THE 1950’S CONTINUEDElvis, Rockabilly and the Changing sound yet again

The Cross-Over Hit Makers

Cross-Over hits were a way to get more music into more markets…it was also the whitening of black music.

One of the the most famous and arguably influential artists that got their start in music was Elvis Presley

The Early Elvis Days

Elvis grew up in Memphis Tennessee since the age of 8.

He was influenced by many types of music such as: country and western, gospel, and the black R&B.

He had a love of music and singing, but couldn’t and didn’t write his own material to start.

He made six appearances on “ The Stage Show” before he made his big splash in the Rock and Roll scene.

The Early days of Elvis Cont. He played such popular hits as:

Tutti Frutti Shake, Rattle and Roll Flip, Flop and Fly

It wasn’t until his third appearance before he performed his own material…and it wasn’t well received at first.

Heartbreak Hotel Blue Sued Shoes- Also sung by Carl Perkins

Elvis Cont.

It wasn’t until month later with another performance of the same songs that the public started to take notes about Elvis.

On June 5, 1956 Elvis made the performance that changed Rock and Roll as we know it.

Hound Dog

This performance caused Elvis’s popularity to sky rocket…even though the song and his stage performance was considered very sexual in nature and inappropriate for a family audience.

Elvis Cont.

In just the span of a few short months Elvis was sky rocketed into stardom…He would go on to record and film his first movie “ Love Me Tender” and make an appearance on the biggest show on TV, The Ed Sullivan Show.

During this appearance he was not able to be shot below the waste to keep the show family rated…it was so loud in the TV studio that Ed Sullivan himself couldn’t hear himself introduce Elvis.

Elvis and the Big Switch

Elvis had originally started recording under a small independent label known as Sun Records.

His first songs recorded and produced at that studio were very different from his more well know songs.

It wouldn’t be the same without you I’ll never stand in your way That’s alright Mama

Due to his fast popularity Elvis started to gain the attention from the big record labels…in particular RCA.

The Big Switch

RCA wanted to buy the rights to Elvis from Sun Studios. At first he didn’t want to switch over…but the might dollar spoke louder.

RCA ended up purchasing the rights to all of Elvis’s materials for an unheard of $35 000, plus an extra $5000 for the artist.

It was after this point that Elvis left his musical roots behind and became a big commercial hit maker.

His success did lead the way for a new form of Rock and Roll…Rockabilly!

The Rise of Rockabilly

Due to the popularity of Elvis on all three music categories other artists wanted to have the same edgy sound but be different at the same time.

Three particular big hitters in this new sound were Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis.

All three of these artists started at the same time as Elvis at Sun Studios, but didn’t gain the same initial fame as Elvis, especially after he left the record label.

Rockabilly

This style of music had a more country and western sound, yet still edgy enough to be considered Rock and Roll.

Carl Perkins had the shortest success story. He started out with two major hits, one of which climbed to the second spot on the rock charts.

Blue Sued Shoes Honey Don’t

His career was suddenly and tragically cut short with a horrific car crash en route to a taping of a national TV show. He would no longer be able to sustain the energy to perform live.

Rockabilly cont.

Jerry Lee Lewis was known for his wild piano playing and high notes when he sings.

His first hit was “ Whole Lotta Shakin Goin On” He would later follow that up with “

Great Balls of Fire” Lewis continued to make several other hits, but

his success was also halted due to a scandal. It was discovered that he married his 13 yr. old cousin. This scandal followed him for the rest of his career, even though this was his one and only marriage that lasted until he passed away.

Rockabilly Cont.

Johnny Cash is probably the most notable and recognizable name out of the first wave of Rockabilly. He blazed the way with hits such as:

Folsom Prison Blues I Walk the Line

Johnny Cash would continue to have many hits throughout the years even after controversy. He did a stint in jail for drugs, and continued to struggle with his addiction for many years. He re-emerges once he starts recording with his future wife June Carter Cash.

Other Notables on Rockabilly Buddy Holly- A young artist that had an eye

for art and music…this was the first band to take a step further away from the country and western roots of Rockabilly and moved it to the more mainstream pop sound.

That’ll be the Day Peggy Sue Maybe Baby

Holly’s career was suddenly cut short after a fatal air plane crash in 1959.

The end of the 1950’s

The 1950’s shook up the music scene on many ways, the main way being during this decade rock and Roll was termed and created.

Sub genre’s were created to suite the needs of many listeners.

Controversy changed the careers of many and the sound of music.

Next week

Intro into the 1960’s and Soul music Quiz

Lesson 1-3 Classical music- structure and sound Early popular music- sheet music, radio hits and

shows The rise of the Youth Culture in the 1950’s and the

sound it produced R&B vs. Pop vs. Country and Western vs. Rockabilly Cross-over hits and artists