PowerPoint presentation

1. Appreciation of Music LO1 Presentation
Hi, my name is Phil Mitchell and today I will be
discussing my findings on the musical genre of
ROCKABILLY. While R&R became the dominant
and lasting form, Rockabilly became a cult of
loyal devotes who enjoy this style of early R&R.
Distinctive in the echo, stand up slap base, and
hiccup type vocals. And also the fashion.
Teddy Boy image. Drape or leather jackets &
quiff pompadour hairstyles.

2. Musical Features
• Within this genre there are two key musical features that I have
discovered, these are Rhythm & Blues and Country.
Little Walter - Your So Fine (1950)
https://youtu.be/iGjEeiG8xdg?t=2362
• R&B is the precursor of R&R. It has a strong beat, with guitar, bass &
drums, along with piano, and saxophone, played by Black
African/Americans. Had its start with electric blues and Gospel.

3. Musical feature 1
• Here is a clip of this feature:-
Fats Domino - The Fat Man (version 1) - December 10, 1949
https://youtu.be/WXHdaY59e-U
https://youtu.be/uLvXVnpnR84

4. Musical feature 2
• The second musical feature I will discuss is Country.
Developed in America especially in rural areas, hillbilly
and cowboy songs became popular, with traditional
instruments, fiddles & guitar. Eventually this barn dance
type music fused with blues music & Boogie Woogie.
1956 would see Rockabilly (Country basically with
speed) with the likes of Johnny Cash. Elvis and Bill
Haley would kick start Rock n Roll from Rockabilly.

5. Musical feature 2
COUNTRY: JIMMY ROGERS
https://youtu.be/gbzc77Tz6PA

6. Features 1 & 2
• Feature 1 – Rhythm & Blues incorporates a
fusion of blues and country with a more
upbeat energised rhythm.
• Feature 2 – Country is a form of folk music
from America with a basic A-B-A-C-B format of
verse chorus verse bridge chorus, the building
blocks of classic Rock, with good simple
melody hooks, and rhythm. Lyrically it’s the
tragic love and lonely life scenario.

7. Individuals/ Groups
• The forerunners and innovators of Rock n Roll,
come to mind with roots in blues and
country. Bands who have taken this genre and
developed it as their own.
• Elvis Presley (1954-1957)
• Stray Cats (1979-1984-stagnant)
• Reckless Ones (2009-present)

8. Artist 1 Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley – known as the undisputed king of
Rock, and the one who started the rock Rollin’.
His early records influenced just about everyone
who came after. That’s All Right Mama –
Mystery Train – Good Rockin’ Tonight – Blue
Moon Of Kentucky – a distinctive style of singing
and performance. In turn Elvis was influenced
from the Afro/American Blues.

9. Artist 2 Stray Cats
Stray Cats – Formed 1979.
A fondness for the Memphis Sun Records that
launched Elvis. They hail from New York. They
came to the UK because of a revival of Teddy Boy
50s sub-culture. They had a few hit records and
then moved in other directions. They were
influenced by Bill Hailey, but much more energetic,
throwing themselves on & of instruments, ect.
Others: Jets;Shakin’ Stevens;Matchbox; Smiths –
White Stripes;Kings of Leon. TV Shows/Films.

10. Artist 3 Reckless Ones
• Formed: 2009 2 LPs 2 Eps. (Indie) Classic line
up. Modern take on Rockabilly (Psycobilly)
Goth & Punk elements. Include piano, and
acoustic guitar. Vocal harmony’s. Facebook.
Dead & Gone. https://youtu.be/SEJHMbVksss?t=64

11. In addition…
• I have also studied the genre of British Beat
Music and will now discuss 2 musical features
of this genre.
• Feature 1 – Skiffle
• Feature 2 – Psychadelia

12. Developments
• Feature 1 – Skiffle – First mention in 20s form of
improvised jazz jug bands who would find the
closest accessible object such as washboards to
make a sound, cheap and easy. This transferred
to UK 50s when kids heard a similar style from
Lonnie Donegan, who improvised during trad jazz
intervals. It’s focus on Folk & Blues songs.
Instruments were guitar played with banjo like
chords at the nut, washboard and tea-chest string
base. Kids adopting this include the future
Beatles and other British Beat groups.

13. • Feature 2 – Psychadelia – This type of music
came about through the use of drugs LSD. Its
out of body, and mind bending experience,
that made static objects and views seem to
sway and dissolve, gave musicians attempt to
create that feeling by using exotic instruments
such as the Indian Sitar, or electric organs.
And the manipulation of sound recording in
the studio. Typified by The Beatles, The
Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd.

14. 3 individuals/ groups
• Artist 1 – The Beatles
• Artist 2 – The Hollies
• Artist 3 – The Rolling Stones

15. Artist 1 The Beatles
The Beatles influence is felt through the generations.
They came together from 1957-59 playing first Skiffle,
and from 1960 onward influenced by Rockabilly, Rock &
Roll, although they took on many styles when they had to
expand their repertoire during long hours playing in
Hamburg, Germany. They then found fame, and matured
moving into different realms of possibilities like Folk,
Psychedelia & Progressive Rock. Also the song writing
talent of Lennon & McCartney is renowned the world
over. The Beat music of the early to mid 60’s was a hard
shuffle beat not just on the back beat but on every beat
of 4/4 common time, especially from Liverpool, along
with pulsating bass lines & close harmony's.

16. Artist 2 The Hollies
Unlike other bands who disbanded in the mid 60s because of changes
in social trends and music styles The Hollies had great staying power,
not unlike The Rolling Stones. Their early songs were covers of US
Rock & R&B songs, with clever 3-part harmony, and they had creative
songwriters, and tried their hand at different styles, such as the
hypnotic guitar riff on “Stop,stop,stop” & “King Midas in Reverse” and
the psychedelic LP “Butterfly”. They had the great ballad No.3 hit “He
Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother”. They had many top 5 hits, including
No.2s and a No.1 with “I’m Alive”. Like other bands of the British
invasion they followed The Beatles to America, but were not a great
success, until they changed labels and had some top 10 hits. Other
Beat music groups who had some success in America, include The
Rolling Stones equal to The Beatles, The Who, The Kinks, The Dave
Clark Five, The Animals, Herman’s Hermits. Initially acts from Liverpool
also made an impact such as Gerry & The Pacemakers and The
Searchers.

17. Artist 3 The Rolling Stones
Greatly influenced by their Blues heroes such as
Muddy Waters, They were fundamentally a Blues
and Rock outfit. More outlandish they made a
good contrast to the lovable mop tops and had a
huge following. They touched on Psychedelia also,
and through out their long career made a lasting
impression commercially. They ventured into song
writing at times out-stripping the popularity of The
Beatles, with their inventive riffs and hooks. They
scored many number one singles and albums in the
UK and eventually the US. They spearheaded the
British invasion coming second to The Beatles.