the first rock and roll song was made in 1934.
the first rock and roll song was made in 1934.
when was the first rock and roll song made?
1934
the identity of the first rock and roll record is one of the most enduring subjects of debate among rock historians. various recordings dating back to the 1940s and 1950s have been cited as the first rock and roll record. a number of sources have considered the first to be "rocket 88", which was recorded in 1951 by ike turner and his band, but credited to his saxophonist and the song's vocalist jackie brenston. according to "the boston globe"s joan anderman, most rock historians cite it as the first, while "the new rolling stone encyclopedia of rock & roll" and the website of the rock and roll hall of fame said that it is "frequently cited" and "widely considered the first", respectively. people in the music industry have also called it the first, among several others. "rocket 88" is cited for its forceful backbeat and unrefined, distorted electric guitar. by contrast, writer and musician michael campbell wrote that, "from our perspective," it was not the first rock and roll record because it had a shuffle beat rather than the rock rhythm originally characteristic in chuck berry's and little richard's songs, although he added that "rocket 88" had basic characteristics of rock music such as the emphasis on guitar and distortion. its characterization as a rock and roll or rhythm and blues song continues to be debated. nigel williamson questions whether it was really an r&b song "with an unusually fast, bottom-heavy eight-to-the bar boogie rhythm and a great lyric about cars, booze and women".
origins of rock and roll
there is much debate as to what should be considered the first rock and roll record. one contender is "rocket 88" by jackie brenston and his delta cats (in fact, ike turner and his band the kings of rhythm), recorded by sam phillips for sun records in memphis in 1951. it has been argued that "that's all right (mama)" (1954), elvis presley's first major single for sun records was the first rock and roll record, but, at the same time, big joe turner's "shake, rattle & roll", later covered by bill haley, was already at the top of the billboard r&b charts. other artists with early rock and roll hits included chuck berry, bo diddley, fats domino, little richard, jerry lee lewis, and gene vincent. bill haley's "rock around the clock" (1955) became the first rock and roll song to top billboard magazine's main sales and airplay charts, and opened the door worldwide for this new wave of popular culture. soon rock and roll was the major force in american record sales and crooners, such as eddie fisher, perry como, and patti page, who had dominated the previous decade of popular music, found their access to the pop charts significantly curtailed.
american rock