Revolution of music in the 1960s Essay

Rock and Roll was the start of a new revolution in America. It introduced the world to many of the famous artists that continue to be a part of our lives today. "Artists who became popular in the 1950s such as Elvis, began to pave the way for others such as Jerry Lee Lewis and Buddy Holly" (The History of Rock 'n' Roll until 1960). With the introduction of rock 'n' roll, there came many new changes to the lives of many Americans. Rock and Roll was a major contributor for the change in teens' behavior in the 1950s because it encouraged new freedoms for teenagers, encouraged new fads among teenagers, and caused a generation gap.

Rock ‘n’ roll has played a major role in some known historical developments post World War 2. Music plays a significant part in America 's Cold War culture. Music gave us a sense of new technologies and helped the world to prosper. It also is linked with African Americans living in the South. Music was known for shaping the lives of the people during the 1950s and 1960s. Music was geared towards the youth, race, ethnicity, gender and class. “All Shook Up: How Rock ‘n’ Roll Changed America” by Altschuler, Glenn C, tells us the story of the birth of rock and roll during the concrete years of 1955 to 1965. Altschuler gives us a overview of how rock ‘n’ roll has an historical context. “ For two years the Times printed dozens of

In the 1960's, America was ready for a change. Black rhythm and blues known as Motown became popular. Bob

How Culture in the 1960s Affected Music: The 1960s was a time of suffering and anger for people in America. Although this was a rough time for people there was a revival in folk/rock music. Americans dealt with the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement. Lots of people suffered a great deal during this decade, but how did they get through this rough time?

Protest Music of the 1960’s. The 1960’s was an influential moment in America’s history where protests were prevalent particularly towards the Vietnam war. “Music” a simple word heard around the world in 1960 filled thousands of homes and many streets occurring as a main topic of discussion, and still operates as one of the main foundations of a conversation that obscures Americans views on past historical events. Every beat of music becomes deeper with meaning parceled out by the artist.

There was music for just about every one from the, “…teenybopper love songs of the teen idols to the more worldly traditionalism and social consciousness of the fold revival” (Covach & Flory 159). Songs were constantly being written to please many audiences of different generations. During the 1960s there were many different genres that came around and it all started with The Beatles, “…British music strongly affected American pop after the arrival of the Beatles” (Covach & Flory 159). When the Beatles first started becoming popular in the United States, it started a craze called the “British Invasion.” The Beatles came in to the United States and took over the music industry topping the charts with their singles.

American scene was bubbling with different forms of music in the 1950s. The nation was blanketed by Romantic ballads of vocalists like Perry Como, Eddie Fisher, Harry Belafonte, Nat King Cole, Patti Page, Kay Starr, Teresa Brewer, Rosemary Clooney and the Andrews Sisters. Rhythm and blues music started early in the 1900s and gained popularity with variety of musicians and a record label called Motown, one of the best known labels in music history. Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, John Lee Hooker, Howlin’ Wolf and Elmore James played Mississippi Delta blues. In the south T-Bone Walker and B.B King were pioneers in the style of guitar music that combined jazz and blues. African American song writer Berry Gordy became a record producer in the

Our society was forever changed by the types of music displayed from the late 1950s to the 1970s. Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, and

Rock music evolved in the 1950s and the early 1960s. At that time that Beatles

Bono of U2 called rock n roll at the appearance of Elvis a, "clashing of cultures," a hybrid of different energies, emotions, and styles. Like America itself, a collaboration of ideas subjected to individual talents, shared commonalities, and in the worst cases our humanistic atrocities in the treatment of each other. Somehow it was all of these elements in combination and at the opportune that created not just a new genre of music but a historical backdrop for both political and social change in America and the world. A removal of any one element from rock n roll 's historical past whether its diversity, economic, or civil structures could call into question its existence or the magnitude of its phenomenal global effects. However, there can be no denying the contributions that African Americans have made to rock n roll 's invention. Whether it is in the variety of genres in rock 's origins, its present at inception contributors of the early 1950s, or with its influences on rock 's British Invasion of the 1960s; rock n roll can most certainly be beholden to African American culture.

To whom is it important? Everyone because it shaped our society and the music we listen to

What the music of the late 1960s and early 1970 are attempting to achieve is a protest to the U.S. government. From the lyrics of Neil Young's Ohio performed by Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, the vocalists are memorializing the incident that occurred during a protest about U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War in Kent State University where nine students were injured and four students were killed by the Ohio National Guardsmen who opened fire on unarmed students:

The music and culture from late 1940’s through 1950’s begin the influence of rock music before it was even called rock and roll. During WW II a quarter of the American population was more mobile that it had been historically. This movement brought southern, rural, sacred, and secular traditions into new contact with urban based music and audiences (America 's Music). The upbeat Chicago style blues of music began to fuse with African-American R&B rhythms. This began creating something totally new and provocative in music(The history of Rock n’ Roll Origin). Some of the earliest rock artists didn’t write their own songs at first, they covered old blues songs and added their own special rock touches to them (The history of Rock n’ Roll Origin). At first, much of the African-American music that attracted listeners was basically “underground” and “fairly exclusive to African Americans” (The history of Rock n’ Roll Origin). Rock n roll emerged in

Music has been around for ages, and has seen many different faces and many different styles. In today’s age, people don’t really listen to music or remember music that happened before the 1960s. In this time period, the emergent style of music was called rock and roll, thins music was new and inventive, and something no one had really seen before. It featured electric guitars, loud songs, and a whole new era of talented and innovative musicians. Some would argue that the 1960s and 70s were the best years our world has seen musically.

1964 –the period of rapid change within the charts. It was marked by the introduction of a new rocky sound and soul as a reaction of the invasion of British bands such as from the Beatles (who influenced many generations of singers) to the Rolling Stones.