Existing comment:
Setting the Stage
Rock and roll was born in the American South, where it was first played primarily by black ensembles in the late 1940s and early 1950s. The music and the instrumental choices reflect the influence of many earlier genres: the piano and saxophone came to early rock and roll from R&B and boogie woogie, and the large acoustic guitars used in rockabilly came from country and western. Electric guitarists were inspired by a range of earlier styles, including the gospel guitar playing of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the virtuosic jazz and pop performances of Les Paul, and the electric blues sounds of Muddy Waters.
Singer, songwriter, and guitarist Chuck Berry revolutionized rock and roll with his guitar solos, making the electric guitar the primary voice and visual icon of the music. Manufacturers responded with new instruments and equipment, producing many of the classic guitar models that would define the look and sound of rock music for generations.
The Beatles' electrifying debut appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show in February 1964 had an enormous effect on American culture. Thousands of rock bands were formed using the same equipment and instrumentation: two guitars, a bass, and a drum set. Although earlier blues and surf rock bands had also used that lineup, the power of those iconic performances helped solidify the four-piece ensemble as the quintessential rock band. |