Music History and Appreciation

Rock music began with what was called rock and roll in the 1940s and 1950s, which developed from blues and other African American music and took elements from other genres such as country and folk. Rock often uses an electric guitar and focuses on a small group of musicians working together in a band.

Rock music developed several smaller genres that vary widely, including styles like blues rock, progressive rock, new wave, and many, many more. Rock was often associated with counter-cultural groups like the hippie subculture and punk subculture and can be associated with political activism.

Here are some terms and genres associated with rock music that may help you in your searches.

• Rock and roll
• Rockabilly
• British Invasion
• Motown
• Heavy metal
• Punk
• Goth
• Gothic
• Grunge
• Glam rock

This Rock timeline by Carnegie Hall provides a brief overview of the history of rock music (focusing on African Americans) in an interactive, multimedia format.

National Public Radio's World Cafe correspondent John Morrison presents a podcast exploring Black artists who helped reinvent rock called The Black Innovators Of Rock And Roll. Listen to Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4 on the NPR website.