Rock and Roll:

In the 1950's a new genre called "rock and roll" was born. It grew from the melding of black rythm, blues,  country and western (CW). Some southern congressmen statet that rock and roll was a plot to destroy American values.   In some parts of the USA, rock and roll was labeled as rebellios, primative, black music. But then, in the early 1950's  white artists like Buddy Holly(7th September 1936 - 3rd February 1959) and the Big Bopper introduced rock and roll to the mainstream youth. Many people have later seen this multi-racial and multi-cultural movement in the US. But it was the legendary Elvis Presley, bursting on the scene in the middle 1950's, who really showed the world that rock and roll had been accepted world wide.

Rythm and Blues(R&B):

R&B can trace its roots from jazz, ragtime and old black gospel standards. Today you can also find the powerful beat from these music types in rap and hip-hop. This music form the basis of the rhythms of modern american popular music. Black music forms almost all types of music from America, from New Orelans jazz to urban hip-hop and rap. And there is hardly a Rocker who can't trace his or her music roots to the sound of black America.

Country and Western Music:

We find the roots of modern CW music has in the folk songs, popularized by the singing cowboys of the 30's, 40's and 50's. It was also influenced by many songs born of the strife and conflict of the impoverished miners and farmers. Moving from the rural areas, and focusing on southern urban centers, it found a home on the radio nationwide predominantly from Nashville on the Grand Ole Opray. Finding a broader audience in post-war years, CW began to move from "hillbilly music" to more sophisticated and polished form that exist today. Rock-a-billy, CW and Bluegrass,all came from the simple form of storytelling by music.

The Rebirth:

The 1980's and 90's a rebirth of the influence of the latin rhythms in american music. The Miami sound and the mexican influence swept into american music. Cuban, puerto rican and mexican artists in all forms added their music to the mix. Rap, CW, rock and roll and R&B have all been touched by the latin beat.

Rock and roll in the media:

In broadcasting and in movies rock and roll was a part of the media explosion oon the 1950's and 60's. Rock and roll became the dominant force of american music. Quite different from the 50's and 60's music forms are no longer sortet by rase.  Today Whitney Houston soulfully sings a song written by Dolly Parton.In the 50's and 60's only black people sang black music, and  only white  people sang white music. Another example is Marshall Mathers, better known as Eminem. He is a white rap artist who crosses all lines. He has also made a movie about this, called "8-mile."

Today:

Today, America dominates the world in many ways. And they also dominate the musicworld. Blues, CW, rock, rap, hip-hop, R&B and jazz are some of the most popular American music forms.