Rock-N-Roll Music

After many of World War II’s harmful effects, the 1950s served as a period of time of musical change that reflected the dynamic of society as well as the traditional norms and values. Many factors contributed to this transformation. For example, the civil rights movement heightened many racial tensions, and the music produced consequently manifested this tension in itself. Rock-n-roll and R&B music universalized music typically associated with African-Americans, and many African-American musicians gained fame; however, as with any relatively-widespread success, there were many musicians as well who missed their opportunities due to the same racial segregation. While “radical” genres such as R&B and rock-n-roll laid the foundation for music future forms of music, the standard pop, jazz, and country music adhered to traditional values, and thus continued to maintain popularity amidst phenomena such as the Elvis craze.
Aptly named the Rock & Roll Generation, the 1950's saw the birth and rise to prominence of rock-n-roll and rockabilly (an early style of rock-n-roll). However, this musical revolution would never have been possible without the invention of the electric guitar by Les Paul in 1952 (1). The solid-body electric guitar produced a distinct sound unlike any other instrument during that time; as a result, it was this unique sound that rock-n-roll music developed its entire foundation upon. Today, Les Paul’s guitar (now owned by the popular guitar company Gibson) remains one of the most famous electric guitars not just in the America, but also in the world, along with the Fender Stratocaster and Telecaster. With the advent of the electric guitar, Carl Perkins was a pioneer in the establishment of rock music, and his particular ...

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...he country as very prominent musical genres. At the end of World War II, vocals-focused classic pop replaced big band/swing, although orchestras often accompanied the vocalists to provide depth. Around 1955, Mitch Miller began to set the course for the development of pop music (6). Incorporating many traditional genres, such as country, R&B, and folk music, into the standard popular music, Miller had many of his label’s most famous artists produce songs that adhered to the style of pop traditions. Miller himself often employed innovative arrangements that featured orchestral instruments or non-traditional sound effects. As a result, Miller’s work helped to maintain the popularity of the more traditional musical genres of the time. Another extremely prominent pop artist was Patti Page (7), whose music would eventually become some of the decade’s more popular songs.