The Roots of Rock and Roll

What do you think the "roots" of rock and roll are? In other words, where did it come from?

Write down your ideas and be ready to share.

"We had a little bit of a rough time trying to get our artists to do anything resembling the blues. They were more singers like LaVern Baker and Ruth Brown . . . the [New York City-based] bands we had were composed of players from the big jazz bands and swing orchestras who had become studio musicians. They were not at all like the kind of musicians who were playing the blues in Chicago, like Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon and all those people. When we had these musicians try to play in an authentic blues fashion, it didn't work. The result, however, was quite intriguing. What emerged was music with a blues feel, but with a particularly Northern, urban influence." 

Listen to the clip of Muddy Waters' "Rollin' Stone," from a live performance. 

In your groups, answer the following:
         1) How would you describe the                    sound of Muddy Waters'                              music?
          2) What do you think Ahmet                       Ertegun liked about Muddy Waters'           music?
          3) And what, again, were the                       reasons Ertegun said he couldn't                 record music like Muddy Waters' in          New York City?

Now listen to the clip of LaVern Baker performing "Tra La La."

Keep this and Muddy Waters in your minds, and in your groups write down:

        1) What instruments do you see and           hear in each song.

        2) Create a list of adjectives that                 describe Baker's song and                           performance, and then Waters'. 

Consider  differences in vocal style, in the sounds of the instruments (sweet or rough?), in the performance styles of the singers, and in the overall moods of the songs.      

You have five minutes to complete this and share with the whole group.

In closing, lets answer these questions as a whole group:
      1) Why do you think Ertegun's recording of LaVern Baker                   ended up sounding "sweeter" than the music of Muddy Waters, which Ertegun said he originally hoped to capture?

      2) What in Ertegun's statement above provides a clue to this question?