In the 1940s, music was all about the Blues, Rhythm and even Gospel. Much of this music was rooted in the southern part of the United States. As folks migrated further north, they brought the music along and influenced artists along the way. In the early '50s, a radio DJ named Alan Freed coined the term "Rock 'N' Roll" while playing Blues and Rhythm music at a radio station in Cleveland. Many of the known Rhythm and Blues artists were black and thus many radio stations refused to play their music. With Freed's term of rock and roll to describe all of the current music, he was able to play both black and white performers on the station.Â
The term caught on and a timeless genre of music was born. Everyone from Elvis to Buddy Holly embraced the sound and put their own twist on the music. The 196's and '70s are sometimes called the golden age of rock music. Today, some 50 years later, from the early recording artists, we call it classic rock. This period spans some 30 years, producing some of the best music in our lifetime. Along with the music came a rebellious attitude with fast cars, long hair and loud guitars. Whether you're young or old, you can't deny the power and influence of rock music. We can tell your age and gender just by choosing your favorite classic rock songs. If you're ready for the rock guitar solo of quizzes, head to question 1 and take the quiz!
