You hear it every now and then as you go about your day, whether it is whispered by those who are too scared to admit it or shouted in anger by a man going into a mid-life crisis. Although it hasn’t been established, there is a rumor going around that a funeral is going to be held. Rock n’ roll is dead.
Rock n’ Roll has been a staple music style, or genre, since its emergence during the late 1940s. Evolving from blues, rock is thought to have originated in the southern United States and had an amazingly fast gain in popularity. It created legends such as Buddy Holly, Little Richard, and the king himself, Elvis Presley.
It looked as if this powerful genre would burn out in the early 1960’s, but it would be the British, our allies, who would come to the rescue. Britain had been exposed to rock by American troops stationed in the country where it developed into a sub-culture there. This would lead to the rise of the legendary band, The Beatles. The Beatles led a revitalization of rock n’ roll that was supported by other sensations such as the Rolling Stones and The Who.
From here on, all sorts of rock music would emerge through the years. Blues rock, hard rock, jazz rock, the list goes on. People loved the different styles that were unique to each individual artist. A song could be fast paced with amazingly long guitar solos, or it could be nice and slow with a steady back rhythm. Concerts raged across not only the United States, but the world. Rock bands became almost larger than life. Able to influence public opinion on war and government, rock ‘n roll was a power in and of itself.
Almost everyone has heard their parents talk about how the music was in their time. How people would go wild the lyrics of their favorite performer. How it was a sensation unlike any other. It was the music that so many of our parents loved. The music of the past generation, but that is the key word. Past.