styles of music powerfully expressed the culture of rural America in the 1950’s. In the heart of this rural America, surrounded by cotton country, was Tupelo Mississippi. This was the birthplace of Elvis Presley. Elvis changed the face of music forever by developing and representing a new genre: Rock and Roll. Elvis is often referred to as The King of Rock and

    Read More

  • How Rock and Roll Changed America

    1919 Words  | 4 Pages

    "Rock and Roll's Influence." The Impacts of Rock and Roll Music on American Society. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Mar. 2014.

    Read More

  • The Impact of Rock 'n' Roll on the Civil Rights Movement

    1581 Words  | 4 Pages

    Rock 'n' roll came from a type of music called rhythm and blues (R&B), which consisted of doo-wop and gospel music. It was popular mostly in the south during the 40’s but it soon grew to urban cities. It was Les Paul’s invention of the electric guitar in 1952 that added a new sound and made rhythm and blues into the rock 'n' roll we all know and love today. Most of the artists from R&B were African American, and in their song they would reference sexual matters. So together it gave a bad connotation towards the music and their race, therefore both were never fully accepted in the north. The term “rock” was slang mostly used by African Americans meaning a form of music that was easily danced to. Meanwhile “roll” was usually a euphemism for sex, such as “a roll in the hay”. It was Alan Freed who first popularized the term “rock and roll” for this gen...

    Read More

  • History of Rock and Roll

    1146 Words  | 3 Pages

    Many people and many styles of music influenced Rock and Roll. The styles included Blues, Jazz, Gospel, Bluegrass, Boogie-Woogie, and Rockabilly. Each was a major factor into the introduction of a new style of music called Rock ‘N’ Roll.

    Read More

  • The History of Gospel Music

    2853 Words  | 6 Pages

    Contemporary, as well as older, Gospel music originated from the “Spirituals.” The spirituals, also known as the “Negro Spirituals or African-American folk songs,” were religious songs sung by the African Americans slaves in Southern America. The spirituals spawned from teachings of Christianity from slave owners, the church and even hymns. The songs were usually about love, hope, peace, oppression, freedom and even used as a secret code. The African American slaves would sing while working so much so that slave o...

    Read More

  • Pentecostalism

    1930 Words  | 4 Pages

    The history of Pentecostalism is widely disputed amongst historians; some believe that Pentecostalism began with Jesus’ disciple’s baptism in the Holy Spirit at the first Pentecost, while other historians argue that the religion itself dates as recent as the early ninety’s. In the historiographical essay, “Assessing the Roots of Pentecostalism,” Randall J. Stephens claims that the Pentecostal movement started in 1901 and the famous 1906 Los Angeles revival on Azusa Street helped the religion grow to currently contain approximately 420 million followers. The followers, being mostly lower and middle-class groups who were “multi-ethnic and often challenged racial norms” (Wilma Wells Davies 2), of the revival were unhappy...

    Read More

  • Christian Culture Expressed in the Music of Hillsong United

    1354 Words  | 3 Pages

    Culture is a constant influence in human life. Shaping thoughts and reinforcing beliefs, culture is powerful force that reminds Christians of their faith in God and it consequential actions. One influential part of culture is the band Hillsong United, whose songs are used for private devotion and congregational worship. The repertoire of the band Hillsong United is an example of the Christian worldview in culture.

    Read More

  • My Cultural Identity

    1009 Words  | 3 Pages

    Powell, A. (2007). The Music of African Americans and its Impact on the American Culture in the 1960’s and the 1970’s. Miller African Centered Academy, 1. Retrieved from http://www.chatham.edu/pti/curriculum/units/2007/Powell.pdf

    Read More

More about Pentecostalism In Rock And Roll Essay

Open Document