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1958: Rock meets American Bandstand (Early Rock Part IV) - Page 2

© Robert Whillans

With the introduction of American Bandstand, rock became more than just music. It was something you could dance two. A whole series of songs about dancing were released in 1958 ("Get On Up", "The Stroll", "At The Hop"), and most of the songs shifted from just music to something to be played at the now widespread sock hops. American Bandstand played an important role in this, promoting new artists and the idea of rock being a lifestyle available to al those who wanted to be young again, while still retaining their moral fibre. With its clean cut host Dick Clark, American Bandstand tidied up the teenage rebellion and tided the rock world over until the 60's. It helped promote many teen idols of the Philadeplhia are in '58 and '59, as we'll see next time. Dancing to these songs is probably what most people remember from the fifties, because it signified the moment where rock stopped being only something to rebel against parents with and became an integral part of teen's lives.

With rock losing its original roughness, it moved into a state where it could be enjoyed by the whole family, parents and kids alike. Although this wouldn't really be official until "Twist" with Chubby Checker in 1960, it was definetly beginning and would soon cause the death of Early rock. This can be seen by the enormous amount of white artists in the charts (The Everly Brothers, Danny and the Juniors, Jerry Lee Lewis, Eddie Cochran, Duane Eddy) and the appearance of two more big teen idols, Frankie Avalon with "Dede Dinah" and Bobby Darin with "Splish Splash". These teen idols would keep rock's seat warm and keep it respectable until the British Invasion.

Speaking of the British Invasion, rock's full impact was being felt on the other side of the Atlantic. Bill Haley and the Comets went on a tour in the UK, and brought with them the new sound of american rock. In port cities, especially those in the Mersey Sea, new rock records would come in all the time on boats, and kids would blend this new sound with their already popular skiffle. It would take a couple of years for these kids to come of age and do something with it, but the foundation was layed.

Next week, I don't know if there's enough in 1959 to fill a whole article, but I suppose the plane crash alone might do it. Anyway, if I do decide to split it 50/50 with 1960, no big deal. About that plane crash, that was pretty much the final nail in the coffin of Early Rock, and in the 50's. Until then, rock on!

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