NATIONAL DAY OF ROCK 'N' ROLL

July 7 is National Day of Rock 'n' Roll on the National Day Calendar and it's time to put on your dancing shoes to dance the day away! On National Day of Rock 'n' Roll we plan to help you get your groove, starting with when rock 'n' roll first hit the charts.

#DAYOFROCKNROLL

This history of rock 'n' roll begins in the late 1930s from African-American music containing combinations of jazz, rhythm and blues, gospel, and country music. By the 1940s, instruments like the saxophone and piano were added to the sound, intensifying the appeal. It wasn't until the 1950s that rock 'n' roll hit the mainstream music scene, causing a social shift in society. National Day of Rock 'n' Roll explores the impact this music genre has had throughout history.

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Early Years of Rock 'n' Roll

When we think of the early years of rock 'n' roll we easily see a young Elvis Presley or Chuck Berry on stage performing before impressionable teens. We see images of girls screaming and some crying, too. Why did a music genre have such an impact on young adults and what does it mean today?

Many "adults" during this musical era viewed rock 'n' roll as an appalling and disgusting portrayal of what music should not be. Before this genre hit the stage, music was soft, mellow, and very wholesome. In fact, parents thought rock signified the rejection of morals. Most parents were trying to stop rock 'n' roll from being listened to.

Listening to rock meant young people were rejecting their parents' beliefs and expectations. Before rock, music was a separation of class, religion, and especially race. The rise of rock-n-roll would cause cultures to become intertwined, with young people looking at music as a way to go against their parents and mingle with anyone who enjoyed the same music as them.

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Elvis, the Beatles, And Rock 'N' Roll

Elvis Presley receives credit for making rock 'n' roll what it is today. His gritty, raw, and electric performances on stage mesmerized female audiences and made parents (and boyfriends) angry. By 1956, Elvis took the nation by force attracting teenagers to his concerts. However, the road to success wasn't an easy one for Elvis. During the first few years of his success, riots, parental protests, police monitoring and sometimes shutting the concerts down would be a regular occurrence during the first few years. Apparently, Elvis was at one time a security risk for the country, too.

The Beatles were a British rock 'n' roll band that became known as the most influential rock band of all time. In 1964, four young men with shaggy haircuts stepped foot on U.S. soil to nearly 4,000 screaming fans. The band took America by storm during a time when our country was mourning the death of President Kennedy. However, it was the unique sound of instruments and vocals that erupted into what we now call Beatlemania.

Top 10 Rock Musicians of All Time

Elvis Presley (1935-1977)

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Kurt Cobain (1967-1994)
Prince (1958-2016)
Janis Joplin (1943-1970)

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Jimmy Hendrix (1942-1970)
Robert Plant (1948- )
Freddie Mercury (1946-1991)

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Tina Turner (1939-2023)
Elton John (1947- )
Steven Tyler (1948- )

Impact of Radio on Rock 'N' Roll

Radio has been in homes since the 1920s. Early radio programming would entertain homes with music, programming, and news. Mainstream radio stations rarely played music that was considered too offensive, racy, or inappropriate. However, during the 1950s, music on radio stations began a revolution that would change the face of how music was played.

Independent radio stations would play rock 'n' roll music before popular radio stations. Disc Jockeys, or DJs, would play a wide variety of music acceptable for society. Rules were established and radio stations would stick to their scripts of acceptable songs. Independent radio stations could play what they wanted, including music from black and white musicians. Unpopular before rock 'n' roll, independent station audiences were small. However, independent stations became the more popular choice for young people because they were delivering the sounds they craved.

Alan Freed is the first DJ to become widely known for popularizing rock 'n' roll on the radio. His stage name Moondog was a reflection of his early years of playing music at night under the moon. Freed was the first to put together a rock 'n' roll concert on stage. Unfortunately, the concert was never held because riots and violence broke out before the concert. Apparently, over 25,000 tickets were sold in a venue that could hold only 10,000 people.

7 WAYS TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL DAY OF ROCK 'N' ROLL

Learn about the history of rock 'n' roll in the United States.
Listen to rock 'n' roll music through the years, beginning with the 1950s through today.
Learn to play an instrument.
Attend a rock concert in your area. Remember tribute bands have great concerts, too.
Create a playlist with your favorite rock songs.
Start a band!
Share your love for rock 'n' roll on social media and share your videos, music, and photos tagging #NationalDayofRockNRoll.