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MUSIC

During the 1950s and 1960s in America, racial tensions were high as the Civil Rights Movement gained momentum. Many black artists' songs were exploited as their music was covered by white artists who received more recognition and compensation. Artists like Chuck Berry and Little Richard helped establish rock and roll music despite facing racial challenges, influencing teenage audiences and future musicians. The doo-wop style also emerged from African American vocal groups combining R&B, jazz, and gospel. Motown Records, founded by Berry Gordy in Detroit, went on to achieve significant success representing black artists and helping develop rock and roll music further.

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38 views3 pages

MUSIC

During the 1950s and 1960s in America, racial tensions were high as the Civil Rights Movement gained momentum. Many black artists' songs were exploited as their music was covered by white artists who received more recognition and compensation. Artists like Chuck Berry and Little Richard helped establish rock and roll music despite facing racial challenges, influencing teenage audiences and future musicians. The doo-wop style also emerged from African American vocal groups combining R&B, jazz, and gospel. Motown Records, founded by Berry Gordy in Detroit, went on to achieve significant success representing black artists and helping develop rock and roll music further.

Uploaded by

berenice aguirre
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Berenice Aguirre 

Professor Rudd 

Music-22 

September 21, 2020   

  Rock & Roll 1950s & 1960s: Civil Rights Movement 

During the 1950s to 1960s, there was a wave of racial injustice 

throughout America. Racial tensions rose towards the African American 

communities because of this many African American artists and performers' 

gifts and talents were being taken advantage of. The black artist were not 

receiving credit for their songs. White artists were hijacking many of the Black 

artist's songs such as Elvis Presley. White singers would cover African 

American artist's songs and will receive praise for them. As a result of these 

covers, African American artists were exploited and not compensated for their 

records. These artists were denied any financial compensation for their 

records.  

 
Although there was a lot of racial tensions with the African American 

community artist such as Chuck Berry and Little Richard influenced Rock and 

Roll music. Many teenagers were eager to hear their music. Chuck Berry 

throughout the 1950s had many hits that were high on the pop charts. Berry 

reached the teenage audience due to the theme of his songs about everyday 

concerns, school, girls, cars, and the many problems of growing up during that 

age. Some of the songs with these messages include, "School Days", "Sweet 

Little Sixteen", and "Almost Grown Up". He also slightly addressed the class 

and racial issues during that time. Berry also influenced a new guitar sound 

with licks and double-stopped riffs.  

Little Richard was also an iconic African American artist who influential 

to Rock and Roll during the 1950s. Unfortunately, Little Richard was a victim of 

hijacking. Richard had a very vibrant style of performing. He influenced many 

future Rock and Roll artist with his frenetic head-shaking theatrical moves. He 

inspired performers such as David Bowie, Prince, Boy George. His 

gender-bending rock style made a gateway for some future Rock and Roll 

performers.  

The Rock and Roll styles began to change during the 1950s and 60s. 

Many successful artists were introducing a new style called Doo-wop. 


Doo-wop originated from vocal groups of the 1940s that is R&B combined with 

jazz and gospel influences. Doo-wop was born in the streets in New York where 

many young black men were not able to afford instruments and would make up 

songs. These songs were mainly about youth and young love. Many of these 

groups relied on their harmonies. Most Doo-wop groups were one-hit wonders 

and only a few achieved success.  

The era of Motown began in Detroit and ist founder was a former boxer 

and automobile worker Berry Gordy and he later became a producer and 

songwriter. Gordy had a small jazz record store and he wrote songs for the 

local R&B artist. Later, Berry borrowed $800 from his family and began his 

first record company, Tamla Records. Gordy's first hit release was "Come to 

Me" by R&B singer Marv Johnson. Berry later found himself not being able to 

handle distribution he relied on record companies such as United Artist and 

Chess Records. Soon William "Smokey" Robinson convinced Mowtown to be 

its distributor. That began the rise of Mowtown. Many of these artists, 

producers, and artists became a development for Rock and Roll.  

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