The History of Rock Music – Book Review
During the fifties and after, a vital, energetic and rebellious youth produced their own music in contrast to traditional music, becoming a target of censorship and conservatism. When I saw this book with a drawing of Elvis on the cover, I had to pick it up, because it reminded me of the time when most of us in my generation were, musically speaking, in love with Elvis and his successors.
The type of music called rock music emerged in peacetime in the United States, but was adopted by youth around the world. Although it began as an act of rebellion, rock music became the ruling form of music for the next several decades, eventually becoming a traditional music genre and leaving its throne of rebellion to other types of music. Rock music involves a vocal melody accompanied by musical instruments such as guitars, drums, and keyboard instruments.
When rhythm and blues meets country music, rock music was born. The book, “The History of Rock Music,” provides this kind of historical information along with biographies and information on famous rock stars who determined and shaped the course of rock music from the very beginning. In addition to musicians, Dick Clark with his television show “American Bandstand” promoted rock music and coerced its respectability from the general population.
Among the first artists mentioned are Little Richard, Elvis, Buddy Holly, Woodie Guthrie and Bob Dylan, and from the sixties the Beatles, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Motown, Jerry García and The Grateful Dead, The Beach Boys, The Doors, Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix. Later, when hard rock appeared, its representatives became Led Zeppelin, David Bowie and Black Sabbath. Beginning in the 1970s, singer-songwriters burst onto the music scene like Jackson Browne, James Taylor, and Joni Mitchell.
The book not only provides information on musical groups and presents various features of current history, but also provides details on instruments and the evolution of trends in rock music up to the late 1990s, from before the time of Elvis to Curt Cobain grunge.
“The History of Rock Music” is a 64-page hardcover volume in the Masters of Music Series, with ISBN-10: 0764151371 and ISBN-13: 9780764151378.
The author, Andrea Bergamini, has written other books on music such as Beethoven and the classical age, Music of the world and Le rock. Also, a big shout out goes to the book’s illustrator, Ivan Stalio, who has illustrated numerous volumes such as: The Atlas of the World’s Religions, Adaptation to the Environment, The Animal Atlas, The History of Technology, Life Cycles, Mammals and Seedlings.
With its large pages filled with bright photographs, graphics, and illustrations, this young adult book is a delightful book for people of all ages to read and enjoy.