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2.6.15Rock Music and Pop Music: A Brief History
Origins
In the mid 1950s, R & B mashed up with country, resulting in a new genre, initially called rockabilly, then rock ‘n’ roll, then rock. The early greats of rock were both African American (Bo Diddley, Little Richard, Chuck Berry) and white (Bill Haley, Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly).
Cleveland DJ Alan Freed, who dared to play R & B on a white radio station in the early 1950s, popularized the term “rock ‘n’ roll.”
Breakout
Although Bill Haley had some success with “Rock Around The Clock” and other seminal rock singles, Elvis Presley’s astonishing talent and star power vaulted rock to the forefront of popular music in just a few years, starting in 1956.
Some racist white people, fearing further undermining of white authority inherent in African American based music and lyrics, staged record-smashing and burning events.
Crest
Rock crested in the 1970s, then began a slow decline as two new African American genres emerged, dance/electronica and hip-hop.
Mainstream Genre
Rock has been so popular for so long that it’s unlikely to run out of steam any time soon.
The term "pop music" usually refers to light, safe, sanitized ultra-commercial rock.