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Creation of the Electric Guitar
When Les Paul created the first solid-body electric guitar in 1940, it's unique sound paved the way for the Rock N Roll artists of the future to distinguish themselves by utilizing the electric guitar's unique sound. -
First Rock N Roll Concert
Cleveland DJ Moondog (Alan Freed) held the the first Rock N Roll at the Cleveland Arena. The event was attended by 25,000 people, the show was shut down early in response to the unruliness of ticket holders who had been denied entry. Freed is widely credited with coining the term of Rock N Roll, the origin of which has led to the Rock N Roll hall of fame being housed in Cleveland. https://www.rockhall.com/ -
Chuck Berry Defines Rock N Roll
Considered by some to be the father of Rock N Roll, Berry helped to form many staples that are associated with the genre. Some elements of Rock music that his presence on the scene popularized include guitar solos and an intense showmanship. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eUc7o5lmtY -
Elvis Presley Brings Rock to the Mainstream
Elvis, known as The King of Rock N Roll, helped to bring the music of Rock to a wider and younger audience. His popularity also helped to bridge the gap between a primarily "black" music and the "white" majority together in a time of deep division due to racial strife. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gj0Rz-uP4Mk -
British Invasion Begins with The Beatles
When The Beatles first played the Ed Sullivan Show in 1964 it could hardly be imagined the profound impact the event could have on Rock N Roll. The Beatles soared in popularity and welcomed what became known as the British Invasion. This musical transfer of sound and ideas would reinvigorate Rock music in America as well as contribute to the rise of the Counter Culture era of the 1960's.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jenWdylTtzs -
Woodstock
The Woodstock music festival was an event that served to be a culmination of everything the 1960's counter culture (tied closely to Rock N Roll) was about. Many popular and influential artists performed including Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, and Santana. The legacy of Woodstock is still felt today. For more information read the article below. [http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2009-08-09/news/0908080071_1_woodstock-music-michael-lang-music-industry] -
The Launch of MTV
The beginning of MTV can be used to separate eras of Rock and Popular music. As originally envisioned, MTV carried 24 hours of music daily, comprised of music videos created for each song in the rotation. This change in the way music was being consumed led to the decline of radio in importance. Rock music also became increasingly more commercialized as a result of MTV's popularity.
