When rock-n-roll was new in the 1950s, Americans of all colors and backgrounds were involved.

[Jetboy]

By the mid-60s rock-n-roll was divided into blacks who performed soul music and motown and whites (and Jimi Hendrix) who performed rock music. (folk-rock, acid rock etc)

Since that time, the segregation and the music have only gotten worse IMO. With no blacks in the genre, white rock has completely lost it's flavor. Meanwhile, hip-hop and 'R & B' stopped being the least bit interesting decades ago.

Americans are responsible for most of the best music ever recorded: blues, jazz, boogie woogie, swing, bluegrass, country and western, rock-n-roll. Together, Americans can make magic. Apart, Americans make the crap music popular today. I'm not holding out any hope that Americans can ever come together again as we are too busy arguing over who should get credit for what.

[Quantess]

1. I like the spirit of your message.

It will be interesting to see what kind of responses you get. To my white perspective, I think you have the right attitude, but we'll see if black DUers see it differently.

[randr]

2. If you want to know the real story of Rock and Roll

Check out: http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/muscle-shoals/

[Jetboy]

4. Seems like that doc covers the era after the one I am talking about.

I will have to watch sometime though, thanks.

[Stellar]

3. Sadly, I've been saying that for a long time.

There is not much left in music of today that I love.

[msedano]

5. "Race music"

was the Little Richard variety of R&R. Record stores sold the 78 and 45 rpms, but the inventory was under the counter, if the store carried it at all, and you asked if they sold "race music".

[Jetboy]

6. Little Richard was a rock-n-roller- the best there ever was for my money.

What you say is true but it in no way invalidates LR as a rock-n-roller. Here's Alan Freed introducing LR in 1956:

[Retrograde]

8. "Race music" goes back even further

my grandfather had some records from the 20s that were labeled "race music": they were a form of jazz.

I have a CD that's a collection of c. 1930s country music called "Blue-Eyed Soul": the liner notes claim that the studios that made these types of niche records often used the same session musicians for their "race" and "hillbilly" recordings.

[Jetboy]

10. That's what makes 1950s rock-n-roll so great! It wasn't black or white

regardless of how some record store owners organized their inventory.

1950s rock-n-roll was just rock-n-roll. Alan Freed took all of the top black and white rnr stars and toured the country. Fans loved the Everly Brothers AND Laverne Baker, Jerry Lee Lewis AND Fats Domino.

[Enrique]

7. i'm skeptical about the golden age

I don't know the history, and i'm interested, but I'm skeptical about any nostalgia for the 1950's.

[Jetboy]

11. There was a lot of bad in the 1950s but the rock-n-roll phenomenon

was a positive in bringing blacks and whites together.

Fats Domino sold more records than any 50s rock-n-roller not named Elvis. How many white hearts softened towards blacks once they became Fats Domino fans?

[Retrograde]

9. In the 60s there were fewer broadcast outlets, so people were exposed to more types of music

the local rock and roll station I listened to back then would play a Motown hit followed by the latest British invasion record followed by Wayne Newton (ok, they weren't all great) and so on, so listeners heard a wide range of styles. You saw the same thing on the three TV channels: variety shows like Ed Sullivan would have a range of acts.

[KT2000]

12. forced segregation in New Orleans

There were clubs for white audiences and the musicians were white, and there were clubs for black audiences with black musicians - by law. People could be arrested for crossing those barriers.
When that eventually changed - the musicians started jamming together so they could learn from each other. They were anxious to do so.
(Creativity has a lot to do with curiosity.)

Learned this from Jazz and Heritage - interviews with the actual musicians who lived through this time.

[rbrnmw]

16. Sam Cooke was one of the first

who refused to sing to segregated audiences

He was also arrested for trying to integrate a Holiday Inn in Louisiana

[KT2000]

17. Courage!

That is what it took to change things and we are the beneficiaries of what they did.

[rbrnmw]

18. you are right about that

[Jetboy]

20. There was segregation all over the South during the 1950s.

Kids both black and white looked past race and just enjoyed the music. At some venues, whites were on the floor and blacks in the balcony. By the end of the show all the kids were on the floor dancing.

https://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=A0LEVvG5.55Uq2IAf10PxQt.;_ylu=X3oDMTBsa3ZzMnBvBHNlYwNzYwRjb2xvA2JmMQR2dGlkAw--?p=rock-n-roll+segregation&back=https%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fyhs%2Fsearch%

[KT2000]

21. I was noting specifically New Orleans

The point being that the unique sound of New Orleans jazz has evolved over time and social changes and continues to do so.

[Nye Bevan]

13. Surely the focus should be on who stole what from whom

according to some DUers.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

14. With no blacks in the genre, white rock has completely lost it's flavor. whatever.

&list=PLCC0EF07F51E94CCA

[Jetboy]

15. Thanks for proving my point!

The Little Richard clip is 58 years old yet it sounds fresher and more vibrant than 'rock' music recorded recently. Little Richard makes me want to jump, shout and shimy whereas those clips put me to sleep. (has the second clip even started yet?) To each their own I guess.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

19. you don't see any blacks in those clips? is the music NOT fresh enough for you?

yawn.

you bore me.