Live Music Blog

Rock n Roll music features vocals, electric guitars, a influential backbeat, and the chance al saxophone. A key element is Rock n Roll n Roll, and the terms are used inter change ably. ” Rock n Roll n Roll” is a nautical expression and refers to the motions of a ship. It entered black spiritual music in 1916; “Rocking” has been used by African Americans to describe the bliss they experienced at religious parties 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 individuals 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 1st superstar rock musician, Decca backed Bill Haley and Buddy Holly, while Capitol promote d Gene Vincent. Thus, R&B musicians faded into oblivion.

In 1955, ‘ Rock n Roll Around the Clock’ has been the biggest hit in rock history. Bill Haley & His Comets toured Europe and Britain has been quick to adopt rock. Cliff Richard scored the first “”British Rock”" hit with ‘Move It’. Subsequently, The Beatles rose in popularity and started a U.S. tour with a rapturous response, dubbed ‘Beatlemania’. In their wake other British artists headed to the US, notably Rolling Stones. This spawned crude imitators in the US, dubbed as “”Garage Rock”". In late 1950s, there has been 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 artists appeared during the rock festival, which was captured in the movie, ‘Woodstock’.