The History of Rock & Roll, Volume 1
1920-1963
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- 11,99 €
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- 11,99 €
Beschreibung des Verlags
Ed Ward covers the first half of the history of rock & roll in this sweeping and definitive narrative—from the 1920s, when the music of rambling medicine shows mingled with the songs of vaudeville and minstrel acts to create the very early sounds of country and rhythm and blues, to the rise of the first independent record labels post-World War II, and concluding in December 1963, just as an immense change in the airwaves took hold and the Beatles prepared for their first American tour. The History of Rock & Roll, Volume 1 shines a light on the far corners of the genre to reveal the stories behind the hugely influential artists who changed the musical landscape forever.
In this first volume of a two-part series, Ward shares his endless depth of knowledge and through engrossing storytelling hops seamlessly from Memphis to Chicago, Detroit, England, New York, and everywhere in between. He covers the trajectories of the big name acts like Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, and Ray Charles, while also filling in gaps of knowledge and celebrating forgotten heroes such as the Burnette brothers, the “5” Royales, and Marion Keisker, Sam Phillips’s assistant, who played an integral part in launching Elvis’s career.
For all music lovers and rock & roll fans, Ward spins story after story of some of the most unforgettable and groundbreaking moments in rock history, introducing us along the way to the musicians, DJs, record executives, and producers who were at the forefront of the genre and had a hand in creating the music we all know and love today.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this far-reaching volume, music historian Ward rushes pell-mell through rock music's first half century, uncovering the many streams blues, country, jazz that flood into the mighty river of rock. Much of this material will be very familiar to music fans, but Ward's book provides an excellent introduction to early rock's cast of characters and the music that rocked the world. After he establishes the roots of rock in blues and country and the complicated relationship between race and music that pervades the entire history of rock, Ward chronicles, year by year, the development of the music; its relationship to and reflection of American society; and the artists, producers, and record labels that created the music and pushed it along. For Ward, 1957 was the watershed year: Chuck Berry released "You Can't Catch Me" and Jerry Lee Lewis put out "Crazy Arms"; Buddy Holly's "That'll Be the Day" came out that summer and rocketed to the top of the charts; Sam Cooke moved from gospel to secular music; Sam Phillips's Sun studio later home to the "Million Dollar Quartet" of Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash continued its steady rise; Bobby "Blue" Bland made his debut with "Farther Up the Road"; Ricky Nelson debuted on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet television show; and Dick Clark's American Bandstand carried the message of rock 'n' roll nationwide to a generation of teens ready to buy records. Ward's delightful book is chock-full of everything there is to know about the history of rock.
