Agenda

• Quiz: Either ask kids as they enter the room or do a 5 question class quiz (5 min.)

• Ice Cream: Play music as kids (10 min.)• Slideshow (20 min.)• Begin Music Lesson• Give kids quick quiz at the very end of class

– 5 questions—play short clip of song; 5 student that get it right get 3 free terms on scrapbook project

Postwar America

“The Affluent Society: For Some”

The Truman Years—Domestic Policy

• Social Legislation: The Fair Deal– Increase Social Security/Poverty

Reduction/ Increase Min. Wage• Civil Rights

– Ban discrimination in federal employment

– Ends segregation in armed forces (Exec. Order 9981)

– Loses Democratic support in South

• Proposes National Health Insurance

• Defense of labor/unions– Attacked by Republicans

The Eisenhower Years• Federal Highway Act

– Largest public works project in history

– Connects Great Lakes to Atlantic Ocean

– 41,000 miles of roads=Car Culture– Significance: Fuels an automotive

boom and the growth of suburbs

• Extends Social Security & Unemployment Insurance

• Little Rock Crisis (1957)– Takes over Arkansas National Guard– Protect desegregation of Little Rock

Central HS

GI Bill• GI Bill Provides:

– Funds for starting businesses, buying homes, attend college

– Low interest loans to vets

• Significance:– Helps Millions attend college– Homeownership increases

20%...growth of suburbia– Sparks Baby Boom– ↑ White-collar jobs; ↑ income

“The American Dream”

• Baby Boomers– (65 million)—1945-61– 1957: 1 baby born every 7 sec.– What was the impact of the

baby boom?

• Growth of white-collar jobs/Corporations

• New Technology– Transistor Radio, Computers,

Antibiotics, Chemotherapy, CPR, Polio vaccine

“It seems to me that every other housewife I see is pregnant.” 1958

• British tourist in the U.S.

“The American Dream”• “Roaring 20s Relived”

– Increased Consumer Spending– Mass Advertising– Increasing Income

• Massive Growth of Suburbs (Levittowns)– Why?

• Baby Boom• Safer, Inexpensive, low income

loans, income tax deductions for home

• $7,990 or $60/month w/ no down payment

Suburbs: “The New American Dream”

• By 1960: 1/3 of Americans live in the suburbs

• Typical Levittown Floorplan• 1 story high

• 12’x19’ living room

• 2 bedrooms

• tiled bathroom

• garage

• small backyard

• front lawn

1950s Consumerism

All babies were potential consumers who spearheaded a brand-new market for food, clothing, and shelter. -- Life Magazine (May, 1958)

Consumerism

1946 7,000 TV sets in the U. S.1950 50,000,000 TV sets in the U. S.

Consumerism: Car Culture

1955: 1st McDonald’s

Howard Johnson

Drive-Ins

“Teen Culture”• In the 1950s the word “teenager” entered the

American language.

Behavioral “Expectations” of the 1950s•Obey Authority.

•Control Your Emotions.

•Don’t Make Waves Fit in with the Group.

•Don’t Even Think About Sex!!!

V.

New Mass Media• Television

– 1947-1957: 80% of homes have 1 TV– I Love Lucy, Dragnet, Ed Sullivan Show

• Hollywood– Suffers blow; 3-D films?

• Radio– Transforms with TV– Broadcasts music, sports, weather, news– Alan Freed

Birth of Rock N’ Roll• Based on Afr. Amer. R &B,

Blues, & Country

• Loud beat ideal for dancing

• Generation Gap– “White singers doing black

music”– Songs about romance, cars,

drinking, etc..– Provocative Dance Moves

(Elvis, Berry, Richard)• Ed Sullivan refuses to show

Elvis dancing, shot from the waist up during his performance

Roots of Rock N’ Roll

Music in the 1950s

Roots of Rock (Blues): B.B. King• Mississippi Cotton Picker

• First Recorded by Sam Phillips at Sun Records (Memphis)

• Influenced:– Eric Clapton

• Bending Strings

• Considered one of the greatest guitar players in history;

• Known for interaction w/ the audience

Suggested Songs:•Thrill Is Gone•Ain’t Nobody’s Business•Rock Me Baby

Suggested Album: Live at San Quentin

Roots of Rock (Blues): Muddy Waters

• McKinley Morganfield• Heavily influenced by Son

House• Chess Brothers (Chicago)

– 1st star for Chess– Electric Guitar– Country infused sound

resonates with migrants from South moving North

Suggested Songs•“I Just Wanna Make Love To You”•“Got My Mojo Working”•“Mannish Boy”

Roots of Rock Blues: Howlin’ Wolf• Tragic Childhood

• Taught by Charlie Patton

• Discovered by Sam Phillips

• Chess Brothers (Chicago)

Suggested Songs:•“How Many More Years”•“Smokestack Lightning”•“Moanin’ at Midnight”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ou-6A3MKow

Other Early Hits

• “Sixty Minute Man” –The Dominoes• “Money Honey” –The Drifters• “Ain’t That A Shame”—Fats Domino• “Shake Rattle & Roll”—Big Joe Turner

– Covered by Bill Haley & Comets

Other Musicians You Should Investigate:– John Lee Hooker: “Boogie Chillen”

Birth of “Rock N’ Roll”

• “Rock N’ Roll”– Fusion of Country and Blues

• Alan Freed– Cleveland Disc Jockey– Most famous DJ to play Afr.

Amer. Music– Coins term “Rock N’ Roll”– PAYOLA

Pioneer of Rock and Roll: Little Richard• Key in the transition

from R & B to Rock N’ Roll

• Inspired James Brown, Elvis Presley, Otis Redding, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Michael Jackson,

• 1957: born-again Christian– Becomes evangelist

preacher

Suggested Songs: “Tutti Frutti,” “Long Tall Sally,” “Dizzy Miss Lizzy,” “Keep A Knockin,” “Lucille”

“Father of Rock N’ Roll”—Chuck Berry• Brilliant Lyricist/guitar

player/self-promoter/social commentator

• “Too Much Monkey Business”– Infl. Dylan’s “Subterranean

Homesick Blues”• Influenced: Dylan, Beatles,

Springsteen, Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton

• 1959: Thrown in Jail; serves 2 years in prison

Suggested Songs: “Johnny B. Goode,” “Maybelleine,” “Roll over Beethoven,” “Memphis,”

Pat Boone

• White pop singer in 1950s and 60s– White Response

• Covered black artists

• Sold more records than his black counterparts

Devil’s Music

Rock N’ Roll

• Bill Haley & The Comets– Brings Rock N’ Roll to

white America– 1954-56: 9 Top 20

singles– “Rock Around the

Clock”

Rock N’ Roll Pioneer: Buddy Holly• Singer/Songwriter

– 1st to use overdubbing• Influenced: The Beatles,

Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, and Eric Clapton

• Tragic Ending– Dies in plane crash:

2/3/1959 (Richie Valens, and Big Bopper)

– “The Day the Music Died”

Suggested Songs•“Not Fade Away”•“Words of Love”•“Peggy Sue”•“That’ll Be the Day”

“Holly was the single most influential creative force in early rock and roll.”—critic, Bruce Eder

The King of Rock: Elvis Presley

• Discovered by Sam Phillips (Summer 1954)– “White Man with Black

Feel”• Records “That’s All Right”

1954• Manager: Col. Tom

Parker– Takes 50% earnings for

LIFE

Elvis: The Glory Years (1956-1958)• RCA Records

– “Heartbreak Hotel”--#1 on Pop Charts

• Elvis Styles– Rock: “Hound Dog” &

“Jailhouse Rock”– Pops: “Don’t Be Cruel” & “All

Shook Up”– Ballads: “Love Me Tender”

• Best Selling Record of the 50s– “Don’t Be Cruel”/“Hound Dog”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5JALwwaASg&feature=related

Elvis in the Movies

• Love Me Tender (56)

• Loving You (57)

• Jailhouse Rock (57)

• King Creole (58)

• Would appear in 20 feature films

Elvis Goes to the Army• March 1958: Elvis

Drafted into the Army

• Rock Hits A Lull Until The Beatles/Beach Boys– Chuck Berry: Jail– Jerry Lee Lewis:

Blacklisted– Little Richard: Religion– Buddy Holly: Dies

Suggested Music (later recordings): •“Suspicious Minds,” “In the Ghetto,” “Polk Salad Annie”

Suggested Album: •Live in Vegas Box Set

Rockabilly

• “Susie Q”—Dale Hawkins (1957)

• “Who Will the Next Fool Be”—Charlie Rich

• “Ooby Dooby”—Roy Orbison• “Rebel Rouser”—Duane

Eddy• “Train Kept A Rollin”—

Johnny Brunette Rock N’ Roll Trio

Doo Wop Ballads

• The Flamingos: “I Only Have Eyes For You”• Jerry Butler and the Impressions: “For Your

Precious Love”• The 5 Satins: “In the Still Night”

R & B: Push Toward Soul

• Johnny Ace: “Pledging My Love”– Kills himself playing

Russian Roulette• Screamin’ Jay Hawkins: “I

Put A Spell On You”– Too wild for radio

• Solomon Burke: “Cry to Me”– Incorporates Gospel Style

Soul Pioneers: Ray Charles

• Overcomes brutality of South and being blind

• Controversial: Converts Gospel hymns into Soul songs– “I’ve Got A Woman”

• 1st Million Selling Record– “What I’d Say”– Banned by some radio

stations

Suggested Songs: •“I’ve Got a Woman,” •“What I’d Say,” •“Hallelujah, I Just Lover Her So,” •“Hit the Road Jack,” •“Georgia on my Mind”

Soul Pioneers: Jackie Wilson

• Key in transition from R & B to Soul

• Master Showman & Dynamic Singer

• Tied Down by Brunswick Mob

• 1975 Benefit Concert– Heart Attack on Stage Suggested Songs:

•“Higher & Higher”•“Lonely Teardrops”•“Reet Petite”

Soul Pioneers: Sam Cooke• King of Soul• Had 29 Top 40 Hits• Influenced Aretha Franklin,

Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, James Brown

• Entrepreneur & Civil Rights Activist– Publishing Co. & Recording Studio

• Tragic Death (1964)– Murdered at age 33, by Hacienda

Motel manager

Suggested Songs:•“Bring It On Home To Me”•“Chain Gang”•“Change Is Gonna Come”•“Wonderful World”•“You Send Me”

Soul Pioneers: James Brown• Godfather of Soul

• “Hardest Working Man in Show Business”

• Most Sampled Artist in History of genre

• Social/Civil Rights Activist

Suggested Songs:•Please, Please, Please•Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag•Get Back•“Man’s Man’s Man’s World”