Who would have guessed that music could make such a powerful impact in society? Altschuler wrote a book that looks into the roots and origin of rock and roll. It seeks to study the effects of the music and what it stood for. The book looked at how the music changed popular culture and   morality in of the United States in the 1950s.It discussed the issue of race and how roc n roll seemed to defy race and was played in white neighborhoods. The music seemed to defy social norms of the society and brought out sexuality and romance out in the open in spite of a rather conservative society. Rock n roll also deepened the generation gap fissures as it had a large audience with teenagers as opposed to the old generation. The book explains how the music changed and even challenged the America culture and laid a solid foundation for society defiance (Altschuler, 2004).At a time when the politics in America were focusing on averting another world war three by claiming ‘there is no substitute for victory’ the birth of roc n roll did not come as a surprise as it seems to be fuelled by the current society’s present situation (Shi and tindell 2015).

 One of the main issues observed in the book is the struggle to stifle and suppress the modern uprising caused by rock n roll music. In the 1950s the youths loved roc n Roll and embraced the music which was known for its loud and electric sound. The older generated were against it and deemed it as immoral and could not tolerate it. This led to a generational conflict (Shi and tindell 2015). The community members and parents who were for ‘dynamic conservatism’ (Shi and tindell 2015) reacted by banning roc n roll concerts in order to prevent the havoc that was the norm during, before and after their concerts. The media was not left behind as it described roc n roll as ‘communicable disease’. The society wondered why the youth were attracted to chaotic music. The older generation were against the music because it contained abusive and violent language, encouraged reckless sexual behavior use and abuse of ‘hard’ drugs (Shi and tindell 2015) .With increased crime rate, parents quickly blamed rock n roll and pushed for its banning from radio stations and social events. However, this did not stop rock n roll from being popular in the 1940s and 1950s and the generation gap widen as rock n roll went ahead to influence language dressing, attitudes and the social norms of the time. Altschuler’s claimed that the older generation did not understand the younger generation of the 1950s and why they preferred that type of music. Parents linked roc n roll to the increase in rude behavior that they got from their children due to its emotional stimuli and vulgar language .The community failed to realize that it was just a phase that the children were to pass through on their way to adulthood and was not a permanent phase. On the other side, it is keen to observe that the music encouraged the children to disobey their parents through the messages it portrayed (Altschuler, 2004).In the late 1960s roc n roll had caused a cultural resistance that allowed different type of life styles such as ‘dropping out’ of college, growing long unkept   hair, wearing ‘eccentric clothes’ (Shi and tindell 2015) and irresponsible sexual behavior. Some youths used the opportunity to spread the influence in other areas of the society such as politics. They were known as ‘new left’ (Shi and tindell 2015) and they advocated for change in the society. The group also promoted ‘participatory democracy’ that allows politics to be changed from different points of view other than the traditional way of political parties (Shi and tindell 2015).

 Roc n roll brought up the issue of race. The emergence of rock n roll music is credited to interaction of black and white urbanites. Rock n roll seemed to integrate blacks into the white community. It also became popular at a time when black Americans were fighting for their civil rights. ‘Martin Luther king’s speech’, ‘Brown v board of Topeka’. (Altschuler, 2004) among other important black history events took place at a time when rock music popularity was on the rise .Rock n roll were sang at rallies and  demonstrations to encourage black community through music. The songs used to encourage the protesters to push forth with their course and stay focused. The role played by rock n roll led people to force musicians to support their race and community. For example a musician such as Antoine ‘fats’ Domino  was criticized for not performing  at  segregated  venues for the black community .Therefore, rock n roll had a role to play during the civil right movements of the 1950s. (Altschuler, 2004)

 Children were taught not to engage in premarital sex   and to abstain until they are married to a spouse. They were also taught to respect their elders and the importance of a good education that would be the key to a good job and generally respectable lifestyle. These were the society norms in the 1950s but rock n roll went against each of these norms. It openly talked about sex and encouraged it outside marriage. The lyrics of roc n roll songs were sexual: ‘there’ll be fifteen minutes of kissing’ and ‘then you’ll holler, please don’t stop’ by Dominoes (Altschuler, 2004) sent the society into complete panic as it was against their moral code. A campaign was initiated to ban the production and distribution of roc n roll which in affected the careers and reputation of other musicians who sang other genres of music such as rhythm and blues (Altschuler, 2004). 

Roc n roll outcompeted live concerts, soap opera and live concerts with their record sells. The music genre that came close to outshining roc was pop music. Teenagers in the 1954 and 1959 were buying rock n roll records that accumulatively summed up to 214 million dollars. Market shares of important recording companies declined as artists went to more independent smaller companies that recorded roc n roll as opposed to the major labels. American federation of Musicians blamed America society of composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), accusing them of favoring rock n roll thus manipulating the mass media against them. This caused radio stations and televisions to switch to other genres of music such as pop and folk hence caused rock n roll to lose popularity (Altschuler, 2004). 

As it lost grip in the Unites States of America, it started to take root and gain popularity in England. ‘Buddy holly’ died in a plane crash in England and an album: ‘Buddy Holly Story’ was released in his honor (Altschuler, 2004). It did well in the market and sold a lot of copies. ‘Buddy holly’ played an important role in inspiring ‘The Beatles’ through his album. ‘The Beatles’ came to America in the 1950s paid homage to roc n roll legends of the 1950s such as ‘chuck berry’. ‘The Beatles’ songs performed well in the charts and as more British musicians came to the USA, they revived the rock n roll music again. (Altschuler, 2004). 

Rock n roll still remain as an influence and has had an impact on today’s society. Rock n roll has defied and influenced aspects of the film industry and also the fashion industry. In the 1970s the music became more accepted in the society and it gained a new reputation and a more sanitized ‘face make- over’ (Shaw, 1987) than the usual violence sex, drugs and money that people were used to. It was no longer ‘music associated with the youth’ (Shaw, 1987) but it had subgenres which allow everybody to listen to it.This has made it the most listened to music all over the world. The relevance of roc n roll over time has been due its social influence in the society. It has footprints on fashion, politics and religion where it has taken shape due its persistence. Rock n roll has seen to address social issues. In his song ‘buffalo soldier’, Bob Marley address American imperialism. (Shaw, 1987). 

Rock n roll has really left a remarkable mark in the world since the day it started. It has impacted the social, fashion and even the political world beyond the twentieth century. It has changed with time to subgenres which are still influential and relevant to the society as a whole.Roc n roll has passed the test of time and hopefully will live generations to come, impacting the society both positively and controversially.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

 

Shaw, A. (1987). The rockin' 50s: The decade that transformed the pop music scene. New York, N.Y: Da Capo Press.

Altschuler, G.C. (2004).All shook up: how rock n roll changed America. New York: oxford university press

Shi, David E. and Tindall, George, America: The Essential Learning Edition. New York: W.W.

Norton & Company, 2015