Rock And Roll Research Paper

In 1951, Cleveland radio disc jockey Alan Freed sparked the three word phrase ‘Rock and Roll’. But whatever you call this genre of music, it took the world by storm, and changed the face of music, and history forever.

It is universally believed that rock and roll music was born in the 50’s, however, its origins start long before. Rock and Roll has many deep seeded roots in both the blues and gospel music. While most would agree, that this type of music first started coming to fruition in the south, it found its way up north during the great migration, as blacks started moving out of the south, and moving farther and farther north. As people started moving, music did too.

At the time, radio wasn’t just a popular form of entertainment. It

was the ONLY form of entertainment. So when Alan Freed took to the airwaves with songs like ‘Rock around the clock’, the whole world was listening. In just a few short years, the television would become the latest and greatest form of entertainment, and shows like American Bandstand would be transmitted into just about every living room in America. People like Dick Clark would help popularize this music genre, and make it ‘America’s Music’. In less than a decade, this new form of music had spread around the world, and started to evolve into new exciting sub-genres.
Although the music was wildly popular with American teenagers, it didn’t go unnoticed by many church groups and conservatives.

Rock and Roll came steamrolling into a ‘Leave it to Beaver’ world, and not everyone was happy about it. It was called ‘the devils music’, and banned on many radio stations, and other venues in the country. When people like Elvis Presley came on the scene, rock and roll exploded. And so did many of its detractors. Calling him ‘Elvis the Pelvis’ for the way he danced while performing, there were many who called him vulgar. He was so controversial, that his TV performances were censored, and he was only filmed from the waist up. Even politicians had opinions. Congressman Emanuel Celler stated that “Rock n' roll has its place, among the colored people. The bad taste that is exemplified by the Elvis Presley 'Hound Dog' music, with his animal gyrations which are certainly most distasteful to me, are violative of all that I know to be in good taste." Organizations such as the North Alabama White Citizens Council took a stand against the genre, as well. The groups secretary, Asa Carter stated “Rock and roll is the basic heavy beat music of negroes. It appeals to the base in man and brings out animalism and

vulgarity."
Despite the many attempts by groups both extreme, and not, rock and roll continued its steady ascent into mainstream society, and it became contagious. Its affects were almost infectious as it continued to spread around the world, and then begin to mutate into different forms. From its initial origins, artists were continuing to alter its sound. From the basic beginnings of rock and roll came the infusion of soul, pop, jazz and more. Big new sounds started emerging such as the east coast sound, the west coast sound, Motown, the sound of Philadelphia and more. Then came the British invasion.
As rock and roll continued to grow, so did the population. Baby boomers grew up with rock and roll, and all of its variations. Rock and Roll was the soundtrack to the Vietnam war. Bob Dylan electrified it, the 70’s commercialized it, and the world population ate it up lock, stock and barrel.
Country music, like rock and roll is more than just music. It’s an attitude and frame of mind. But country music has its own story. Even though the roots of country music are very decidedly American, country music has had to contend with rock and roll for its own space in the music world. While it’s generally accepted that country music originated early in the 20th century in, or around the Appalachian mountains (some reports actually pinpoint Bristol, Tennessee), some of the roots of American Country music can be found running as deep as the lone cowboy out on the plains in the late 1800’s to as far back as folk tunes being brought over to America from England or Scotland. . No one, however, disputes that the Carter family was at the very core of the beginnings of country music. At least the recorded beginnings, that is. And recordings were becoming a popular method of spreading and sharing music with the invention of the record player in 1877, and its more widespread availability.
While rock and roll took the country by storm, country music has held its own through a slow and steady climb.

Society in general was becoming more mobile, so people were taking their lifestyles, ideas, and music with them to all parts, all over the country. The cowboy films and westerns of the 1930’s and 40’s did much to spread the popularity of country music as well. Additionally, country music was played on radio stations around the country, as well as armed services radio. While there was no one who opposed the playing of country music, it did have to continually fight for airplay on radio stations around the country. Many stations were playing the more popular music of the day, such as big band, and swing, and country music was continuing to evolve into differing sub-genres such as bluegrass and

rockabilly.
The advent of the television did much to progress country music as well. Shows that featured cowboys, such as Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, and The Lone Ranger became popular, and country music started to become more and more mainstream. And while country music continued its rise and could be considered contagious, it was far from an epidemic. In the sixties, and 70’s country music continued to have a more far reaching exposure with TV shows featuring performers such as Glen Campbell, and Mac Davis.
Country music continued to gain popularity among a more widespread audience in 1980 when the film Urban Cowboy was released. And country music started to evolve too. It was often heard that country music solely embodied sorrow for lost love, women, and whiskey, but that began to change. Country music venues started becoming more and more popular throughout the country, and with that came more varied music, the Texas-two step and more. Country music was no longer just for cowboys, hillbillies and truck drivers. Born from humble beginnings, the country music industry has grown into the multi-billion dollar industry we know today. It had evolved into a mainstream music genre that was, and still is accepted and loved by millions around the world.
Reggae music has a different story altogether. Even though it emerged as a product of Ska and Rocksteady, it was born of desperation, and hopelessness. Although Jamaica had gained its independence in 1962, the late 1960’s were a rough time for its citizens. Jamaica was a depressed country that was gripped by violence, unemployment and crime, and its citizens were no better off than they were before they gained independence, and reggae wound up being a much needed powerful voice. A peaceful demand for better treatment from the government, and the whole world listened, as reggae became the signature style synonymous Jamaica. When 1970’s rolled around, most of Jamaicas citizens followed Rastafari (a religion that held peace, love, understanding and anti-corruption at its core), and reggae emerged as a powerful voice of change.
It took only ten short years for reggae music to become popularized from the Jamaican subculture, to American radio stations. Groups like Bob Marley and the Wailers, Black Uhuru, Peter Tosh, and Toots and the Maytals helped bridge the gap from a poetic cry for change to a widespread multi-media sensation.
While the Jamaican authorities weren’t thrilled with the outcry of their people, they most certainly enjoyed their newfound celebrity. The diffusion was contagious. Universally popular guitarist Eric Clapton even covered the Bob Marley hit ‘I shot the Sheriff’ in 1975, instantly making the reggae tune an instant crossover hit, and ensuring that reggae would become a global sensation.
Interestingly enough, although reggae has begun to evolve into what we now recognize as dancehall, and dub, it has remained mostly pure at heart. It is universally excepted for what it is today, and what is was then, and acts such as UB40, and Pato and Buju Bantan still record reggae in its purest form today,