The origins of Rock ‘n Roll music are hard to pin down. Its history is less a clear progression, and more an experience, a movement, a sensation. It’s easier to look at the genre’s influence on today’s music than it is to look back at its blurred beginnings. A vast array of artists contributed to its development. But if we examine the pulsating heart of the genre, there are three indisputable pioneers of Rock ‘n Roll.
Fats Domino
“Before Elvis, Jerry Lee, and Chuck Berry there was Fats.” – Greg Harris
Born in 1928 in New Orleans, Antoine “Fats” Domino brought his Dixieland flavor and legendary piano playing to the wider American music scene. The rhythm and blues he’d grown up playing at home was hailed as a new sound and became a foundation for Rock ‘n Roll.
Chuck Berry
“If you tried to give rock and roll another name, you might call it ‘Chuck Berry.’” – John Lennon
Chuck Berry is an uncontested icon of Rock ‘n Roll. He integrated different styles of guitar picking to create what Billboard calls “a new electric sound that changed the world’s ears.” He set the songwriting standard for early Rock ‘n Roll artists, and cemented the genre’s youth appeal.
Elvis Presley
“Elvis not only combined the tangled musical strains of rock’s prehistory into a sultry whole, but he took a mutated step forward. His was an inspirational leadership that came to embody the new music itself.” – Michael Hill
Elvis Presley, the “King of Rock and Roll,” needs no introduction. His music took Rock ‘n Roll to a new level, as did his popularity. Television fanned the flames of his success, and made a way for his music to sweep the nation. Rock ‘n Roll became accessible. The thrill of it was in everyone’s grasp.
Here at the Rockit Live Foundation, we want to provide that same thrill and inspiration to young musicians. We aim to develop, nurture, and inspire them to reach their full artistic potential through live music education offered at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft, New Jersey.
We’re a professional rock school that wants our students to succeed, which is why we have auditions for our program, bring kids together in bands, and offer scholarships to help young musicians receive a quality education. Find out more information by exploring our programs, or get involved by making a donation or contacting us today!