Birth of Rock ’n’ Roll

Excerpted from Awakenings from Then ’til Now ( http://goo.gl/Xtj1c) by Sharla Lee Shults. Sharla’s passion for writing is poetry: Historical and inspirational. Become acquainted with her writing by visiting http://sharlashults.com/ where links are accessible to her books and blogs. Sharla previously shared A Woodsy Morning at The Write Room: http://www.thewriteroomblog.com/?p=1060

Birth of Rock ’n’ Roll

The beginning of rock ’n’ roll ushered in new dimensions to performing and dancing with a strange new synergy of rhythm. Music and lyrics were defiantly energetic that some considered rebellious and a form of nascent passion.

The music goes on...Roaring into the 20s

As far back as the twenties
Rock and roll first appeared
As combinations of classic blues
Boogie woogie and jazz

  Stemming from black gospel musicians
In the Deep South of America
Something akin to mystical bliss
Filled the air with spirit and pizzazz

The music goes on...Swing into the 30s

 During the mid-thirties
African-American worldly sounds
Rebranded rhythm and blues
For a predominant white audience

  Blues-influenced country swing
Debuted in urban-based dance bands
With saxophones, trumpets, trombones
Providing their own rare ambiance

The music goes on...Still Swinging in the 40s

 Mid-forties bebop
Met Latin jazz infusions
Foot-tapping, head-swinging
True blues-jazz blended music

 Racing themes of love
Loss, regret, and fragmented life
Followed World War II
Becoming quite virtuosic

 

The music goes on...Leading up to the 50s

 For centuries, “rocking and rolling”
Denoted motion of ships at sea
Side-to-side and forward-and-backward
Rising and falling, wild and reckless

  From fifties offbeat music
Side-to-side and forward-and-backward
Rising and falling, wild and reckless
Came Rock ’n’ Roll, timeless and ageless

The music goes on...Rockin' in the 50s, Rollin' Too!

 Long Live Rock ’n’ Roll!

 And the music goes on beating to the rhythm of the changing times...