In this essay I want to discuss why rocknroll emerged at all and also why it did so at a certain time. When did the rocknroll era really begin? Was it when the first rocknroll record was released or was it when a certain song was named “a rocknroll song” for the first time? If you prefer the second option, the date is pretty easily marked. The story is, that in 1952 Billy Ward was giving an interview to the disc jockey Allan Freed at a radio station. When Wards Song “Sixty Minute Man” was running, Freed tried to find a name for this totally new kind of music and did so when he heard the lyrics of the song saying “I rock ‘em roll ’em all night long” (see Ennis 18). But you could just as well take the release of “Rocket 88” in 1951 as the beginning of the rocknroll era, because that was the first rocknroll song. So far we have the years 1951 and 1952 to choose from. Maybe a certain date will turn up while we examine why rocknroll emerged at all. Starting with an essay by Richard Peterson this leads us to the question: In how far is the situation of the music industry of the 1950s responsible for the emergence of rocknroll? [...]
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Why did the rock 'n' roll era begin in 1955?
- Richard Peterson: The Music Industry
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- Law
- Technology
- Industry Structure
- Organisation Structure
- Occupational Careers
- Market
- Henry Sullivan: The Cultural and Political Environment
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- The Red Threat
- The Black Threat
- The Atomic Threat
- Phillip Ennis: A Combined Explanation
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
The essay aims to investigate the emergence of rock 'n' roll in 1955, analyzing the factors that contributed to its rise. It explores two main perspectives: the influence of the music industry and the cultural and political climate of the time.
- The impact of changes in the music industry, particularly the emergence of new record companies and radio stations.
- The role of technological advancements, including the 45 rpm record and the transistor.
- The influence of cultural and political events, such as the McCarthy hearings, racial tensions, and the Cold War.
- The psychological impact of these events on different generations, particularly the generation of fathers.
- The role of rock 'n' roll as a form of rebellion and expression for teenagers.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The essay begins by introducing the question of why rock 'n' roll emerged in 1955 and examining the various factors that could have contributed to its rise. The author then delves into Richard Peterson's analysis of the music industry, highlighting six key factors: law, technology, industry structure, organisation structure, occupational careers, and market. Each of these factors is examined in detail, showcasing how they shaped the music landscape and paved the way for rock 'n' roll's emergence.
Next, the essay explores Henry Sullivan's perspective, which argues that the cultural and political climate of 1954, particularly the "Red Threat," "Black Threat," and "Atomic Threat," created a sense of anxiety and rebellion that fueled rock 'n' roll's popularity. Sullivan explores the psychological impact of these threats on different generations, highlighting the alienation of the fathers from their own parents and the subsequent transmission of this frustration to their teenage sons.
The essay concludes by presenting Phillip Ennis's combined explanation, which integrates the perspectives of both Peterson and Sullivan. Ennis argues that rock 'n' roll emerged due to a convergence of internal changes within the music industry and external forces in the cultural and political environment.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The essay focuses on the emergence of rock 'n' roll in 1955, exploring the interplay of various factors, including the music industry, cultural anxieties, and the role of technology. Key terms and concepts include the influence of ASCAP and BMI, the impact of the 45 rpm record and the transistor, the cultural and political climate of the time, and the psychological impact of the "Red Threat," "Black Threat," and "Atomic Threat" on American society.
- Quote paper
- Sebastian Wolf (Author), 2004, Why did the rock 'n' roll era begin in 1955?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/40510
