The evolution of American music from 1950 to 2013The roots of music in America; The king of rock and roll, Elvis Presley began his illustrious career in the 1950s performing rock and roll. It was a style of music that many in the United States might have said was "no music at all." The era had begun and this “freight train” wasn’t slowing down for anyone. How did this thing called "Rock and Roll" come about, and who was responsible for rolling the dice that would evolve into what we all know today as Rock and Roll? The first black American influences on Rock and Roll; The early roots of Rock and Roll are based on styles of music developed primarily by African-Americans: blues, rhythm & blues, jazz and gospel. These styles, in turn, had their own roots, dating back to musical traditions that originated in Africa hundreds of years ago. They were brought to America when the first Africans arrived in 1619, and as these styles took root and evolved, they peregrinated from the rural plantations of the Mississippi Delta and the bustling metropolis of Orléans, up the Mississippi River to urban centers like Memphis and later, Chicago. Without these African-American influences, rock and roll as we know it would never have existed. African Americans contributed greatly to the advent and prosperity of rock and roll music. Little Richard, Fats Domino, Chuck Berry and Bo Didley all played pivotal roles that influenced music in America. One of the first true rock and roll musical compositions mentioned is by ebony blues artist Joe Turner, who sings "Shake, Rattle, and Roll." If one carefully perceives this musical composition by Joe Turner, it should be very clear that this is one of the first true r...... middle of paper ...... modes of traditional ascendancy, experimentation with psychoactive drugs, and different interpretations of the American dream. Nascent cultural forms emerged, including the pop music of the British band the Beatles and the concomitant rise of hippie culture, which led to the rapid evolution of a youth subculture emphasizing change and experimentation. In addition to the Beatles, many songwriters, singers, and musical groups from the Amalgamated Kingdom and the United States have had an impact on the kinetic counterculture of music today in America; (American Idol/Reality TV Shows)Over the past 50 years, as rock and roll itself has evolved, African American music has continued to be a major influence. From soul to funk to hip-hop, music styles developed by African Americans were incorporated into mainstream rock and roll and shaped the definition of rock identity..