Between 1945 and 1985, the musical genre of rock and roll underwent many changes, and evolved quickly, from a stylistic perspective. It is significant to understand the genre, as it has reflected social changes, and has also influenced social changes. During these four decades, America -- the genre's forefront -- also transformed enormously, and the cultural revolution catalyzed by rock and roll led most of the way.
In the 1940s, rock and roll was just beginning to blossom. A mixture of rhythm and blues, country, and big band jazz, rock and roll was mostly typified by an early prototype called rockabilly, which also incorporated Western Swing. Performers like Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys helped refine the genre. By the early 1950s, music was swinging to the boogie of hillbilly boogie and honky tonk. Honky tonk music was a derivation of country music that usually had lyrical content related to alcoholism, loss, despair, and self-pity -- songs that focused on the blue collar lifestyle (Rockabilly, 2010, internet). Performers such as the Maddox Brothers and Rose, Hank Williams, Merle Travis, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Hank Snow, and the Delmore Brothers pioneered this early prototype of rock and roll.
Rock and Roll underwent many disguises and many changes. A danceable form that broke away from conventional chord progressions, and stressed a unique tempo was disco. Throughout 1970s, as a rebellion against disco, American rock and roll -- as well as British -- enjoyed a short-lived resurgence with bands such as Led Zeppelin. However, as early urban rocker Billy Joel sang: "It's still rock and roll to me". That is, the tempo, chord progressions, and rhythm evolved but still, ironically, remained the same as the decades passed. Disco soon gave way to other psychedelic artists such as Pink Floyd, and the popularization of bands from the New Wave sub-genre -- bands such as David Bowie, Duran Duran, and Missing Persons. Meanwhile, in the early 1980s, elements of reggae and ska were also fused into popular rock and roll. Acts like The Police were pioneers in this sub-genre. As a general rebellion against disco, heavy metal, and psychedelia, a culture shock emanated from punk rock. Bands such as The Clash, the Sex Pistols, and the Dead Kennedys dominated this new evolutionary stage of rock and roll. The Clash broke up in the mid-1980s, perhaps marking the end of popular punk -- with a few minor exceptions along the way. Many bands even recycled old rockabilly standards and "greaser" looks and attitudes in the mid-80s -- acts such as Social Distortion. In forty years, rock and roll had traveled a full circle, both reflecting the times and changing the era forever.
Works Cited
Rockabilly. (2010). radiovintage.net.
