Fact 1: Who invented Rock and Roll? The different genres of music evolved rapidly in the 1900's from the classical, opera and concertos to the evolution of Blues, Ragtime and Jazz in the 1910's to the 1920's to the big band swing music of the 1930's. The 1940's saw the emergence of country music, gospels, blues and the African American Rhythm & Blues or R&B genre that led to development of Rock and Roll. Fact 2: Who invented Rock and Roll? On July 11, 1951, disc jockey Alan Freed started playing rhythm and blues records on the on WJW radio station in Cleveland during the 11:15 P.M. to 2 A.M. radio program.
Fact 3: Who invented Rock and Roll? Alan Freed had an informal, energetic style, followed the latest trends and was outside the cultural mainstream that appealed to younger like-minded listeners.
Fact 4: Who invented Rock and Roll? The term "Rock and Roll" had been around for some time and was used as a slang term for having sex. Alan Freed was the not the only DJ to broadcast the latest R&B records but he was the first person to use the term to describe the type of records he played. Fact 5: Who invented Rock and Roll? In 1951 the number 2 record on the Billboard charts was "Rocket 88" by Jackie Brenston that was produced by Ike Turner for Chess Records. "Rocket 88" is considered by many to be the first rock 'n' roll hit but it was Alan Freed who described the sound as "Rock and Roll".
Fact 6: Who invented Rock and Roll? The teenagers of the day wanted something different to smooth, dulcet tones of vocalists such as Doris Day, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Rosemary Clooney and the Big Bands that were enjoyed by their parents. The kids wanted up-tempo rhythms, noise, energy and excitement - the new music genre of Rock and Roll was born.
Fact 7: Who invented Rock and Roll? In 1953 "Lawdy Miss Clawdy," by the 17-year-old Lloyd Price hit the charts. The song reached number one, where it spent seven weeks and crossed over from Black to White audiences, blending black and white musical traditions, and taking a major step towards integrating the teens of the 1950's. Fact 8: Who invented Rock and Roll? In March, 1953, Alan Freed organised a stage show featuring black rhythm-and-blues acts. Two-thirds of the 30,000 who showed up were white. Fact 9: Who invented Rock and Roll? The unprecedented impact of the new, high-octane sound divided the older and younger generations. Parents and the older generation were alarmed at the mingling of black and white youngsters and horrified at the uninhibited, vulgar, sexualized dancing styles that accompanied it. Fact 10: Who invented Rock and Roll? In 1954 "Hoochie Coochie Man" by Muddy Waters went to number one in the American charts and "Shake Rattle and Roll" by Big Joe Turner reached no.5 and Bill Haley's version of "Rock Around The clock" was the first rock and roll song used in a movie soundtrack. Rebellious Teenagers in movie houses throughout the United States danced in the aisles and stomped on their seats to Rock and Roll. Fact 11: Who invented Rock and Roll? 1955 witnessed another turning point in the new music genre. Black musicians and singers like Fats Domino, Lavern Baker, Ray Charles and by Bo Diddley were hugely successful and then suddenly a white singer burst on to the scene. Elvis Presley, singing "Baby, Let's Play House", became an overnight sensation and rock 'n' roll took over teen culture.
Fact 12: Who invented Rock and Roll? Elvis Presley released Heartbreak Hotel on January 27, 1956 in the US. The record sold 300,000 copies in the first week and went on to sell over a million. Elvis Presley followed his first big hit with Blue Suede Shoes and his Rock and Roll records reached the top of the charts in the UK. Fact 13: Who invented Rock and Roll? Elvis sung Don't Be Cruel, Love Me Tender, Ready Teddy, and Hound Dog on the TV Sullivan show in October 1956 and scandalized America with his suggestive hips and earned his nickname "Elvis the Pelvis". By the end of the year his first movie, Love Me Tender, was released and he made Jailhouse Rock in 1957. Fact 14: Who invented Rock and Roll? Churches proclaimed Rock and Roll as Satan's music and it was banned from many radio stations, schools and colleges.
Fact 15: Who invented Rock and Roll? In 1956 Adolph Rickenbacker invented the first Electric Guitar and Chuck Berry used the electric guitar to take Rock and Roll to new heights with his flashy, energetic, anti-authoritarian attitude.
Fact 16: Who invented Rock and Roll? The music industry attempted to 'sanitize' the degenerate Rock and Roll music by promoting good looking, clean cut singers like Pat Boone, Fabian, Ricky Nelson and Frankie Avalon but the uninhibited style of Rock and Roll would not go away. Fact 17: Who invented Rock and Roll? In 1958 Cliff Richard reached number 2 on the UK Charts with "Move It", which is considered to be the first Rock and Roll hit written and produced outside the U.S. Fact 18: Who invented Rock and Roll? Several 1958 Rock and Roll Christmas hits, that we still enjoy to this day, were released including "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree" by Brenda Lee and "Jingle Bell Rock" by Bobby Helms. Fact 19: Who invented Rock and Roll? On a February 2, 1959 a plane crash took the lives of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper and Rock and roll’s golden era had ended.
Fact 20: The 1960's witnessed an explosion of new styles of popular music using imaginative lyrics by British bands such as the Beatles, the Kinks and the Rolling Stones. In America the harmonies of the Beach Boys, Motown records, the Phil Spectre sound and Soul music were popular. But protest songs, by the likes of Joan Baez and Bob Dylan continued the theme of rebelliousness. The different genres and styles became simply known as rock music continues to evolve to the present day, but there beginnings can all be traced to Rock and Roll. | 
