Rock and roll

Rock and roll


  • When Muhammad Ali and the Fab Four Collided

    In February 1964, two of the most iconic forces of the 20th century collided in an encounter so surreal it could have been scripted by Hollywood. The Beatles, fresh off their earth-shattering debut on The Ed Sullivan Show, met Cassius Clay (soon to be Muhammad Ali) in Miami Beach. It was a meeting that combined…

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  • How To Play in a Rock Band, Part 1: Introduction

    “Iโ€™ve decided to start a new series. Even if youโ€™re not a musician, perhaps itโ€™ll give some insight into the nitty-gritty of the art of music-making, or inform your listening the next time you sit in front of your stereo, or just provide some entertainment and perhaps a life lesson or two.

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  • Why 2024’s Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Inductees Disappoint

    Since inducting legends like Chuck Berry and Elvis, the Rock Hall has slid into generation loss. This yearโ€™s mixed-bag lineupโ€”Cher, Foreigner, Dave Matthews Bandโ€”raises the question: is it still merit, or just fame?

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  • Sister Rosetta Tharpe: Rock’s Overlooked Matriarch

    From cotton fields in Arkansas to New Yorkโ€™s electrifying jazz clubs, Sister Rosetta Tharpe defied genres and gender roles, blending gospel with rock โ€™nโ€™ roll and pioneering a soundโ€”and a legacyโ€”that would change music forever.

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  • Elvis Presley’s 1954 Opry Debut: A Pivotal Moment in Rock ‘n’ Roll History

    Elvis Presleyโ€™s 1954 Opry Debut remains an iconic moment in music history. While today we easily associate Elvis with his swiveling hips and captivating dulcet tones, the music world of 1954 did not immediately recognize the impending legend from Tupelo, Mississippi. Yet, on October 2nd of that year, he stepped onto the revered Grand Ole…

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  • Boogie With Canned Heat: Thank You Henry

    Reflecting on his first Fillmore East show in 1968, Twisted Sister’s Jay Jay French recalls how Canned Heatโ€™s Henry Vestine provided the inspiration he neededโ€”a blue-collar blues guitarist whose tone and style were accessible enough to emulate and transformative for a budding player.

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  • Rolling with the Charts: Billboardโ€™s Epic Journey

    From swing-era surveys to streaming farms, the Billboard charts have tracked musicโ€™s biggest hitsโ€”and biggest controversiesโ€”for over 80 years, navigating shifts in technology, taste, and transparency with every note.

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  • Rock Chronicles, Part 7 โ€” Bobby Whitlockโ€™s Key to the Highway

    After tensions split Delaney & Bonnieโ€™s band, Bobby Whitlock joined Eric Clapton in forming Derek & the Dominos, playing key roles in both Layla and George Harrisonโ€™s All Things Must Passโ€”before launching a solo career of his own.

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  • Rock Chronicles, Part 3 โ€” The British are coming!

    George Harrisonโ€™s enthusiasm for Delaney & Bonnieโ€™s Accept No Substitute nearly landed the duo on Apple Recordsโ€”until label politics and Delaneyโ€™s double-dealing derailed the deal, sparking industry drama and setting off a ripple through rock history.

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  • Beatles Let It Be Reissueโ€”how good is this album, really?

    The Beatlesโ€™ final days remain endlessly debated, with new Let It Be reissues and Peter Jacksonโ€™s film offering fresh insights. Despite tensions and break-up rumors, recent releases reveal more joy, creativity, and a deeper look into the bandโ€™s last sessions.

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