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Time span of Rock and Roll's beginnings
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Muddy Waters and his Electric Guitar
When Waters first purchased an electric guitar in 1944 he began to revolutionize Blues music. When he started recording with the guitar in 1948 he brought new attitude to music. -
World War II and Skiffle Music
Back in World War II, there was nothing to do because a lot of things went out of business, or were gone. Teenagers would turn to music for entertainment. Because records and instruments were very expensive, the teens would scrape up anything that could be an instrument from around the house. Wash boards for drums, harmonicas, wash basins; they made their own music. This type of music became known as the genre Skiffle. -
Elvis's Debut
Elvis was signed to Sun Records in 1953. When he was discovered for his singing talents it was during a time when "race records" were not allowed to be played on radios. Sam Philips of Sun Records liked Black American music and he tried to make people more accepting of all music. He wanted to find a white man who could grasp the sound and feel of black music and so he found none other than Elvis Presley. Presley was able to sing various types of music at Sun Records. -
Bo Diddley
Bo Didley is considered one of the pioneers of rock music. He created a guitar style that greatly influenced other musicians. Also the use of a guitar became prominent in future performances for other musicians. -
End of segregated schools
In the testimony Brown vs Board of Education, it was decided unanimously that segregated schools were unconstitutional. Black Americans were finally on the verge of being treated as equals, thereby creating a pathway for the music career for blacks. -
That's All Right
Elvis's first big hit was "That's All Right" released in 1954. -
The first true rock song.
Chuck Berry records "Maybellene" which many music historians consider to be the first rock song. -
Johnny B Goode - Chuck Berry
"Johnny B. Goode" was a song released during a time of segregation. It talks about a man who is doing pretty well for himself in life without mentioning the skin tone. This is one of the main ways Berry tried to create a sense of equality. -
Sam Cooke and Gospel Music
Sam Cooke a gospel singer (originally Dale Cooke) began to sing gospel music after breaking away from his previous singing career. As Dale Cooke he released the song "Loveable" in 1956 but in 1959 as Sam Cooke he released "He is Wonderful". Essentially they are the same song but he switched names to avoid criticism. He made a small mark as one of the artists who chose to switch genres in the midst of their career. -
Rolling Stone - Muddy Waters
"Rolling Stone" was one of the first popularized blues songs. It was written by Muddy Waters. Waters' song was especially popular among a group of teenagers who eventually used the songs title as their band name. This song prompted the band "The Rolling Stones".
