ROCK MUSIC

The Beatles

It is certainly arguable that by the end of the 20th century rock was the world’s dominant form of popular music. Rock music is a genre of popular music that originated as "rock and roll" in 1950s America and developed into a range of different styles in the 1960s and later, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. Dictionary definitions of rock are problematic; not least because the term has different resonance in its British and American usages (the latter is broader in compass). There is basic agreement that rock “is a form of music with a strong beat,” but it is difficult to be much more explicit. If other kinds of music, classical, jazz, easy listening, country, folk, etc. are marketed as minority interests, rock defines the musical mainstream. Musically, rock has centered around the electric guitar, usually as part of a rock group with bass guitar and drums. Elvis Presley, from Memphis, Tenn., personified a new form of American popular music in the mid-1950s. Rock and roll was a guitar-based sound with a strong (if loose) beat that drew equally on African American and white traditions from the southern United States, on blues, church music, and country music. Presley’s rapid rise to national stardom revealed the new cultural and economic power of both teenagers and teen-aimed media, records, radio, television, and motion pictures.

1. Bob Dylan, from Hibbing, Minnesota (via New York City), personified a new form of American music in the mid-1960s. Dylan brought together the amplified beat of rock and roll, the star imagery of pop, the historical and political sensibility of folk, and through the wit, ambition, and obscurity of his lyrics the arrogance of urban bohemia. A number of Dylan’s early songs became anthems for the US civil rights and anti war movements. Can you name one.

Ans: Blowin’ in the wind (1963).

Elvis

2. Elvis Aaron Presley, the King of Rock and Roll. He was one of the most popular musicians of the 20^th century. He is the best-selling solo artist in the history of popular music. He had a versatile voice and unusually wide success encompassing many genres, including country, pop ballads, gospel, and blues. Do you know how many Grammy Awards he was nominated for and how many he won?

Ans: He was nominated 14 times and won 3 Grammy Awards.

3. The Beatles, the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed music band in the history of music. They were from Liverpool, England in 1960. They were nicknamed as “Fab Four”. They won 7 Grammy Awards and won 15 Ivor Novello Awards. The Beatles won the 1971 Academy Award for Best Original Song Score. Do you know the name of the film (documentary)?

Ans: Let It Be (1970).

4. Name any two British rock music bands other than the Beatles during the Golden era of rock music from Liverpool?

Mick Jagger

Ans: Gerry & the Pacemakers and The Searchers.

5. A Garage Rock band’s song “Lies” was a huge hit, which was blatantly derivative of contemporary songs by The Beatles. Name the band.

Ans: The Knickerbockers.

6. Mick Jagger was lead singer of which famous British blues rock band?

Eric Clapton

Ans: The Rolling Stones.

7. He is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His nick name is “Slowhand”. He is from UK. Name him.

Ans: Eric Clapton.

8. Folk rock is a musical genre combining elements of folk music and rock music. It was pioneered by the band the Byrds. Do you know where they were from?

Led Zeppelin

Ans: Los Angeles, California, USA.

9. Which genre of Rock music was influenced by Indian music?

Ans: Psychedelic rock.

10. Which famous hard metal band name was the New Yardbirds before they changed it?

And: Led Zeppelin.