How Rock 'N' Roll Changed America Essay

The 1960’s were arguably the most influential years in American music’s history. The music helped connect people of all races, whom enjoyed visiting jazz-clubs in the early to mid-60s, to listen to the music and poetry performed by African-Americans. Much of the music from the 1960s also led to the creation and popularization of new genres and subgenres, such as rock-and-roll. These new music styles influenced the lifestyles of a large majority of Americans, particularly teenagers and young-adults, who mimicked the lifestyles of many stars of the time.

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 and roll music emerged as a part of American teen culture during the notably conservative time period in the country’s history which shortly followed the traumatic events of World War II. Being that the genre’s target audience was white teenagers, many Americans- already overwhelmed and on-edge due to the anti-communist movement inspired by the Cold War- were apprehensive about the influence that this up-and-coming style of music might have on their country’s future. America’s youth openly accepted rock and roll’s racially integrated culture of performers and embraced the relatively lewd nature of many songs and performances associated with the genre, much to the dismay of their elders.

Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll or rock 'n ' roll) is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States. The music we know as rock and roll emerged as a defined musical style in the mid 1950s, even though a form of it had been on the horizon for at least a decade or so. A quarter of the American population moved during World War II, and that is what brought southern, rural, sacred and secular traditions into contact with urban-based music and its audiences. Rock and roll drew on many different styles. It derived most directly from the rhythm and blues music of the 1940s, which it developed from earlier blues, boogie-woogie, jazz and swing music. It was also influenced by gospel, country, western, and traditional folk music. With the combinations of all of these genres of music, that help to create this new style of music excited a worldwide generation of young listeners. Even though it had the attention of young listeners it started to upset the already established social, cultural and musical authorities. With this new music style coming into full affect along with new dances and people having voicing out their own opinion caused a lot of turmoil. Many people began to question this new genre of music and labeled it as the devil music while other loved it and couldn’t help but dance

It is well known that racism was very present in the early days of Rock n Roll, but its direct long-term effect on music is significant. The attitude surrounding black music as an industry would change after slavery in segregated America. The very sounds being produced were heavily influenced by slave life. Along with this, music gained a new level of personal emotion due to the catharsis of the oppressed. Due to slavery, segregation, and racism in America during the early years of Rock n Roll, a large shift in the culture of the music industry, musical structure, and content occured.

Throughout the millennium, music has touched the lives of many people around the world. Music is the one force of nature that can touch one’s heart with the perfect rhythm. With its many genres, people can enjoy each genre of music given the time and place in specific ways. Rock ‘n’ roll, for example, has influenced many Americans from the mid-1950’s and became inspirational today. While listening to rock ‘n’ roll music, everyone can’t help but name one key musician, and his name is Elvis Presley. Because of the way Elvis took the stage with his flashy hair, he later took the title as ‘The King of rock ‘n’ roll’. But was that really the case for African Americans? One must wonder, was rock ‘n’ roll specifically for White Americans? Why many

“Rock n Roll was everything the suburban 1950’s were not. While parents of the decade were listening to Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, and the Big Bands. Their children were moving on to a new beat.” (U.S. History) Teenagers started to like this new type of music called rock and roll. It became very popular and artists started to experiment with it which influenced the development of rock n roll throughout the 50’s and 60’s. The experimentation with rock n roll changed music forever and greatly influenced our music today. Rock n roll was mixed with country, rhythm, and blues when this combination happened rock n roll kept developing through the fifties and sixties.

Music has always been an outlet for creative expression and social commentary. Twentieth century music, just like music from all other time periods, reflects the changing social atmosphere of the era. During this time period, musicians began experimenting with different kinds of music to create completely new sounds. This led to the beginning of rock and roll, which quickly became a cultural phenomenon that brought different groups of people together. Overall, rock and roll, and the cultural movement behind it, led to changing mindsets about race and civil rights, because it integrated different styles of music.

The question this paper seeks to answer- Or rather – the topic this paper will attempt to flesh out is how “Rock and Roll Music” has affected, or been affected (by) Social Change or Social Movements. Perhaps the most notable examples of how music has been inextricably linked to the social-political climate of this country, would be The Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War.

The beginning of the genre of Rock and Roll – it is not what is, in today’s culture. The start of this new and different phenomenon was in the mid-1950s (Willoughby 123). The music of Rock and Roll was meant for people who wanted their voices to be heard and who wanted to stand up for what they believed in – who thought was right and what was wrong. Rock and Roll was all about the attitude that someone had. The attitude that the Beatles had, was the attitude that people wanted to have. Also, this type of music was meant for protests to anything; in any way, also, it was a type of anarchy. Many people thought that this genre was meant for “bad” people. In reality, Rock and Roll was there for many people. It was there when they did not have a friend which, also was an escape from the world. Rock and Roll was meant for fun and to have people feel different emotions

Music is often considered “the universal language.” Throughout history, it has symbolized love, brought people together, and mobilized millions. In the 1950s, a new form of music entered the American music industry that drastically changed the culture of the United States (U.S.): rock music. In the U.S., it began as rock ‘n’ roll, an originally “black” music genre that was then taken and promulgated by white Americans. After World War II (WWII), many Americans—especially teenagers—struggled with the newfound societal conformity and normalcy, and rock provided them with a form of rebellion.

Rock ‘n’ roll has made an extreme impact on the American culture for individuals and their growth in society. Plato, a famous philosopher, says, “Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything” (“A Quote”). Rock 'n' roll is a form of music that has made many opportunities possible for the American people. This category of music has also opened doors for future generations and America's evolution. Rock ‘n’ roll in American culture has been beneficial in the progression of life styles because it has advanced the relationship between music and technology, created distinct social changes in cultures and adolescents, and formed new inspirational music genres.

The 1960’s remains one of the most controversial decades of the 20th century and is a time of change that shaped the United States into what it is today. During this era, America was facing many issues including, Civil Rights, the Vietnam War, Nuclear Arms, and Non-Conformity. Unhappy with current political and social standards, young Americans began to question the beliefs held by their parents and felt that traditional values were not sufficient during this difficult time. One of the strongest expressions of their dissatisfaction was music. Rock and roll became very popular in the US and was used by many people to voice their protests. These bands also helped encourage racial equality because their members were evaluated based on talent, not skin color. In 1965 musician Stephan Conn stated “Our bands were nearly always integrated, since selection of the best sax man, guitarist or vocalist and not color always governed our choices” (Fonor, 1155). This made equality in society seem attainable, which is why many groups became more vocal in their demands for a more equal and diverse American society.

The explosion of Rock n’ Roll in the mid-1950’s helped bring to the forefront of American society the idea that social, cultural, and musical change was deeply needed. By 1959, the initial success and jolt of the Rock n’ Roll era, that took the American youth by storm three years earlier, had officially fallen apart at the seams. The late 1950’s and early 1960’s marked a period of decline for the Rock and Roll genre. The parting of Elvis Presley for the military in 1958, the death of Buddy Holly and two other members of The Crickets in 1959, and the departure of the other members of Rock and Roll’s “Big Five” throughout much of the late 1950’s had devastated America’s hope for social and musical change (Ashton Lecture). With this breakdown of Rock n’ Roll, came an era that was once again dominated and mesmerized by the Jazz, Pop and Country Western genres. The Rock and Roll flame that captivated so many American citizens throughout much of the 1950’s was slowly beginning to dwindle back into the darkness. As all hope seemed to be lost, a new dawn for Rock and Roll was gradually appearing. In 1963-1964 with the introduction of a small British band from Liverpool, England, the dawn that everyone was waiting for had finally arrived and with it would change Rock n’ Roll history forever.

Each year, new books declare rock and roll to be an active force in the moral collapse of American culture. To many, rock and roll has come to be seen as a social menace (Pattison 175-77).