ONLINE: This course explores the cultural and musical roots of rock music, beginning with the sounds that paved the way for its mainstream debut, marked by Elvis Presley's 1956 appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show." Early influences like Jackie Brenston's "Rocket 88" and Fats Domino's "The Fat Man" set the stage. Each week, we'll sample key styles and artists, including: rockabilly (Carl Perkins, Elvis); R&B (Ray Charles, Chuck Berry); schlock-rock (Fabian, Frankie Avalon); the British invasion (The Beatles, The Dave Clark Five); the Woodstock era (Jimi Hendrix, Jefferson Airplane); and rock in the 1970s (Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith), 1980s (Cyndi Lauper, Devo) and 1990s (Nirvana, Foo Fighters). We'll conclude with post-rock pop icons like Katy Perry and Lady Gaga, and the Korean wave (BTS, Psy). | Lecture + Q&A.
Max enrollment: 200.
Class sessions are recorded.
