Elvis PresleyThe King of Rock-n-roll

18 No 1 HitsFirst to sign with

a major label: RCA Over 30 filmsThe 1st Multi-

media Celebrity

Bill Haley and the Comets• 1st rock hit• No.1 on all three charts: pop, country, R&B• Popularized in the film Blackboard Jungle• “Rock Around the Clock”

Chuck Berry*The first great rock guitarist*Johnny B. Goode *classic guitar riff*Combined country vocal sound with blues rhythms

Little Richard• Pioneer of the rock piano sound• Wild showman with dramatic flair• Claims to be the true king of rock

Jerry Lee Lewis

• Fiery hair and fiery persona• Scandal after marrying his cousin• Classic rock piano • Whole Lotta Shakin’

Buddy Holly• Texas country style blues and rockabilly• Backing band called the Crickets• Inspired the Beatles and their name• That’ll Be the Day, Peggy Sue

The Ronnettes etc.• Girl groups dominated 1962 and 1963• Amazing harmonies• Powerful vocals over the WALL of SOUND

“Be My Baby”

The Beach Boys

• Popularized the surf sound

• Vocal harmonies based off of barbershop quartet

• Imitated Chuck Berry guitar riffs

• Huge success but lacked the lyric depth of rivals the Beatles

The Beatles• Paul,John, George, Ringo• From Liverpool, England• Started the British Invasion• Came to Ed Sullivan Show

February 1964• Dominated the charts with top

5 hits at once that year• Most successful group of all

time• Shifted focus from singles to

albums

The Beatles• Early albums: cheery but less

creative pop• Mid 60s: greater depth of lyrics

influenced by Bob Dylan, more skillful songs crafted by the so called 5th Beatle producer George Martin

• Late 60s: great diversity, lacked direction after death of manager Brian Epstein

The Rolling Stones• The original bad boys of rock• More deeply entrenched in the

blues tradition• Guitar riffs core to the songs• Mick Jagger and Keith Richards • Most enduring rock band still

draw huge crowds for live performances

• Nearly 500,000 attended 2003 Toronto show

British Invasion

• The Beatles• The Rolling Stones• The Animals• The Who• The Moody Blues• Dave Clark Five• The Kinks• Herman’s Hermits

Bob Dylan• Folk icon who wrote anthems like

“Blowin in the Wind” and “Times They Are a Changin”

• Influenced by Woody Guthrie and Elvis Presley

• Squeaky voice, brilliant lyricist• Covered by EVERYONE it seemed• Created the folk rock blend• Minor hit with “Like a Rolling Stone”

Motown Sound• Berry Gordy Jr. founded Motown• Based In Detroit (the Motor City) • Studio in his own house• Called it Hitsville USA• Produced dozens of No. 1 hits in 60s• The Funk Brothers (backing musicians)• Song writers like Holland Dozier Holland • Choreography• Etiquette training

Motown Greats

James Brown• Godfather of funk• The “Soul Man”

Four Noteworthy Festivals• Newport Folk Festival 1965: Dylan Plugs In• Monterey 1967: Psychedelic Rock• Woodstock 1969: Hippies Get

Mainstreamed• Altamont 1969: 4 Die in Tragedy

Jimi Hendrix

• Guitar virtuoso• Died tragically• Innovative use of distortion and pedals• Created a modern sound for the guitar

Mamas and Papas