Chapter 4 The Birth of Rock

Billboard Magazine

published in the late 1800s
included lists charting the popularity
of music based on radio and record
sales
Billboard Magazine

popular now
called pop
hillbilly now
called country
sepia later
called race now
r&b
Billboard Magazine

Over 550
different
lists are
charted by
Billboard
today
Rock n Roll
Coined by Cleveland DJ and promoter
Alan Freed
Rockabilly
borrowed
concepts from
the blues
(harmony),
r&b (energy)
and honky
tonk (clean
lyrics)
Bill Haley and his Comets
Father of rock n
roll
started as a
country artist
began covering
r&b tunes
Bill Haley and his Comets
Covered Joe
Turners Shake,
Rattle, and Roll
Bill Haley and his Comets
Rock Around the
Clock was used as
the opening music
for the teen
rebellion movie
Blackboard Jungle
soared to #1 for 8
weeks and started
riots in theaters
Sun Records
Record company
responsible for
recording the
pioneers of
rockabilly
Sun Records
Owned by producer Sam Phillips
Elvis Presley
King of Rock n
Roll
Got his start at
Sun Records
Elvis Presley
signed a contract
with RCA Records in
1955 and became a
superstar
Heartbreak Hotel
(#1)
Dont Be Cruel
(#1)
Elvis Presley
became a movie
star in 1956 with
Love Me Tender
Chapter 4 The Birth of Rock

His good looks and
sexual hip thrusts
during
performances on tv
shows gave him a
bad boy image that
teens adored
Hound Dog (#1)


Elvis Presley
drafted into the
military in 1957
remained on the charts with pre-
recorded music
Jailhouse Rock (#1)
All Shook Up (#1)
Elvis Presley
Presley would not tour and used
the movies to promote his music
nearly 30 movies in all
Elvis Presley
became a
recluse and drug
addict in the 60s
and 70s and a
mainstay in
Vegas
Burning Love
(#1)
Elvis Presley
died in 1977 of
congestive heart
failure related to
drug abuse
Elvis Presley
Recorded 17
#1 pop singles
during his
career
Jerry Lee Lewis
famous for his
flamboyant
pounding honky
tonk piano
playing
played on Sun
Records
Jerry
Lee
Lewis
Whole Lotta
Shakin and
Great Balls of
Fire were at
the top of all
three Billboard
Charts at the
same time.
Jerry Lee Lewis
career was
ruined when he
married his 13
year old second
cousin
Jerry Lee Lewis
Has dealt with
several
controversies
throughout his
career now
known as the
Killer
Johnny Cash
nicknamed the
Man in Black
his deep
baritone voice is
his trademark
Johnny Cash
began recording
w/ Sam Phillips
on Sun Records
in 1955
Johnny Cash
Folsom
Prison
Blues

I
Walk
the
Line

Johnny Cash
In 1958, began a
9 year struggle
with alcohol and
drug abuse
Ring of Fire
(#1) written by
future wife June
Carter
Johnny Cash
Married June
Carter and
converted to
Fundamentalist
Christianity in
1968
Johnny Cash
hosted
The
Johnny
Cash
Show, a
variety
show on
ABC for 2
years
Johnny Cash
Had 2 major
successes with
live albums
Johnny Cash At
Folsom Prison &
Johnny Cash at
San Quentin
Johnny Cash
made a huge comeback in the early 90s by
teaming up with several alt rock groups
Hurt
died in 2003
from
complications
with
diabetes, 4
months after
June Carter
Johnny Cash
became the
subject of an
award winning
biopic, Walk the
Line, in 2005

Roy Orbison
also recorded
on Sun Records
used falsetto
upper range of
the male voice
Roy Orbison
famous for his trademark look dark
sunglasses, black jacket and pompadour
Only the Lonely
Oh, Pretty Woman
Roy Orbison
his life
in the
60s was
marred
by
tragedy
Roy Orbison
Made a
comeback
in 1988,
joining the
Traveling
Wilburys
Handle
With Care
Roy Orbison
died of a heart
attack
You Got It

50s Rock Pioneers
Took the
rockabilly sound
and made it less
country
Greater
emphasis on
electric guitar

Buddy Holly
performed
with the
Crickets
wore a suit
and tie and
horn-
rimmed
glasses
wrote all of
his own
music
Buddy Holly
first to use an electric rhythm guitar
famous for his trademark hiccup
sound
Not Fade Away
Peggy
Sue
Oh,
Boy!
Buddy Holly
After two years
of performing,
Holly wanted to
change his style,
so he left the
Crickets, which
started legal
battles
Buddy Holly
While on tour,
he died in a
plane crash with
Richie Valens
and the Big
Bopper on
February 3rd,
1959
February 3
rd
, 1959

Has gone down
in rock music
history as the
day the music
died.
Chuck Berry
a
Chuck Berry
famous
for his
duckwalk,
two string
guitar
solos and
witty
lyrics

Chuck Berry
Influenced by
T-Bone
Walker
Muddy
Waters
introduced
him to
Leonard
Chess in 1955
Chuck Berry
School Days
Maybellene
Chuck Berry
His music is part of
a 90 minute
sample intended
for other
civilizations
hurtling through
space aboard
Voyager I
Johnny B. Goode
Chuck Berry
trouble throughout
his career
Mann Act violation
1959
tax evasion 1979
assault charges
1988
drug possession
and child abuse
1990
Chuck Berry
Made a comeback in the 70s with a
joke record My Ding-A-Ling (#1)

Bo Diddley (Ellas Bates, Ellas
MacDaniel)
nicknamed after
the diddley-bow, a
one-stringed
African instrument
famous for his
percussive guitar
riffs Bo Diddley
Beat
Bo Diddley
recorded Bo
Diddley w/
Chess Records
Was banned
from the Ed
Sullivan Show
Bo Diddley
Who Do You Love
Bo Diddley
You Cant
Judge a Book
By Its Cover
Died in 2008 of
heart failure