Suggestions, ideas for my research paper

Well, this year it is required by my Language class to write a research paper. We are allowed to pick any topic. For my topic, I chose "the origins and evolution of rock and roll." I know a lot of you guys are music history buffs, so I thought I'd call upon you to give me some pointers. Some of the things I am interested in are important events/turning points for rock and roll, and major factors (for example: Bob Dylan almost directly inventing folk rock).

Thanks guys, I apppreciate it!

I don't think we would be good sources for a "research" paper, unless Dr. Cheese (or any of the other Dr.'s) has a Ph.D in Music.

I recommend going to your local library and looking for some textbooks on Rock and Roll--they will give you good concise information.

Probably the main factor in the genesis of R&R in the mid-fifties was the horrible crap that was being foisted on the public as the "Hit Parade". Just listen sometime to some of the stuff put out at the time by Eddie Fisher, Perry Como, Kitty Kallen or Patti Page and it's easy to see why all the kids went nuts over Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Bo Diddley, Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, et. al.

Rebellion, pure and simple.

Excitement outdoes boredom every time.

Well, I don't really plan on quoting you guys, but was hoping that you guys could maybe point me in the direction of what I should be covering. There is a ton of information about rock music and its development, but I'm really only trying to cover the essentials (like major turning points, developments, etc).

I took an R&R class.
My teacher explains that what we understand as "R&R" is in fact the mixture of two genres; blues and rockabilly.
To understand the origins of "R&R" you might want to look up some early blues and rockabilly band.

I'm sure you will do very well, good luck!

Please take my advice and check out some R&R textbooks, those things are great.

Black Gospel was also a big part of the formula.

I don't have Ph.D in music, but I do believe that The Blues are the roots of Rock n Roll.

Well then, i'm afraid your opinion doesn't count.

Cool, but I am still interested in its inception.

You can see the influence in some bands clearly, like Led Zeppelin.

In "Art Rock" or "Progressive" or whatever you want to call it like Pink Floyd or Yes, however, it's harder to see the influence.

Here is a "history or rock and roll" website. It doesn't look like a very credible source (it will probably not satisfy your teacher) but it might set you in the right direction so you know what to look for in the library.
http://www.history-of-rock.com/non_frames.htm

I thought Pink Floyd was inspired by two the old blues musicians Pink Anderson and Floyd Counsil, therefore the name.

That makes a lot of sense. Perhaps in their earlier albums the influence is more pronounced.
In their later albums though, it seems to be less stressed. I wonder what influenced this "art rock" turn.

Yes, it pretty much is.....And don't forget about Seamus.

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In their later albums though, it seems to be less stressed. I wonder what influenced this "art rock" turn.

That's a very good question. I guess the roots grew into something more fervorous.

Thanks for the help so far guys! Keep it comin'!

I think I've decided that I want to figure out the basic origin of rock, then break up the starts of each major genre from there (ex. folk rock, prog rock, psychedellia, etc.). The thing is...some of the origins of these genres are hard to pin point. From what I've found "folk rock" seems to have originated almost solely from Bob Dylan...but outside of that I'm a bit lost.