The History of Rock Essay -- Music Musical Historical Essays

The History of Rock As one of the most popular music genres, rock music has grown and expanded to incorporate many styles throughout the years. A rock band usually consists of a vocalist, an acoustic drum kit played with a strong beat, usually a back beat, and features electric and acoustic guitars. From its beginnings in the late 1950s and early 1960s until the present day, rock has changed styles seemingly every decade as new bands become popular because of their unique style of music. Throughout the years rock has influenced our culture and helped shape the world we live in today. Rock and roll was born in the late 1950s. Primary influenced from southern artists like Elvis Presley and Bill Haley, this new genre of music though admonished by many became popular among the younger listeners. During this time period, rock was primarily played in jukeboxes and clubs, but when introduced to the radio, became popular amongst the listeners and became an enormous success. The success continued throughout the 1960s when the main genres of rock were established. Bands like The Rolling Stones,The Beatles, and Led Zeppelin changed the music scene in Britain. Their influences worked their way to the United States. Bob Dylan led the way playing the same style but was met with disappointment from his fans. Then the hits from Byrds and Simon and Garfunkel gave folk-rock a foothold in the US. On the West Coast the cities of San Francisco and Las Angeles felt the affects of the boom in rock music. San Francisco became a center for hippies and â€Å"acid-rock†. Las Angeles produced misfits like Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart who had a lasting influence on rock. The beginning of the 1970s saw a decline in interest for rock music... ... by the rock of the 1980s and 1990s. Today bands like Chevelle, Breaking Benjamin, and others combine many aspects of the rock played during the past two decades. This is a trend that will continue into the future as more and more bands express their style of rock to the future generations. Today many radio stations throughout the United States play every type of rock. From its beginnings in the 1950s until the present day rock has become a popular genre with many styles that appeal to every person young and old. People can still enjoy listening to the music of their time whether from the 1960s or the 1990s. Rock is a composition of many genres. There is always room for more styles and new trends. Rock’s success is due to its ability to change but remain the same. Sources: http://www.silver-dragon-records.com/rnr1.htm http://www.scaruffi.com/history/