Elvis and RockabillyElvis and Rockabilly

Bill Haley and the CometsBill Haley and the Comets• Haley from Western swing traditionHaley from Western swing tradition• Some success with cover of Rocket 88Some success with cover of Rocket 88

– Renamed band “the Comets” Renamed band “the Comets” – Starts performing R&B coversStarts performing R&B covers

• Hits with Rock Around the ClockHits with Rock Around the Clock– For most of song, fast shuffle rhythmFor most of song, fast shuffle rhythm– Occasionally beat evens out, esp. during Occasionally beat evens out, esp. during

guitar solosguitar solos

Bill Haley and the CometsBill Haley and the Comets• Style combination of Western swing, boogie-woogie, and R&BStyle combination of Western swing, boogie-woogie, and R&B• Not a huge impact in this country, but in England, bigger than ElvisNot a huge impact in this country, but in England, bigger than Elvis

– Starts English teens singing rock and rollStarts English teens singing rock and roll

• Strong crossover appealStrong crossover appeal• Frequently involves mixture of stylesFrequently involves mixture of styles• Most defined by strong rhythmic activityMost defined by strong rhythmic activity

• Descended from swing jazzDescended from swing jazz– Stripped down instrumentation: 2-3 horns + percussion sectionStripped down instrumentation: 2-3 horns + percussion section– Plus a Plus a blues shouterblues shouter – – male vocalist with strong, supported blues voicemale vocalist with strong, supported blues voice

• Up-tempo numbers with boogie-woogie feelUp-tempo numbers with boogie-woogie feel• Riff-based accompanimentsRiff-based accompaniments

– Rough, “honking” instrumental timbres Rough, “honking” instrumental timbres

• Four- or eight-beat style beatFour- or eight-beat style beat• ““Slice of life” vignettesSlice of life” vignettes• Showmanship important Showmanship important • ““Father of rhythm and blues”Father of rhythm and blues”

– Showman, comic, and bandleaderShowman, comic, and bandleader• Ex. Choo-Choo-Ch-BoogieEx. Choo-Choo-Ch-Boogie

– Shuffle style beatShuffle style beat– Boogie-woogie walking bassBoogie-woogie walking bass– Riff-basedRiff-based– Verse/chorus blues formVerse/chorus blues form

• Verse = 12 bar bluesVerse = 12 bar blues• Refrain = 8 bar bluesRefrain = 8 bar blues

• Country blues carried north to citiesCountry blues carried north to cities• New style starts to develop in ChicagoNew style starts to develop in Chicago

– Drums, bass, harmonica and/or piano added to singer+guitarsDrums, bass, harmonica and/or piano added to singer+guitars– Role of each instrument specifiedRole of each instrument specified

• Forms: Forms: – 12 or 16 bar (aaab) blues12 or 16 bar (aaab) blues– blues verse/chorusblues verse/chorus

• Often riff-basedOften riff-based• Strong rhythm sectionStrong rhythm section• Amplification usedAmplification used• Aggressive and extroverted: shouted vocals, hard timekeepingAggressive and extroverted: shouted vocals, hard timekeeping

• Major influence on urban bluesMajor influence on urban blues• Ex. Hoochie Coochie ManEx. Hoochie Coochie Man

– Waters (guitar), piano, bass, harmonicaWaters (guitar), piano, bass, harmonica– Verse/Chorus blues formVerse/Chorus blues form

• 16 bar blues; first 8 verse, 2nd 8 chorus 16 bar blues; first 8 verse, 2nd 8 chorus – Stop time: 1 1/2 beat riff, 2 1/2 beats for vocalsStop time: 1 1/2 beat riff, 2 1/2 beats for vocals– Dense texturesDense textures– Shuffle rhythmsShuffle rhythms

• Afro-Cuban influences prominent in New Orleans R&BAfro-Cuban influences prominent in New Orleans R&B• Major influence: Professor Longhair (Roy Byrd)Major influence: Professor Longhair (Roy Byrd)

• Walking bassWalking bass• Boogie-woogie pianoBoogie-woogie piano• Shuffle rhythmShuffle rhythm• PLUS “reverse” clave rhythmPLUS “reverse” clave rhythm

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

X X X X X X X X X XX X X X X X X X X X

rather than…rather than…

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

X X X X XX X X X X

• Influenced by Professor Longhair and Latin-flavored boogie-woogieInfluenced by Professor Longhair and Latin-flavored boogie-woogie• Signature characteristic - fast, even Signature characteristic - fast, even tripletstriplets • Laid-back styleLaid-back style• Ex. Mardi Gras in New OrleansEx. Mardi Gras in New Orleans

– Dense textures, often polyrhythmic as wellDense textures, often polyrhythmic as well

– Clave rhythmClave rhythm

– 12-bar blues12-bar blues

Elvis PresleyElvis Presley

• Is most of Elvis’ music rock and roll?Is most of Elvis’ music rock and roll?– Jailhouse Rock?Jailhouse Rock?– Mystery Train?Mystery Train?– Hound Dog?Hound Dog?– All Shook Up?All Shook Up?

Elvis PresleyElvis Presley• Regardless of beat structure, Elvis Regardless of beat structure, Elvis isis rock and rock and

roll ---roll ---• Figure though which R&B/rock and roll Figure though which R&B/rock and roll

reaches large white audiencereaches large white audience

Elvis Presley (1935-1977)Elvis Presley (1935-1977)

• Born Tupelo, Mississippi into poor familyBorn Tupelo, Mississippi into poor family• Begins playing guitar age 11Begins playing guitar age 11

• Influences: Muddy Waters, Jimmie Influences: Muddy Waters, Jimmie RodgersRodgers

• Moves to Memphis 1948, absorbs blues, R&B Moves to Memphis 1948, absorbs blues, R&B scenescene

• Early 1954 goes into Sun studios to record demoEarly 1954 goes into Sun studios to record demo

Elvis Presley (1935-1977)Elvis Presley (1935-1977)

• Early 1954 goes into Sun studios to record Early 1954 goes into Sun studios to record demodemo

• Second session records Second session records That’s All Right MamaThat’s All Right Mama and and Blue Moon of KentuckyBlue Moon of Kentucky

• By August featured on Grand Old OpryBy August featured on Grand Old Opry• August 1956 TV appearances make a sensationAugust 1956 TV appearances make a sensation

Elvis - Major InfluencesElvis - Major Influences• Brings huge number of vocal styles into rock and Brings huge number of vocal styles into rock and

rollroll• Persona in which country and R&B, black and Persona in which country and R&B, black and

white cultures meshwhite cultures mesh• Style combination of honky-tonk, Western swing, Style combination of honky-tonk, Western swing,

R&B, with unique vocal styleR&B, with unique vocal style• Creates sub-genre of rock and roll = Creates sub-genre of rock and roll = rockabillyrockabilly

RockabillyRockabilly• Combination of country and R&B, but with Combination of country and R&B, but with

more weight on the country elementsmore weight on the country elements• Less blues influence on vocal style than Berry, Less blues influence on vocal style than Berry,

Little RichardLittle Richard– Rather, hiccups, stuttersRather, hiccups, stutters– vibratovibrato (quavery) vocal effects (quavery) vocal effects

• Fast, nervous tempos of bluegrassFast, nervous tempos of bluegrass

RockabillyRockabilly• Combination of country and R&B, but with more Combination of country and R&B, but with more

weight on the country elementsweight on the country elements• Less blues influence on vocal style than Berry, Less blues influence on vocal style than Berry,

Little RichardLittle Richard• Accented backbeat, but even beats of country Accented backbeat, but even beats of country

musicmusic

RockabillyRockabilly

• ““rock” or “honky-tonk” instrumentationrock” or “honky-tonk” instrumentation– lead electric guitarlead electric guitar– acoustic rhythm guitaracoustic rhythm guitar– string bassstring bass– drumsdrums

• songs from R&B repertoire, or in similar stylesongs from R&B repertoire, or in similar style

Carl Perkins (1932-1998)Carl Perkins (1932-1998)

• Born rural Tennessee Born rural Tennessee • Working as country singer when heard Elvis on Working as country singer when heard Elvis on

radioradio• Decided to pattern style after ElvisDecided to pattern style after Elvis• Went to Sun records, auditioned for Sam Went to Sun records, auditioned for Sam

PhillipsPhillips• First record - Blues Suede Shoes - major hitFirst record - Blues Suede Shoes - major hit

Blue Suede ShoesBlue Suede Shoes

• Country influences audibleCountry influences audible• But heavy doses of blues as wellBut heavy doses of blues as well

– Stop timeStop time– guitar styleguitar style– riff-basedriff-based

Buddy Holly (1936-1959)Buddy Holly (1936-1959)

• Born Lubbock, TXBorn Lubbock, TX• Formed Western swing band in high school; Formed Western swing band in high school;

worked as back-up band for Bill Haleyworked as back-up band for Bill Haley• Models vocal style after Elvis after meeting at gigsModels vocal style after Elvis after meeting at gigs• First recording, in 1956, unsuccessfulFirst recording, in 1956, unsuccessful

Buddy Holly (1936-1959)Buddy Holly (1936-1959)

• That’ll Be The DayThat’ll Be The Day a hit in 1957 a hit in 1957• Rapid string of seven hit records with band The Rapid string of seven hit records with band The

CricketsCrickets• Killed in plane crash in 1959 - “The Day The Killed in plane crash in 1959 - “The Day The

Music Died”Music Died”

Buddy Holly - styleBuddy Holly - style• Equal parts of country, R&B, and rock and rollEqual parts of country, R&B, and rock and roll

– Guitar style: R&B influencedGuitar style: R&B influenced– Vocal style: country + ElvisVocal style: country + Elvis– Musical forms, Chuck Berry-influenced Musical forms, Chuck Berry-influenced

lyrics: rock and rolllyrics: rock and roll• Compositions most sophisticated of early rock Compositions most sophisticated of early rock

artistsartists

Not Fade AwayNot Fade Away

• Riff-based, but combines with stop timeRiff-based, but combines with stop time• Stuttering vocal styleStuttering vocal style• Multiple rhythmic layersMultiple rhythmic layers

– beatbeat– style beatstyle beat– Bo Diddley beatBo Diddley beat– backbeatbackbeat

Well…All RightWell…All Right

• Very different style - more pop orientedVery different style - more pop oriented• Verse/refrain, with weight on versesVerse/refrain, with weight on verses• Forward-looking: Blind Faith records a decade Forward-looking: Blind Faith records a decade

laterlater

Jerry Lee Lewis (1935- )Jerry Lee Lewis (1935- )

• Born Ferriday, LouisianaBorn Ferriday, Louisiana• Primary influences - boogie-woogie piano, New Primary influences - boogie-woogie piano, New

Orleans R&B style of Professor LonghairOrleans R&B style of Professor Longhair• Often categorized as rockabilly, but more in Often categorized as rockabilly, but more in

common with Little Richardcommon with Little Richard

Great Balls of FireGreat Balls of Fire

• Percussive, boogie-woogie piano stylePercussive, boogie-woogie piano style– With addition of glissandos, triplets of New With addition of glissandos, triplets of New

Orleans styleOrleans style• Frantic performing styleFrantic performing style• Honky-tonk/hillbilly vocalsHonky-tonk/hillbilly vocals• Blatantly sexual lyricsBlatantly sexual lyrics

Everly Brothers (Don 1937 - and Everly Brothers (Don 1937 - and Phil 1938 - )Phil 1938 - )

• Born into family of country musiciansBorn into family of country musicians• Parents ran radio station in Iowa, so heard and Parents ran radio station in Iowa, so heard and

performed everythingperformed everything• Earliest recordings for Candice label in Earliest recordings for Candice label in

Nashville Nashville

Everly Brothers - StyleEverly Brothers - Style• ““Old-Timey” vocal harmony in thirds Old-Timey” vocal harmony in thirds • High tenor range - influence from blues and High tenor range - influence from blues and

gospelgospel• ““rock” instrumentation + pianorock” instrumentation + piano• catchy melody linescatchy melody lines• gentle rock timekeepinggentle rock timekeeping