© Michael J. Kramer

Warning: These slides are intended for student reference only. Distributing these slides to others, whether on campus or off, is a violation of Northwestern University’s Academic Integrity Policy.

Subject to removal if lecture attendance declines. Roll Over Beethoven: The Rise of Rock ‘n’ Roll Postwar reconfigurations: perhaps a new imagining of collective America developing? Chaos and control unity and diversity conformity and rebellion new integrations, new tensions

Louis Jordan b. 1908 d. 1975 - Jump Blues “Beans and Cornbread” (1949) “Youth” The “baby boom” Demographic reality

but also… “Youth” Construction of age-based identity: 1. political: postwar “investment” in young people free from fascism - what is freedom realized? individualism safe from nuclear holocaust - conformity and collectivity realizing the parental sacrifices of Depression and WWII

2. economic: a new niche market a “market that’s getting increasing attention from merchants & advertisers.” 16 million teenagers spending b/t $7-9 billion annually - Wall Street Journal, 1956 how to stylize difference? dynamic of conformity and transgression There’s something “queer” here…

Youth market is about establishing boundaries around the troubling of boundaries

Rock n Roll

But what about the “political” energies of this kind of transgression? race, gender, class, region through the prism of age Pop music abhors a vacuum

Radio in the age of TV - the DJ as crucial figure

Mainstream and “Indie” Labels

Decca Atlantic Columbia Chess RCA Victor Specialty King etc.

R&B, C&W reconfigured into “youth” pop = rock ’n’ roll “Shake, Rattle, and Roll”

“Big” Joe Turner b. 1911 d. 1985 “SilverBill Haley Yodeling” (b. 1925 Bill d.Haley 1981) and and His the Saddlemen Comets

“Shake, Rattle, and Roll” (1954) Chuck Berry (b. 1926) Little Richard (Penniman, b. 1932)

vs. Pat Boone (b. 1934) Little Richard, Chuck Berry…remind us: ! Rock ’n’ roll was about

Genre-bending

Gender-bending

Class-bending

Region-bending

Race-bending Sun Records, Memphis, TN: “Transracial Fusion” Elvis Presley b. 1935 d. 1977

Remember this song: “Hound Dog” (1956) Jerry Lee Lewis b. 1935

“Whole Lotta Shakin’” (1957) Bo Diddley (Elias Otha Bates) b. 1928 d. 2008 Fats Domino

Ritchie Valens Eddie Cochran

Gene Vincent

Buddy Holly

Wanda Jackson Carl Perkins

Frankie Lyman & the Teenagers There’s something “queer” here…

Youth market is about establishing boundaries around the troubling of boundaries

Rock n Roll

But what about the “political” energies of this kind of transgression? race, gender, class, region through the prism of age

A “Youthquake”

Chuck Berry, “Roll Over Beethoven” (1956) © Michael J. Kramer

Warning: These slides are intended for student reference only. Distributing these slides to others, whether on campus or off, is a violation of Northwestern University’s Academic Integrity Policy.

Subject to removal if lecture attendance declines.