Rock+N'+Roll

= The roots of Rock ‘N’ Roll = Rock 'n' roll and rock music emerged in the 50s and 60s from roots in African-American musical styles (such as jump blues, Rhythm and Blues, and electric blues), and from “white styles” (such as swing, western swing, and country music). In the early 1950s, white US disc jockey Alan Freed (1922-65) began to apply the term Rock ‘N’ Roll to music for the newly established "teenager." The best-known rock 'n' roll stars of 1955-9 included African-Americans (Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Fats Domino, and Little Richard), and white Americans (Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Elvis Presley). Rock 'n' roll became an international phenomenon, gaining a substantial following in Canada, but until the 1960s (and the development of “rock” music); nearly all of its stars were from the US. == Rock and it’s Influences == The renewal of rock ‘n' roll came from England. There, the Beatles made their start in 1960. At first they imitated American styles; then they broke from the American path and created an individual style —in both music and lyrics—by a sense of fun. Their successes came quickly during 1963–64. Rather than repeat the formulas of their first triumphs, they chose to experiment and grow. From 1965 to 1969 they introduced new rhythms and lyric conceptions and were a revolution in popular music. Other English groups also came in the 60s in what came to be known as the “British Invasion”. The Rolling Stones were the most durable of these groups. They presented another image of rock—one of anger. Other trends in the early 1960s included the harder sound of soul music. More forms also began to emerge, such as jazz-rock (Blood, Sweat, and Tears), and California "surfing music" (popularized by the Beach Boys). But over the course of the decade, the music had changed to fit with the trends of hippies, student protest, and a growing popularity of drugs. The growing popularity of drugs (particularly LSD, or "acid") produced “psychedelic acid rock”; its artists included Led Zeppelin, the Grateful Dead, and guitarist Jimi Hendrix. Velvet Underground performed stories of drug addiction and prostitution to lay the groundwork for punk, and alternative bands. Sly and the Family Stone combined soul to lay the groundwork for “funk” of the 1970s.As demonstrated by the Woodstock Festival in August 1969, rock music was an integral part of the lives in American youth and a powerful persuasion of their moods, hopes, and fears.

Features of Rock 'n' Roll : Lyrically, rock 'n' roll often includes songs about youthful topics such as dating, cars, and school. It often features a 4/4-time, and a style centred on electric guitars, electric bass, and drums. Some performers also used the piano and/or saxophones and similar instruments from earlier forms of rock. Many rock 'n' roll songs follow the same form as the three-chord 12-bar blues, or sometimes, alternate that form with a different chorus or verse section. Unlike pop music, rock 'n' roll musicians often wrote their own songs (Presley was an exception).
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Canadian Rock While Canada may not have had as many influential and popular rock ‘n’ roll artists as the states or Britain, they played a very important part in the creation of metal/progressive rock music with one of the most popular Canadian bands “Rush”. While Canada may not have had tremendous success in the past, they are showing some improvement in the music business. There are many Famous Canadian bands and artists nowadays (such as Hedley, Faber Drive, Simple Plan, Avril Lavigne, Nickelback…) that show lots of promise for Canada to rise as top tier in the music business in the future.

  