Rock & Roll is a type of music that "shook things up" in the 1950s and 1960s. Many
musical styles from around the world contributed to this new sound. Along with the African
American influence, rock 'n roll also drew on the lyrical melodies of recent European immigrants
and the country and western music of Texans.
First, the music became popular in small clubs and on the radio. Later, with the introduction of
programs such as American Bandstand, teenagers could watch their favorite bands on television.
Not everyone was excited about this music. Many parents didn't like the suggestive dancing,
naughty lyrics, and loud, fast beat.
It is a musical genre whose 'golden age' is usually recognized as the
decades of the 1950's and 1960's. This musical form had its beginnings in the blues tunes, gospel
music, and jazz-influenced vocal music that became popular among African-American audiences
after World War II. A new kind of blues, it featured electrically amplified guitars, harmonicas,
and drummers that emphasized afterbeats. At the same time, black gospel music grew in
popularity. These forms of black popular music were given the label rhythm and blues (R and B)
and were played on big-city radio stations. Radio spread this music's appeal from black
communities to towns throughout all of the United States. By the mid-1950's such performers as
Little Richard, Joe Turner, and Chuck Berry were becoming popular with white audiences. Radio
disc jockeys began calling their music rock 'n roll.
