Rock and roll facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rock and roll |
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Bill Haley and his Comets performing in the 1954 Universal International film Round Up of Rhythm
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| Stylistic origins | Gospel • Folk music • Country music • Jump blues • Chicago blues • Swing music • Boogie-woogie • R&B |
| Cultural origins | 1940s, United States |
| Typical instruments | Electric guitar, string bass or later bass guitar, drums, piano, saxophone (occasionally) |
| Derivative forms | Rock • Rockabilly • Soft rock • Pop |
Rock and roll is a lively type of rock music. It became popular in the 1950s and 1960s. This music mixes many styles from the United States. These include country music, folk music, gospel music, blues, and jazz.
Rock and roll grew from a style called rhythm and blues. Black singers and musicians first played this music. At first, it was mostly popular with African-Americans. Later in the 1950s and 1960s, rock and roll became very popular. It spread across the United States and into Europe.
History of Rock and Roll
The 1950s: The Birth of Rock and Roll
In the early 1950s, rhythm and blues music became very popular. Many young white people started to love it. They would listen to it on late-night radio shows. Some teenagers even bought rhythm and blues records. This was sometimes seen as a way to show independence.
A radio DJ named Alan Freed helped make this music famous. He worked in Cleveland, Ohio in the early 1950s. He is often said to be the first to call this new sound "rock and roll." Alan Freed played rock and roll on his radio show. He also put on the first rock and roll concert in Cleveland in 1952.
Songs by black artists like Fats Domino and Little Richard quickly became hits. Teenagers loved their music. These singers often recorded their songs in New Orleans.
Some early rock and roll also came from Memphis, Tennessee. A record producer named Sam Phillips worked there. He recorded local black musicians. One day, a young truck driver came to his studio. He wanted to record a song for his mother. This young man was Elvis Presley. Phillips helped Presley record his first big song, "That's All Right," in 1954.
Bill Haley and his Comets recorded "Rock Around the Clock" in 1954. It wasn't popular at first. But then it was used in a movie called "The Blackboard Jungle." This movie was about rebellious teenagers. The song became a huge hit because of the movie. "Rock Around the Clock" became a symbol of teenage freedom.
Many other rock and roll singers became famous in the 1950s. These included Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, and Bo Diddley. Each artist had their own special rock and roll style. Chuck Berry's music mixed country and rhythm and blues. His song "Maybellene" was a top hit in 1955.
The 1960s: New Sounds and Styles
Motown: African-American Pop Music
In the 1960s, black music and musicians gained more recognition. A record company in Detroit became very important. This company was Motown Records, started by Berry Gordy. Motown made popular songs that both black and white people enjoyed. One of Motown's most successful groups was The Supremes. They were led by Diana Ross. Their hit songs included "Come See About Me."
Surf Music
A different kind of rock and roll grew in Southern California. It was called surf music. Five young men from Los Angeles formed a group called The Beach Boys. Brian Wilson wrote, performed, and produced their records. The Beach Boys' songs had complex music. Their lyrics were simple and about teenage life. They sang about surfing on ocean waves. "Surfin' USA" was one of their most popular songs.
Folk Rock
Rock and roll music began to change in the 1960s. The song lyrics became as important as the music itself. Bob Dylan started writing folk rock songs. Many young people thought his lyrics were like poetry. Dylan was inspired by folk singers like Woody Guthrie. His early songs were about serious social issues. He wrote about war and unfair treatment. Some of his songs became anthems for peace and civil rights movements. Later, Dylan wrote more personal songs. "Mister Tambourine Man" is one of his famous songs.
In 1964, a new rock and roll group from England arrived in the United States. They were called The Beatles. The Beatles became incredibly popular. They, along with The Rolling Stones, greatly influenced the 1960s pop music scene. They became icons, and are still seen as icons today.
The 1970s: Rock Evolves
Hard Rock and Progressive Rock
By the 1970s, "rock and roll" was often just called "rock." Rock music bands like Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, and The Rolling Stones played huge, loud concerts. These were often held in outdoor stadiums. Rock music in the 1970s was usually louder and heavier than 1950s rock and roll.
Another type of rock music from the 1970s was progressive rock. Bands like Pink Floyd and The Moody Blues played more complex music. Some progressive rock bands used unusual instruments. They sometimes created music that sounded unique or strange. Other progressive rock bands included Yes and Rush.
Heavy Metal
In the 1970s, an even harder form of rock music appeared. It was called "Heavy metal." Bands like Cream and Led Zeppelin played loud rock music based on blues music. Other bands such as Deep Purple and Black Sabbath played even louder and heavier metal music.
Disco
In the late 1970s, a new pop music style became popular. It was called disco. Artists like Donna Summer and Gloria Gaynor were famous disco singers. Disco was dance music with a strong, catchy beat. The Bee Gees were a popular disco band. They wrote music for the movie Saturday Night Fever.
Punk Rock
Another rock music style from the 1970s was punk rock. Punk rock was raw, loud, and simple music. Many punk rock songs were rebellious. Punk rock musicians often wore ripped clothes, leather jackets, and black boots. They sometimes had unusual hairstyles, like spiked or shaved hair. Famous punk musicians included The Clash, Ramones, and Blondie.
New Wave
In the late 1970s, a different kind of rock called New wave music became popular. Bands like INXS from Australia gained fame. In the United States, New Wave bands included Talking Heads and Devo. In the 1980s, New Wave bands like Duran Duran and Eurythmics were popular. These bands often used the synthesizer keyboard a lot in their songs.
The 1980s: Glam and Alternative
Glam Metal
In the 1980s, a new type of rock and roll was created. It was called glam metal. Glam metal bands mixed pop music with heavy metal music. Bands like Mötley Crüe and Ratt became popular. Glam metal bands often had long hair. The men wore makeup, leather pants, and boots. Later in the 1980s, groups like Guns N' Roses became very successful.
Alternative Music
Another rock music trend from the 1980s was alternative music. Bands like R.E.M., Sonic Youth, and The Cure were popular. They were liked by teens and young adults. A type of alternative music called "grunge" became big. Grunge mixed punk, rock, and metal. Bands like Nirvana, Alice in Chains, and Pearl Jam played grunge. Their songs often explored themes of sadness and loneliness.
Related Pages
- Rockabilly, an early form of Rock and Roll from the 1950s.
- New wave, a form of pop music from the late 1970s.
- Disco, a popular dance music style from the 1970s.
- Heavy metal music, a loud, aggressive form of rock from the 1970s and 1980s.
- Hardcore punk, a louder, more aggressive form of punk rock, from the 1980s.
- Pop-punk, a popular music from the 1990s which blends pop music with punk rock.
- Hip-hop, a popular music from the 1990s and 2000s.
Images for kids
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Sign commemorating the role of Alan Freed and Cleveland, Ohio, in the origins of rock and roll
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Bill Haley and his Comets performing in the 1954 Universal International film Round Up of Rhythm
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Little Richard in 1957
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Tommy Steele, one of the first British rock and rollers, performing in Stockholm in 1957
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"There's No Romance in Rock and Roll" made the cover of True Life Romance in 1956
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See also
In Spanish: Rock and roll para niños
