Rock'n'roll
Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll or rock 'n' roll) is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African-American genres such as blues, jump blues, jazz, and gospel music, together with Western swing and country music. Rock and roll performed by white artists is called «rockabilly».
Birth: 1947 Bloom: 1955
Characteristic features of this genre include steady rhythm and danceable tempo. Traditional set of instruments consists of electro guitar, contrabass, drums, piano, and saxophone. Rockabilly bands usually include 3 members (guitarists, contrabassist, rhythm guitar or drums). Rock`n`roll is typified by 4/4 signature. In the early 1960s rock and roll developed into the more encompassing international style known as «rock music».
Rock and roll is the result of a combination of different styles of music. In the 1950s musicians from American West began to mix rhythm-and-blues, boogie-woogie, country, and gospel, trying to reach a new sound. Bill Haley used Afro American slang and boogie-woogie rhythms in his songs based on country with a mixture of jazz and boogie-woogie.
Mostly rock and roll was represented by American teenagers who began their career in the mid-50s and recorded albums on small or big labels, their style began to be called rockabilly: Johnny Burnette, Sanny Burgess, Charlie Faethers. The classic rock`n`roll sound was formed by Bill Haley`s band in the early 50s, rockabilly sound was defined by first records of Elvis Presley`s trio.
Among famous African American rock and roll artists attention should be paid to Louis Jordan who recorded his album «Rock`n`Roll» in 1956, and to Big Joe Turner. Youngest African American artists became popular with American youth in the 1950s: Little Richard, Fats Domino, Chuck Berry, vocal ensembles like The Platters, Deep River Boys, The Treniers.
The most notable artist of this style is Elvis Presley; he is often referred to as «the King of Rock and Roll». Also he had a great music and stylistic influence on youth all around the world.
Also read: Blues, Rockabilly
Umbrellate style: Rock
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