Rock N Roll

The 50’s was when rock and roll was really discovered by the masses. Rock and roll in the 50’s is usually divided into two camps – Primal, party music (Big Joe Turner, Wynonie Harris) and Rockabilly music (Elvis Presley).

Rockabilly combined the sounds of blues music found in the south and country music. Elvis Presley made rockabilly popular with his good looks, swaggering style and guitar riffs combined with a lush voice. Rockabilly songs focused on fats cars, gorgeous girls, and love found and lost again.

Rockabilly seemed to wane towards the end of the 1950’s as new music emerged in the 60’s. Rock changed forever in the 60’s with the British invasion of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Artists new they had to evolve the sound of rockabilly music to keep the kids and the adults entertained.

Rockabilly did enjoy a comeback in style during the 70’s and the 80’s. Many artists use rockabilly music as the basis of their sound and adapt it to the age they are in. Rockabilly was the rock and roll music that changed a generation – kids love it and parents couldn’t stand it. Rockabilly gave kids a sense of freedom, rebellion and a new found wave of sexuality.

Rockabilly is the foundation of the rock and roll music we love today, and is also the backbone of everything you hear in the charts now.

The Rolling Stones began their journey in 1962 and are still going strong today. Keith Richards and Mick Jagger became childhood friends and shared a mutual interest in music and all things rock and roll.

They formed a band called Blues Inc with Brian Jones and Tony Chapman had their first ever recorded hit was actually rejected by the record label EMI. They changed their name to The Rolling Stones and played their first ever gig at the Marquee in 1962. Some changes were made and Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts gave a new look and feel to the group.

The Rolling stones were released to the public when a manager called Andrew Loog Oldham decided to market them as the ‘wicked’ opposite to the very wholesome and clean Beatles.

The marketing worked and they soon became huge thanks to their hit songs, unique style and charisma. They have had a few stumbling blocks and tragedies throughout their time: Brian Jones left the band after not seeing eye to eye with other band members. He wanted to create a band of his own, but this plan was cut tragically short when he was found dead at his home in his swimming pool.

Another tragedy struck during the Thank You America concert when the Stones hired the hells angels as security. They murdered a young, black fan called Meridith hunter while the Stones sang Under My Thumb.

Many changes have befallen the Stones, but the main members of the group still rock the world today.