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"You know my temperature's risin',
The juke box's blowin' a fuse,
My heart's beatin' rhythm,
My soul keeps singin' the blues—
Roll over, Beethoven,
Tell Tchaikovsky the news."
—CHUCK BERRY

Key Points

  • The rise of rock and roll in the 1950s is one of the most significant phenomena in twentieth-century music history.
  • Rock had its origins in rhythm and blues, countrywestern, pop music and gospel; early rock crossed racial lines, featuring both white and black performers.
  • The Beatles, first heard live in the United States in 1964, were highly influential because of their expressive experiments in various musical styles (including non-Western ones).
  • California groups also contributed to the expressiveness of rock, particularly to the emergence of folk rock.
  • The 1960s and 1970s saw the rise of many eclectic musical styles, including acid rock, art rock, Latin rock, punk rock, disco, reggae, and new wave.
  • Music videos and MTV were important media for the dissemination of rock in the 1980s; other developments led the way for the emergence of rap.
  • Rap, or hip hop, is one of the most popular forms of African-American music; like earlier rock styles, it has crossed racial lines and been adopted by white performers.
  • In the 1990s and beyond, grunge rock, alternative rock, and global pop have captured the listening audience, along with numerous revivals by wellknown artists and groups.
  • The origins of country-western music derive from Appalachian folk songs; through the Grand Ol' Opry and the Nashville recording industry, this style has developed commercially into one of the most widespread genres of popular music.
  • The range of global pop styles and performers continues to grow, as music from all corners of the world is made available—some in "authentic" recordings and performances, others in a blend of contemporary and traditional styles.

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