Rock & Roll: 1950s Transitioning into the 5 Style Setters of the 1950s

• In addition to , there were five other pivotal figures in 1950s rock: • – Pivotal Figure in Mainstream Rock • – Comparable Figure to Elvis • – 8 Bar into Rock • – Introduced the Guitar to Rock • – Unique style of playing and look The Fragmentation of the Market

• By the early 1960s, much of the power of the first rock & roll shockwave had dissipated.

• Little Richard – Found Religion

• Jerry Lee Lewis – Marital Scandal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_0_nXbmAhM

• Chuck Berry – In Jail (Violation of the Mann Act) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0oP7DZJbxY

• Fats Domino – Went into obscurity

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9M6u7-9yNE • February 3, 1959

• Deaths of Buddy Holly, ,

and Transitional Period

• 1960 to 1963 fails to show to any true dominant new style.

• Pop charts showed examples of the late 1950s but again it was extremely varied between the three trends – mainstream, , Four Trends that appeared during the 1960s

• 1.) Vestiges of the 1950s • 2.) Folk Music

• 3.)

• 4.) Dance Craze Vestiges of the 1950s

• Music of the Previous Era – Rockabilly, Soft Rock. Not very many instances of Mainstream Rock

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQrgeeS_qbo

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9IfHDi-2EA

• Everly Brothers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTYe9eDqxe8 Folk Music Trend

• Not true folk music but 1960s music composed in a Folk Music Style

• The Model was the Appalachian Folk Ballad • -Using Acoustic Guitar and guitar family instruments • -Drew from groups like the Almanac Singers of the • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJGleVt1UeM Musical Characteristics of Folk Music Trend

• Lyrics were important and clearly enunciated

• Vocalists sang perfectly on pitch, with good vocal control, no vibrato or inflection

• Harmonies were simple and diatonic (all notes fell within an established key) – no blues forms, or blues scales, no I- IV-V

• Slower Ballads – rhythm was felt but not emphasized

• Faster tunes – rhythm provided by the strummed guitar External Influences

• We see the first of the external influences that would have an impact on the history of rock and reshape its future • Demographics – Older end of the youth market – 18-24 • Lyrics – serious spoke on major issues of social and political importance • Key Issues – Peace; Racial Equality, and Love

Folk Music Trend Groups

• The Kinston Trio https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZYjc57V55U

• Peter, Paul, and Mary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ld6fAO4idaI

• John Denver https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4hsC0nRvZM Surfing Music

• Completely opposite of the Folk Music Trend • Exploited the electrical advances of the time: echo effects, overdubbing, editing • Lyrics dealt with cars, girls, beach parties, and big waves. • Completely indifferent to the social activism of Folk Music Sub-Culture of Surf Music

• Centered in Southern California • Tans, Bleached Hair, Sandals and Cutoffs

• Rise of the “Sun & Surf ” Movies – “Gidget” The Beach Boys

• Signed with Capitol Records • Logged over 30 Top 40 hits including 8 in the Top 5

• “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=nZBKFoeDKJo

• “Surfin’ USA” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2s4slliAtQU Good Vibrations

• https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=QSLMWasU0rM • A Milestone in the Development of Rock • Musically and Technically more sophisticated than any rock up to that time. • - Riff Changes • - Building Harmonies, Alternation of Voices and Textures • - Use of experimental instruments - Theremin The Dance Craze

• Hold Over From the Big Swing Music of the & 40s

• Usually Described how to Dance

• “Mashed Potato Time” https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=VXFO_GBC77w

• “The Twist” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=im9XuJJXylw