All Shook Up: How Rock 'N' Roll Changed America (Pages 1-40)

Title: All Shook Up: How Rock 'N' Roll Changed America
Author: Glenn C. Altschuler
Pages: 1-40
Chapters: 1-2

This book is a collection of works from all different sources put together from varied time periods and altered by the author a little bit. Because of the style of the author switching back and forth through historic times, the summary may sound out of place or eerie.

SUMMARY: Rock 'n' Roll had the United States going riotous around 1957. Youths were hospitalized by rock 'n' roll fights. The beat and the booze created the aftermath destruction. Newspapers were howling around and it was a news worthy topic even when there was absence of rock riots because they though the rockers pacified. However, the music was labeled as a swing and blues harmonies which was banned In New Jersey and Boston, New Haven by the sudden influx of harps from parents. After a while, Bing Crosby and Perry Como sang smooth, soothing romantic ballads in order to create a calm environment for all the people in dental offices or in roads. After World War II, Rhythm and Blues or R&B per se, took the stage which was more of a dancing, shouting music rather than heart or soul. It was recorded by black artists and had the rich musical tradition of African American music. It was quite similar to rock 'n' roll with all the sexuality and beat swings only that it was for blacks and rock 'n' roll was not born yet. Alan Freed is the mastermind behind the phrasing of such great musics. He is usually credited for phrasing rhythm and blues. He was introduced to radio broadcasting and moved to Cleveland. He worked in WXEL-TV and WJW radio. Freed shocked the town with his radio broadcasting. he put the best music on and turned buildings into dance floors. His show "The Moondog House" became the hottest show in town, however, Thomas Louis Hardin charged Freed for using the name "Moondog" as Thomas claimed that he used it for many years. Hardin received %7700 and Freed was never allowed to use it again. Frustrated Freed, changed his show's name to "Rock 'n' Roll Party." Thus, the term rock 'n' roll was generated and all the great artists began to use the terms in their song.

QUOTATION: "'Body music rather than head or heart music,' according to Arnold Shaw, appealing to flesh more than spirit, rhythm and blues 'embodied the fervor of gospel music, the throbbing vigor of boogie woogie, the jump beat of swing, and the gutsiness and sexuality of life in the black ghetto'" (Altschuler 11).

REACTION:This is one 'snaptastic' quote. The R&B music was "appealing to flesh more than spirit." I see how that sex, dancing, energy was the main theme than the meaning of the music and rock 'n' roll held on to those attributes. Being a huge Rock 'N' Roll fan, I had no clue about the history of how the term was begot. It all linked to Rhythm and Blues (the abbreviated R&B modern music is different than the original). The old rhythm and blues has the spirit, moves and energy similar to rock 'n' roll but when people speak of R&B these days, it seems different. I had a feeling that all music were linked to African American traditional beats but I never realized rock 'n' roll was created by black R&B. They are incredible for creating this music and influencing latter people. Much thanks to Mr. Doreian for making "The history of.." category as a reading/required curriculum. I am learning new exciting things in which I'm highly interested in.