According to “pop” singer Jo Stafford, as quoted in Billboard on October 13, 1958, Rock and Roll is a matter of economy.
The current generation of 9-14 year olds is the first to receive sufficient funds from their parents to buy records in quantities that have an impact on the market. In my younger days, if I had requested 45 cents from my father for a record purchase, he would have considered me insane. Teenagers who reached adulthood prior to World War II had greater obligations. Males were expected to enlist or seek employment to provide for their families or new wives. Females were expected to find a husband, get married, and begin a family.
In the past, college was limited to a privileged few as young individuals had restricted freedom and influence over adult decisions due to their age and financial reliance. However, in the 1950s, teenagers’ roles transformed as a result of economic prosperity. This led parents to offer more opportunities for their children’s success beyond what they themselves had encountered. Consequently, an escalating number of parents started anticipating high school completion from their kids and even financially assisting them through college.
The parents generation had experienced a period of economic depression and a global conflict, which heightened their awareness of what truly mattered in life: their loved ones and their own happiness. Consequently, they started giving their children allowances and providing them with free time after school. This led to an increase in enjoyment and a decrease in seriousness among the younger generation compared to previous ones. The advent of a more liberalized culture also granted teenagers the autonomy to make independent choices, sometimes conflicting with their parents’ beliefs.
Before WWII, teenagers’ access to music was primarily through radio and occasional record purchases, both of which were decided by adults in the household. The music allowed in homes was predominantly “white” music like Tin Pan Alley or black music that had been modified to suit white preferences, including swing and the blues. The media exaggerated the increase in juvenile delinquency during this time, causing worried parents to fear impending doom and view the new music as a prime culprit.
Despite facing criticism, the music gained popularity and resulted in a “generation gap” as teenagers started to differ from their parents in various aspects. This included clothing, beliefs, hobbies, social values, and language. In 1952, Alan Freed coined the term “rock and roll,” which resonated with teenagers and helped make the music more widely accepted. Marketing strategies began targeting white teenagers with higher economic status. Both white and black teens started favoring captivating music performed by “cool” African American artists.
Many white teenagers were attracted to the music, causing “cats” to become synonymous with white kids who enjoyed black music. Leiber and Stoller, the prominent songwriting duo of the 1950s rock and roll era, were considered cats. Both individuals had grown up in and around black communities, granting them an understanding of black perspectives that few others possessed. The music styles of black musicians such as Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis appealed to white youth. Meanwhile, underprivileged black teenagers living in urban areas embraced doo-wop as it was already embedded in their cultural upbringing.
According to Rolling Stone, a large number of people took part in an activity celebrating local residents instead of national heroes. Rock and Roll, characterized by pulsating drums, repetitive chord progressions, increased tempos, and loud guitars, provided American teenagers in the 1950s with the perfect opportunity for wild new dances and unconventional hairstyles. Initially seen as a passing fad, Rock and Roll eventually became one of the most popular music genres worldwide. After World War 2 and the resolution of conflicts that had united Americans regardless of race, individuals were able to pursue their own interests without guilt. This led to a renewed division between races and social classes dominating the country’s landscape once again. The music from that time period reflected this societal situation.
Big Band music lost its direction with the emphasis shifting towards the vocalist. The Alabama White Citizens’ Council member expressed their disapproval by saying, “We’ve set up a 20-man committee to do away with this vulgar, animalistic, nigger rock and roll bop.” This period witnessed the emergence of fears among the white middle class about communism and the rise of a new independent black society. Both of these developments were considered threats to the established order, which made any cross-cultural performances appear subversive. While white music remained limited by self-imposed boundaries, black music thrived in this restrictive environment. Black innovators transformed country blues bands into urban and electric ensembles, and gospel music gave birth to doo wop. Big bands eventually broke up into smaller groups.
While some individuals were attracted to be bop, others preferred the R&B progressions of the big bands. These genres influenced each other reciprocally, resulting in the emergence of new musical styles. In the early 1950s, America was deeply divided due to concerns regarding communism and escalating racial tensions. The bus boycott sparked by Rosa Parks had not yet begun, and it would take several more years for school segregation to be declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court and three additional years for integration to be enforced in Little Rock by the National Guard.
In this context, African American music was perceived as a threat. Nevertheless, white teenagers found it captivating because it served as a unifying force on the dance floor.
After World War II, America went through a time of prosperity and confidence. Middle class white Americans started relocating to the new suburbs in pursuit of their dreams. They found lovely homes in delightful neighborhoods where there was no need for locked doors. It became an ideal place to raise children, with neighbors who acted like extended family members. The TV show “Here Comes the Nelsons” perfectly depicted the typical 1950s family. The music from the early fifties reflected this ambiance, showcasing cheerful tunes, innocent lyrics, and wholesome performers.
Innocent and inoffensive tunes, known for their feel-good nature, sincerely captured the atmosphere of post World War II America. Pop charts were mostly dominated by artists like Pat Boone, Rosemary Clooney, and Perry Como. This type of music didn’t appear unfavorable to those who had experienced the hardships of The Great Depression and World War II. However, the vivacity of Black R&B music could not be suppressed by white American complacency, leading to the emergence of a completely new sound known as Rock and Roll.
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