History of Rock and Roll

Brief History of Rock and Roll• During the 1920s and 1930s, many

white Americans enjoyed seeing and listening to African-American jazz and blues performed by white musicians.

• They often objected to experiencing the music as performed by the original black artists, but found it acceptable when the music was performed by whites.

• A few black rhythm and blues musicians achieved crossover success with whites and blacks, but most were rewarded with poverty and eventual obscurity.

• In 1951, Alan Freed (Cleveland, Ohio) began playing this type of music for a multi-racial audience.

• Freed is credited with coining the phrase "rock and roll" to describe the rollicking R&B music tradition.

Alan Freed

Inducted 1986

“Midnight Special”"Midnight Special" is an old folk song originally popularized by Leadbelly. Johnny Rivers and Creedence Clearwater Revival are well-known for their versions. Also big artists such as ABBA, Van Morrison & Paul McCartney have covered the song.

Lead Belly(1885?-1949)

“Midnight Special” is historically performed in the country-blues style. “Midnight Special” is performed in first person and is a tale of how the songwriter is imprisoned. Inducted 1988

Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR)

Inducted 1993

Elvis

Inducted 1986

• Elvis Presley many adults believed that rock and roll and Presley was immoral and would be destructive to the youth of America.

Ed Sullivan– Elvis Debut