How did rock and roll evolve through the 1950's, 60's, and 70's?
...nd Roll) But none of that mattered to Elvis. He always went about his business as a musician and even a movie star. As critics (and parents) hated Elvis and his gyrating hips, he signaled to mainstream culture that it was time to let go. Chuck Berry (1950’s) Chuck Berry was the classic rock and roller. He put together blues, country, and a clever teen outlook into his songs that have influenced almost every rock musician in his era. Starting with country and R&B, Berry’s songs told of teenage obsession and the generation gap. These songs and lyrics is what gave Chuck Berry the nickname, “Mr.Rock and Roll”. Berry matched some of the most vibrant and bright lyrics in pop to music with a blues bottom and a country tap. This also invited the respect and love from many other musicians. John Lennon of the Beatles once said, “ If you tried to give rock and roll a new name, you might call it, “Chuck Berry”.”(http://www.chuckberry.de) Chuck Berry clearly had a big influence on many of the worlds most famous,loved and cared for bands. The Beatles (1960’s) The Beatles were a band that drove a generation. The impact the Bealtes had, not only on rock and roll, but on all of western culture is simply amazing. They inspired their beliefs, and proved that rock and roll could embrace a timeless variety of harmonies, structures and sounds. Almost every rock experiment was inspired by the Beatles. Combined with Paul McCartney’s Bass lines, Ringo Starrs slaphappy,no-rolls drumming, George Harrisons rock and rolled style guitar leads, John Lennons confident rhythm guitar and all four of their passionate voices, made them perhaps. the greatest rock and roll band in history. Jimi Hendrix (1960’s) The beginning of Jimi Hendrixs’ life automatically tells how great of a musician he was. His first guitar was a Fender Stratocaster, made for someone who was right handed, the problem was that Jimi was left handed, so he played it upside down.(Evans,Paul, et al. The New Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock and Roll) Jimi Hendrix pioneered the instrument as an electronic sound source, making way for several generations of experimental rock guitarists. Rock musicians before Hendrixs’ time experimented with distortion and feedback, but he took those effects and made them into a controlled, fluid sounds every bit as personal and the blues he began with. Jimi wrote many different types of songs and music. Some were hard rock riffs such as, “Purple Haze”, “Crosstown Traffic”, and “Foxy Lady”. Some others were a lighter, softer sound. Songs like, “Angel”, “The Wind Cries Mary”, and “Little Wing”. He also wrote songs that took him back to his days of blues, songs such as, “Red House” and “Voodoo Chile”. Jimi Hendrixs’ style brought a totally new approach to rock and roll. He defined his generation and continues to inspire each new artist that comes along. The Who (1970’s) Pete Townshend’s alternately raging or majestic guitar playing, Keith Moons thunderous drumming, John Entwistles’s agile, thundering bass lines, and Roger Daltrey’s impassioned vocals. This describes the Who’s distinctive sound. When the Who started out they self proclaimed themselves as, “Maximum R&B”. Their ringing power chords and explosive beat made them one of the most influential bands in rock history. They were sometimes considered the Godfathers of Punk and pioneers of rock Opera. They were among the first groups to integrate synthesizers. Ever since guitarist and main song writer Pete Townshend declared in the song, “My Generation”, “ Hope I die before I get old”, he has been embraced as a spokesman, a role he assumed reluctantly. For the rest of his career with the Who, Townshend explored rock’s philosophical topography from the new rebelliousness of, “My Generation”, and adolescent anguish of, “I can’t Explain”, to such ambitious, emotionally rich songs as, “Love Reign O’er Me”..(Evans,Paul, et al. The New Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock and Roll) Led Zeppelin (1970’s) Robert Plant’s astonishing voice, John Bonhams thunderous drums and never ending ringing cymbals, Jimmy Page’s unmatched guitar ability, and the many talents of John Paul Jones which included mainly the Bass guitar, and keyboard instruments. This combined to make perhaps the greatest rock and roll band ever. If second to anyone, the Beatles. Led Zeppelin put together the sounds of blues,country,folk,Celtic,Arabic and many other types of music to be known around the world. Led Zeppelin would be a huge influence on rock and roll....