1950's R and R
This generation, born after WWII, became a powerful new cultural force in the 1950s.
Who are the baby boomers?
This scandal involved DJs being paid to play certain songs on the radio.
What is the Payola scandal?
This fast, complex jazz style was pioneered by Charlie Parker.
What is Bebop?
“I Heard It Through the Grapevine” was recorded by this Motown artist.
Who is Marvin Gaye?
This band led the British Invasion in 1964.
Who are The Beatles?
This 1954 Supreme Court decision legally ended school segregation.
What is Brown v. Board of Education?
In the 1950s, many Black artists’ songs were re-recorded by white artists for broader audiences. This practice was known as this.
What are cover versions?
This more relaxed jazz style is associated with Miles Davis.
What is Cool Jazz?
This girl group recorded “Stop! In the Name of Love.”
Who are The Supremes?
This blues-influenced British band rivaled The Beatles.
Who are The Rolling Stones?
This artist recorded “Heartbreak Hotel” and became the King of Rock ’n’ Roll.
Who is Elvis Presley?
This production technique, created by Phil Spector, layered instruments to create a dense sound.
What is the Wall of Sound?
John Coltrane and Art Blakey were major figures in this style.
What is Hard Bop?
“My Girl” was recorded by this Motown group.
Who are The Temptations?
This British band was known for smashing guitars and high-energy performances.
Who are The Who?
This guitarist wrote and recorded “Johnny B. Goode.”
Who is Chuck Berry?
Motown Records was founded in this city.
What is Detroit?
Jazz in the 1940s–50s emphasized this musical skill above all.
What is improvisation?
Motown was important because it helped promote this in popular music.
What is racial integration / crossover appeal?
The British Invasion reshaped American rock by reintroducing this earlier American genre.
What is blues?
This blues-based harmonic structure became foundational to early rock music.
What is the 12-bar blues?
This question students must answer: Who benefited financially from cover culture in the 1950s — original Black artists or record labels and white performers?
Record labels and white performers typically benefited more.
Bebop was less about dancing and more about this type of listening experience.
What is artistic/virtuosic listening or intellectual listening?
Describe two musical characteristics of the Motown sound.
Strong backbeat
Tambourine
Bass-driven grooves
Call-and-response vocals
Polished production
Explain how British bands reshaped American rock music culturally or musically.
Increased focus on bands (not solo singers)
Songwriting bands
Youth identity
Edgier image
Guitar-driven sound