LESSON 2: THE BIRTH OF ROCK (1955-1959)

It all started with the Bill Haley and the Comet's song Rock Around the Clock, featured in the 1955 Glenn Ford movie Blackboard Jungle. Many music historians credit this song, in this movie, as the start of Rock and Roll music. And I credit this song with sparking my interest in Rock music, as well.



As a kid I heard the song almost daily when it played in the opening credits of the TV show Happy Days, which I watched in syndication.  I even had a T-shirt that said "I'm the Fonz." Now, for a bit of trivia.  Rock Around the Clock was actually only used during the first two seasons of the show, and it was later replaced by the song Happy Days for remaining seven seasons.

Aside from the actual music, the kids were especially interested to learn about the day the music died, when Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper were all killed in a plane crash. I've put the film The Buddy Holly Story in our Netflix queue so the kids can learn more about what happened that night.

So far the Summer School of Rock has been a success.  I even heard my six-year-old son singing Chuck Berry's song Maybellene in his room the other day. But his favorite song on the playlist is Yakety Yak by The Coasters.


Just like the early days of Rock, the Lesson 2 playlist contains a nice mix of R&B and Rockabilly: Chuck Berry, Elvis, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, etc.

LESSON 2 PLAYLIST:
Billy Haley & The Comets - Rock Around the Clock
Joe Turner - Shake Rattle and Roll
Little Richard - Tutti Fruitti
Chuck Berry - Maybellene
Fats Domino - Ain't That A Shame
Carl Perkins - Blue Suede Shoes
Elvis Presley - Hound Dog
Little Richard - Long Tall Sally
Chuck Berry - Roll Over Beethoven
Elvis Presley - Jailhouse Rock
Jerry Lee Lewis - Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On
Jerry Lee Lewis - Great Balls of Fire
Chuck Berry - Johnny B. Goode
Bobby Darin - Splish Splash
Eddie Cochran - Summertime Blues
Little Richard - Good Golly Miss Molly
Louis Prima - Jump, Jive, An' Wail
Johnny Otis - Willie and the Hand Jive
The Coasters - Yakety Yak
Jackie Wilson - Lonely Teardrops
Buddy Holly & The Crickets - That'll Be the Day
Richie Valens - La Bamba
The Big Bopper - Chantilly Lace
Gene Vincent - Be-Bop-A-Lula
Ray Charles - What'd I Say
The Isley Brothers - Shout
Flash Cadillac & The Continental Kids - At The Hop
The Silhouettes - Get A Job
The Champs - Tequila

LESSON 1: BEFORE ROCK

The Summer School of Rock is now officially in session!

When you think about it, we live in a pretty incredible time as far as music is concerned.  With Sirus Radio, iTunes, YouTube, etc.,  music is everywhere. But less than 100 years ago music was harder to come by. Your only choice for music was live music – which you either played yourself or you went out to hear somewhere. But gradually the ability to listen to music evolved.  Radios became common, then record players, followed by television, with shows like American Bandstand. 

With the first lesson for the school of rock I wanted to let the kids listen to music that existed in America before 1955, which in my opinion is the year Rock & Roll started.

Before you can understand Rock & Roll it is important to look at the music from the 20s, 30s and 40s. Contained within these three decades you’ll find all of the ingredients that were brewing in American music. Jazz, swing, blues, country, show tunes, etc., all of these types of music eventually melted into Rock.

I’ve picked a sampling of some of my favorite songs from this 30 year period, from Al Jolson to Hank Williams. With this music there are a lot of things to discuss with the kids.  Like, why did Al Jolson sing in blackface?  Did Robert Johnson sell his soul to the devil? And who is Paul Robeson? 


I'll tell you who Paul Robeson is - he might be the most talented American a lot of people have never heard of. He could act, sing, play football and he graduated from Columbia Law School. He had an amazing life - if you don't know much about him you should Google him.  

For some added knowledge, I've put the movie The Glenn Miller Story, starring Jimmy Stewart, on the top of our Netflix queue. It's one of my favorite classic movies, which might explain why there are three Glenn Miller songs on my playlist.

Here is the complete playlist, which is available on iTunes.

LESSON 1 PLAYLIST

Al Jolson - Swanee

Paul Robeson - Ol Man River                  

Fats Waller - Ain’t Misbehavin

Duke Ellington - Take The A Train

Glenn Miller - In The Mood

Glenn Miller - Moonlight Serenade

Louis Armstrong - I’m In The Mood For Love

Judy Garland - Somewhere Over The Rainbow

Cole Porter - You’re The Top

Fred Astaire - Puttin’On the Ritz

Cab Calloway - Minnie The Moocher

Glenn Miller - Chattanooga Choo-Choo

Artie Shaw - Stardust

Robert Johnson - Sweet Home Chicago

Ella Fitzgerald - One For My Baby

Bing Crosby - Swinging On a Star

Andrews Sisters - Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy

Benny Goodman - In A Sentimental Mood

Nat King Cole - Mona Lisa

Vaugh Monroe - Riders In The Sky

Hank Williams - Long Gone Lonesome Blues

Jackie Brenston - Rocket 88