1951

A DJ from Cleveland Ohio, Alan Freed, is credited for coining the phrase ìrock and rollî, referring to the newest style of music brought to the airwaves during that time.Ý One of the records played was Roy Brownís ìGood Rocking Tonightî, making the first ostensible reference to sex through music.

 

1952

Alan ìMoondogî Freed organizes the first rock and roll concert in Cleveland called the ìMoondog Coronation Ballî. The audience and the performers were mixed in race and the evening ended after one song almost ended in a riot.

 

1954

Elvis Presley begins recording and performing the hit titled ìThatís Alright Mamaî, a rock/country-western fusion known as rockabilly.Ý His unique vocals and instrumental sounds earned him the title the ìKing of Rock ëN Rollî, and Elvis became known as the first teen idol and most famous musical celebrity to date.

1958

American rock influences The United Kingdom, and a new group called Cliff Richards and the Drifters was formed.Ý Racial barriers werenít as much trouble in The U.K., and teens quickly embraced the new style of music known as The British Invasion (1964-1969).Ý Richards is credited for the ideas of a ìlead guitaristî and ìelectric bass guitarî, which would pave the way for other British groups like The Beatles.

Early 1960ís

Rockabilly hits the West Coast and transforms into a mostly instrumental version infused with vocal harmonies, referred to as ìsurf musicî.Ý This music features more heavily played guitar, thus influencing modern heavy metal later on.Ý Popular artists in this era were The Beach Boys and Jan and Dean.

1964

The Beatles make an appearance on ìThe Ed Sullivan Showî, making TV history for rock and roll.Ý Other British bands followed suit, including The Rolling Stones, The Animals, and The Who, introducing an edgier sound to British Rock.

1965

Bob Dylan releases the tune ìLike a Rolling Stoneî to mainstream radio.Ý With over 6 minutes of playing time and intense poetic contents, this would forever change all preconceived notions of what radio music should sound like.Ý

Mid-1960ís

The Rolling Stones are credited with being the first band to do away with band uniforms.Ý The lead to longer, untamed hairstyles, radical clothing changes, and a more ìwildî look compared to previous bands that had a more ìclean-cutî appearance.

Late 1960ís

As a reaction to the Vietnam war, drugs, and social injustices, a new wave of music called psychedellic rock is ushered in.Ý Artists like The Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, and Jefferson Airplane play a large roll in changing the sound of music with dramatic guitar riffs and electronic sounds.Ý The British had their own versions of this music style, as featured by the popular group Pink Floyd.Ý The culmination of this style of music was brought to fruition by the mass gathering for peace and love through music at the famous three-day gathering called Woodstock.

1970ís

Transition from 60ís psychadelic styles became more sexually charged, creating a metamorphosis into a more free form of music in the 80ís.Ý Blues-rock bands were formed, including Cream and Led Zepplin, who would later influence heavy metal bands such as Black Sabbath and Deep Purple.Ý These bands were ruled by the heavy guitar sounds and stunning on-stage performances.

1973-1981

A new dance-style of music, influenced by earlier funk bands of the early 1970ís, began to emerge called disco.Ý Popular groups such as K.C and the Sunshine Band, The OíJays, The Bee Gees, Barry White, and Gloria Gaynor topped the charts with their versions of the disco beat.Ý The style created a need for disco clubs nation-wide, including the famous Studio 54, and a new need for teens to gather together for a more sexually charged style of dance, as featured in 1977ís Saturday Night Fever.Ý The trend wouldnít last long as people became increasingly upset at the loss of more classic rock sounds. The anti-disco movement culminated in the disco demolition riot in Chicago during the summer of 1979.

1980ís

New pop groups emerged on the scene, like Van Halen, Queen, The Go-Goís, and Michael Jackson.Ý These artists became more mainstream in music, appealing to a wider variety of people.Ý Some of these were the ever famous ìhair bandsî, such as Motley Crue, Bon Jovi, and Ratt, whose sex, drugs, and rock and roll lifestyle began to sway public opinion of the bandsí normal behaviors.Ý Rock and roll became more of a lifesyle as well as a musical style.Ý Many current music channels today report on many bandsí quick climax to fame, only to come crashing down due to substance abuse, lawsuits, and the consequences of over spending.

1990ís

New alternative rock groups like Pearl Jam and Nirvana emerged on the scene, completely wiping out former hair bands with their more mellow, depressed sounds of reality-based lyrics called grunge.Ý In 1994, the leader of Nirvana, Kurt Cobain, fatally shot himself, leaving a wife and daughter behind. ÝIn 1996, rapper Tupac Shakur was shot and killed in Las Vegas.Ý Shortly after, in March of 1997, Christopher Wallace (a.k.a. Biggie Smalls or The Notorious B.I.G.) was shot in Los Angeles.Ý Both parties had succumbed to gang violence and east coast/west coast feuds, resulting in the death of two artists.

Early 2000

The music industry takes on the major music-sharing company Napster in an effort to permanently ban music piracy.Ý They win, forming the group RIAA, and for the first time pitting the public against the very artists they idolize.Ý Shortly after that, American Idol debuts, allowing the general public to choose from a variety of artists of their discretion.

2004

Sean Combs, also knows as Puff Daddy, P. Diddy etc., begins the ìVote or Dieî campaign, enlisting several musicians and celebrities to stand and vote in the very divided election of that year.Ý He will use his position of power in the music industry to have an influence on the young Americans in the nation to vote their opinions.Ý However, in the wake of the election, several of his recruits for the cause never even registered to voice their opinions.Ý