Music Appreciation-1954: The Year in Rock ‘n’ Roll-The Birth of Rock ‘n’ Roll

Instructor: John Einarson

This is an in-person class that will also be live-streamed. The recording will be made available for those who need to miss a session.

Beginning in 1954, when Cleveland deejay Alan Freed began using the term “rock ‘n’ roll” to describe the rhythm & blues records he played, 1954 is regarded as the year the genre was born. It was the year Elvis Presley released his debut recording, Bill Haley & His Comets released “Rock Around The Clock,” doo-wop vocal group The Chords released “Sh-Boom,” and Leo Fender introduced the world to the Stratocaster electric guitar. We’ll look at these and other significant musical events that year.