Rock and Roll is a genre of popular music that first started in the African American community in the late 40s to early 50s. The music then was known as a mix of R&B, country, jazz, blues, and gospel. If you think about one of the most famous singers of Rock and Roll during this time period, Elvis Presley, the description of the music fits. In the earliest of styles of rock and roll in the 50s, the saxophone was often the lead instrument. This is now replaced today by the guitar. The rock and roll music of the 50s was essentially a rhythm of blues with a back beat of drums. Certain members of society back then, however, did not agree with this type of music. There were fears among many whites with the mixing of the dance floor that rock and roll would lead to blacks and whites spending actual time together, let alone the fears of sexual relations. “It should not surprise us that a member of the white Citizens Council of Birmingham, Alabama fulminated against rock and roll as immoral music that was part of a plot to infiltrate the minds of southern teens by the NAACP.” The first of the bans of this music started in the South (oddly not shocking), at dances then and become widespread to radio stations who were banned to play this kind of music.  Rock and roll music contributed to the civil rights movement. I never knew this information about rock and roll and I’m honestly really surprised.

Reference:

ProQuest article titled: ROCK AND ROLL, CRT, AND AMERICA IN THE 1950S MUSICAL COUNTERNARRATIVES IN THE JIM CROW SOUTH