I'm gonna teach a class on rock, and I think it makes the most sense to teach about the 50 years from the mid 40s to the mid 90s. Here's the basic breakdown:
>Chicago Blues
Descendants of slaves play blues, move from south to Chicago, do electric blues. Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter
>Rockabilly
Kids like blues music on radio; to market to them, labels have white groups cover blues. It's milquetoast until they find white artists who are actually passionate about the music, Bill Haley & The Comets, Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry.
>British Invasion
Inspired by American rock groups, British groups combine American sounds with British pop and folk sensibilities. Mod counterculture. The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who.
>surf, garage, folk rock
Inspired by British groups, many American groups form, setting the stage for rock counterculture. Beach Boys, The Ventures, ? & The Mysterians, Bob Dylan, The 13th Floor Elevators.
>Psychedelia
Late 60s, rock bands become more ambitious, with longer-form music. Rock becomes popular youth counterculture. The Doors, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Pink Floyd.
>Hard Rock, Glam Rock, Proto-Punk, Heavy Metal, Prog Rock
Early 70s leads to post-hippie era explosion in sounds. Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, The Stooges, MC5, The Velvet Underground, Yes, David Bowie, New York Dolls.
>Punk
New York Punk scene forms, inspires British counterculture. Ramones, Richard Hell, Patti Smith, Sex Pistols.
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