History of Popular Music from 1950

The history of Music and Technology are closely linked. Due to technology growing over the last couple centuries artists and song writers can reach new and bigger audiences. Starting with singles then album collection and now even videos being streamed straight to phones. 

Rhythm & Blues, Rock'n'Roll

Modern music begins with rock'n'roll which started in the 1950s. Within the late 1940s musicians whittles down the big band formation to a very small amount such as just vocals, string bass, drums, piano, brass and syncopated version of the blues which they names 'rhythm and blues'. R&B, similarly to Jazz, is associated with sexuality and immorally and was disapproved of by the establishment. 

'Lyrics were laden and innuendo, and the dancing got very dirty' 

It was considered okay for the black youths in the poorer parts of the country, however was 
disapproved of from the polite white society. 

Elvis Presley recorded a record for his mother as a mothers day present. He sang religious gospel, western and even Dead n Martin material. Sam Phillips scouted Elvis as he thought he had exactly what he had been looking for - a white singer who sounded black. Many listeners assumed that Elvis was black. By combining the down'n'dirty rhythm with the blues, Sam Phillips created a new pop culture pair. He was classed as a country star simply for chart purposes, however in reality he was a new hybrid. Country infused rhythm and blues, which would eventually evolve into rockabilly and then rock'n'roll. 

Pop Music and Television

When the innovation of television cam out it had a major impact on people consuming popular music. Elvis Presley's performance of Hound Dog on the Milton Berle show brought a swarm and massive focus onto TV screens.

Elvis Hound Dog performance shoved Elvis into the international lime light.  

There was a concern that Elvis may be prone to social change and interation as he was white and yet sung black music, furthermore he had never made any attempt to hide the fact that his musical heros were black. 

Once Elvis appeared on TV is was clear that segregations were fighting a lost cause against the music. Everything was becoming combined, Rock'n'role was out and proud about the blend of black and white rhythm and soul. By 1957 mixed group tours were undergo.

'The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Creedence Clearwater Revival were all introduced to the blues by Elvis.' - Bano from the Rolling stones, 2004