Early rock’n’roll was a combination of several different musical genres that already existed, with a faster beat.

• Young people in the 1950’s (just after World War 2) began to identify as “teenagers” – a word which had never been used

before!

• Teens were looking for a new culture. They wanted to be different from their parents.

• Rock’n’roll was music for the teenagers of the 1950’s – in other words, the BABY BOOMERS. Your grandparents

were cool!

Rock’n’roll music typically has:• A strong beat• Simple chord progressions• Light-hearted lyrics with positive, popular themes• A lead vocal line, backed by guitars, string or electric bass, drums &

sometimes piano.• Early rock’n’roll groups sometimes featured a saxophone.

Pictured: Bill Haley & His Comets

Chuck Berry Elvis Presley Little RichardJerry Lee LewisRitchie Valens Buddy Holly

FAMOUS ROCK’N’ROLL MUSICIANS Click on the pictures to learn about these musicians

Chuck BerryBorn: 18th October 1926Major Hits: “Maybellene”, “Roll Over

Beethoven”, “Rock and Roll Music”, “Johnny B. Goode”

• One of the first internationally successful African-American musicians in rock’n’roll.

• Famous for his ‘guitar duck hop’.• Arrested in 1959.

Click here to find out more about Chuck Berry:http://foglobe.com/chuck-berry.htmlClick here to listen to “Johnny B. Goode”:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNeEb7I3bwI

Elvis Presley8th January 1935 – 16th August 1977Major Hits: “Hound Dog”, “Blue Suede

Shoes”, “Love Me Tender”, “Jailhouse Rock”, “Heartbreak Hotel”

• Successful due to being ‘a white man who had the Negro sound’. (Sam Phillips, Sun Records)

• Famous for his provocative dance moves.

• Referred to as the ‘King of Rock and Roll’.

• Joined the army in 1958.

Click here to find out more about Elvis Presley:http://www.elvis.com/about-the-king/biography_.aspxClick here to listen to “Hound Dog”:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzQ8GDBA8Is

Little RichardBorn: 5th December 1932Major Hits: “Tutti Frutti”, “Long Tall

Sally”, “Ready Teddy”, “Lucille”• Sang in church from a young age.• Attracted mixed race audiences,

breaking down the segregation between black and white people.

• Retired and became a preacher in 1957.

Click here to find out more about Little Richard:http://foglobe.com/little-richard.htmlClick here to listen to “Tutti Frutti”:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFq5O2kabQo

Ritchie Valens13th May 1941 – 3rd February 1959Major Hits: “La Bamba”, “Donna”,

“Come On, Let’s Go”• Grew up listening to traditional

Mexican music, R&B and blues.• Played guitar, trumpet & drums.• Pioneered Latin rock.• Died age 17 in a freak plane accident

that also killed musicians Buddy Holly & J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson. The crash was nicknamed ‘The Day the Music Died’.

Click here to find out more about Ritchie Valens:http://www.last.fm/music/Ritchie+ValensClick here to listen to “La Bamba”:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCXlp3D5NQA

Jerry Lee LewisBorn: 29th September 1935Major Hits: “Great Balls of Fire”, “Whole

Lotta Shakin’ Going On”, “Breathless”, “High School Confidential”

• Known as rock’n’roll’s ‘first great wild man’ due to his dramatic & unpredictable performance antics.

• Caused a scandal in 1958 when it was discovered he had married his 13-year-old cousin. His career never fully recovered after the scandal publicity.

Click here to find out more about Jerry Lee Lewis:http://www.last.fm/music/Jerry+Lee+LewisClick here to listen to “Great Balls of Fire”:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IjgZGhHrYY

Buddy Holly7th September 1936 – 3rd February 1959Major Hits: “That’ll Be The Day”, “Peggy

Sue”, “Oh Boy!”, “True Love Ways”• Signed two recording contracts at once;

one as a soloist, and one with his band, ‘The Crickets’.

• Influenced the Beatles, who in part chose their name to reflect the Crickets.

• Died age 23 in a freak plane accident that also killed musicians Ritchie Valens & J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson. The crash was nicknamed ‘The Day the Music Died’.

Click here to find out more about Buddy Holly:http://foglobe.com/buddy-holly.htmlClick here to listen to “Peggy Sue”:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mb7KyPSbFqo

The Decline of Rock’n’Roll

The “rock’n’roll” culture ended very quickly, with most of the style’s key figures leaving the scene within a time frame of two years.

• On ‘The Day the Music Died’ in 1959, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens & J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson were killed in a plane crash.

• Elvis Presley left music to join the army in 1958.• Little Richard retired in 1957 to become a preacher.• The scandal over Jerry Lee Lewis’ marriage to his underage cousin destroyed his

career in 1958.• Chuck Berry was imprisoned in 1958.• Alan Freed (rock’n’roll’s most important record promoter) was discovered to have

been taking bribes and the scandal ruined his career.