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