Hank Ballard said, “If you’re looking for youth, you’re looking for longevity, just take a dose of rock ‘n’ roll. It keeps you going. Just like the caffeine in your coffee. Rock ‘n’ roll is good for the soul, for the well being, for the psyche, for your everything”.
Rock ‘N Roll is a musical genre whose ‘golden age’ is usually recognized as the decades of the 1950’s and 1960’s. 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.
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.
These forms of 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, performers, such as Little Richard, Joe Turner, and Chuck Berry were becoming popular with white audiences. Radio disc jockeys began calling their music rock ‘n roll.
Elvis Presley, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan are among the most influential Rock ‘n’ Roll artists.
The best Rock ‘n Roll songs of all times include:
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