Rock History Test 1

Juke Joint/Barrelhouse

An establishment run by African Americans in the Southeastern US where music was played, often with gambling, and dancing. They served as social locations where blues music was developed and popularized.

Alan Lomax

An American ethnomusicologist known for his field recordings of traditional music, particularly American folk and blues, and for advocating the preservation of cultural heritage.

Charles Peabody

An American archeologist who published the first academic findings of Blues music in 1903 while employing African American laborers.

Henry Sloan

An American musician in the early 1900’s that tutored Charles Patton. One of the earliest figures associated with Delta Blues.

Charley Patton

An influential American Delta Blues musician and songwriter often referred to as the "Father of the Delta Blues”.

Dockery Farms

Often referred to as the place where Delta Blues was born.

Son House

Considered, with Charles Patton, one of the first generation Blues musicians. Played throughout the Mississippi Delta.

Robert Johnson

The most influential Blues musician of the first generation because of his talent and improved recordings over other musicians. Said to have sold his soul to the devil to learn how to play guitar.

Freddie Spruell

A Delta Blues musician who is considered to be the first Delta Bluesman to be recorded.

Gertrude “Ma” Rainey

A Blues female singer who was recorded and marketed to African Americans on “Race Records”.

W.C. Handy

One of the first Blues musicians to publish his music, helping bring it into a more wide known phenomenon.

Mamie Smith

A Vaudeville performer who is considered to have the first blues record published in 1920.

Race Records

Music marketed to African American audiences in the 1920-30’s.

Paramount Records

Established in Grafton Wisconsin as a furniture company, it started marketing “Race Records” in the 1920’s to help the sell of Phonographs.

Great Migration

When African Americans escaping Jim Crow and seeking better job opportunities migrated to Northern states, particularly during the World Wars. Approximately 1.6 million migrated.

Urban Blues

Also knowns as Electric Blues, because of the use of electric instruments, blues music brought to urban centers, particularly Chicago Illinois during the great migration was merged with new instrumentation and sound.

Chess Records

Founded by Leonard and Phil Chess in the 1950’s, they recorded tons of blues, soul, and rock musicians and marketed their records to Black communities.

Muddy Waters

One of the first Blues musicians to become internationally famous.

Howlin’ Wolf

One of the next generation Blues musicians who learned Blues music from Charlie Patton, often considered to sound a lot like Patton.

Louis Jordan

A Blues musician credited with popularizing “Jump Blues”, a style of Blues music that was fast paced.

Jump Blues

A style of Blues music that is faster paced than traditional Blues.

Fiddlin’ John Carson

Born in Fannin county Georgia, is often considered the first recorded country musician.

Vernon Dalhart

A Country musician with the first popular Country album “Wreck of the Old ‘97” in 1926

Carter Family

The first successful Country music group.

Jimmie Rodgers

The first proper Country music star.

Ernest Tubb

Popular Country singer who popularized the style of “Honky Tonky” Country.

Gene Autry

Popular Country singer who popularized the style of “Cowboy” Country.

Bill Monroe

Popular Country singer who popularized the style of “Bluegrass” Country.

Bob Wills

Popular Country singer who popularized the style of “Texas Swing” Country. Heavily influenced by Blues and Jazz.

Hank Williams

Went by the Alias “Luke the Drifter” - also knowns as the “Hillbilly Shakespeare”. He was heavily influenced by first generation, country artists and had a massive influence on modern country music.

“John R.” Richbourgh

A disk jockey for WLAC, he played a critical role in popularizing Blues and Rhythm music.

“Hound Dog” Lorenz

Often referred to as “The man who created Rock and Roll” - An extremely popular White disk jockey, his ability to appeal to white audiences helped to a broaden the popularity of new Rock music genres.

Nat D. Williams

A popular disk jockey for WDIA.

Rufus Thomas

A popular disk jockey for WDIA.

B. B. King

A popular disk jockey for WDIA.

WDIA

Founded in 1947 in Memphis, TN - Was one of the first long distance radio broadcasts in the south. Was an African American ran radio station that featured Black artists and helped to spread Black artists to much of the US population.

WLAC

A radio station in Nashville TN that reached half the United States - Ushered in evening Rhythm and Blues programs that helped to introduce many White teenagers to Black artists.

“Hoss” Allen

A White WLAC disc jockey - Growing up, went to Black churches with his maid. He played many Black artists.

Alan Freed

A White WLAC disc jockey - He promoted Black music to White teens and is credited with popularizing the term “Rock and Roll”.

Antoine “Fats” Domino

Born in 1928 in New Orleans - A Black Artist with Blues, Jazz, and Creole musical influences that was intersectional in the White community because he was seen as less threatening to White parents.

J & M Studios

A recording studio in New Orleans that is often credited with being the birthplace of Rock and Roll.

Dave Bartholomew

A music producer in New Orleans who is credited with helping popular music from transitioning from Blues and Swing to R&B.

Bill Haley (and the Comets)

An early Rock and Roll musician, he is credited with first popularizing the genre of Rock.

Rock Around the Clock

A Rock and Roll song, turned film, by Bill Haley that is considered the first big Rock hit.

Little Richard

Born in 1932 in Macon Georgia - He was influenced by Blues and Gospel music. He was one of the first Rock artists with which record companies realized the potential popularity of Rock music. He scared white parents with his Black music and “race music”.

Art Rupe

Elvis Presley

Born in 1935 Tupelo, Mississippi - Often referred to as the “King of Rock and Roll”, he was the most popular artist of the first generation of Rock and Roll musicians and singers. He was influenced by Blues and Gospel music in his youth, and recorded many songs by other artists that helped to bring them to the limelight of Rock and Roll.

Sun Records

A recording studio in Memphis, Tennessee that opened in 1950 - It is known for signing with and finding many of the big name Rock and Roll artists of the first generation. Artists include: Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash.

Sam Phillips

The founder of the recording studio, Sun Records. He initially focused on Blues musicians before shifting to Rock artists.

Scotty Moore

A heavily influential guitarist who performed with the Blue Moon Boys, Elvis Presley’s first band.

Bill Black

The band leader for the Blue Moon Boys, Elvis Presley’s first band.

Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup

A Delta Blues artist that wrote That’s All Right that would later be covered by Elvis Presley.

Louisiana Hayride

A popular radio program that scouted for musical talent. This was the program that Elvis Presley debuted his career with Sun Records with the song That’s All Right.

Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton

A Black female Blues artist who sang the first rendition of Hound Dog which would be rerecorded by Elvis Presley and become one of his signature songs.

Jerry Lieber

One of the writers of the song Hound Dog.

Mike Stoller

One of the writers of the song Hound Dog.

Freddie Bell and the Bellboys

A lounge act in Las Vegas that played a more upbeat version of Hound Dog that Elvis would see and inspire him to play himself.

“Colonel” Tom Parker

Elvis Presley’s manager - He was notorious for taking a 50% cut of Elvis’ income.

Graceland

The home of Elvis Presley in Memphis Tennessee.

Jerry Lee Lewis

Born in Farriday, Louisiana - Known as “The Killer”, he is considered a pioneer of Rock and Roll. His career was fraught with scandal and he had problems with drugs and alcohol. He had a comeback in his later career playing Country music.

Big Maybelle

A Black female artist who first recorded Whole Lotta Shakin Goin On in 1955 that was popularized by Jerry Lee Lewis.

Hainey’s Big House

A night club and bar in Louisiana that presented many Black artists from across the south.

Otis Blackwell

A prolific song writer that wrote songs such as Great Balls of Fire for Jerry Lee Lewis and Don’t Be Cruel and All Shook Up for Elvis Presley.

Myra Brown

Jerry Lee Lewis’ third wife and 13 year old cousin who he married. This would be the scandal that would permanently damage his image.

Carl Perkins

A musician and song writer born in Tennessee - He wrote several very influential songs that would be covered by many popular Rock artists. Blue Suede Shoes - Elvis Presley; Matchbox

Johnny Cash

Born in Kingsland, Arkansas - Known as “The Man in Black”, he was a poplar Country Rock artist and is known for his recordings such as Folsom Prison Blues. He had problems with drugs and alcohol in his later life but was rehabilitated after marrying his second wife, June Carter.

June Carter

Johnny Cash’s second wife, she was the daughter of Maybelle Carter of the Carter Family.

Million Dollar Quartet

A series of recordings in 1956 at Sun Records in which Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash all sang together.

Bo Diddely

Born in McComb Mississippi - He was a Black guitarist, singer, and violinist with a distinct Rhythmic playing style. His songs also included percussion instruments and female singers that were unusually for Rock and Roll music at the time.

Everly Brothers

They were brothers with Country music influence; they recorded Rock songs with softer harmonics and were seen as more acceptable by White parents. They heavily influenced future artists such as the Beatles.

Buddy Holly

Born in Lubbock Texas - Composed and performed up tempo ballads. He was considered multi-talented and a big role model for early Rock and Roll singer songwriters, namely the Beatles. He died in a plane crash at the age of 23 in 1959 at Clear Lake, Iowa.

Chuck Berry

Born in St. Louis, he was a Rock artist influenced by Blues music, Frank Sinatra, and Jimmie Rodgers. Many of his songs had a Country style which made his racial identity difficult to determine. He appealed heavily to white teenagers. His career was interrupted with legal issues when he was arrested for violating the Mann Act with a White teenage girl (transporting minors across state lines).

J. P. Richardson

Known as “The Big Bopper”, he died in a plane crash with Buddy Holly in 1959.

Richie Valens

A Rock and Roll artist who died in a plane crash with Boddy Holly in 1959.

Hail! Hail! Rock and Roll

A popular documentary about Chuck Berry.

How was music from Africa transplanted to America via the slave trade?

What was the Great Migration and how did it affect blues music in the United States?

What are the dynamics between Blues music and Country music a it relates to Rock and Roll?

How did teenagers and the American environment in general, during the 1950’s, help lead to the rise of Rock and Roll music?

What was the opposition like to early Rock and Roll music. Who were the main objectors and why?

What roll did radio play in the early development of Rock and Roll music?

What influence did Gospel music have on early White Rock and Roll musicians?