In my essay I will be examining music industry and technological developments that contributed to the birth of rock ‘n’ roll in 1955.
Seeburg Select-o-Matic Jukebox
This jukebox ruled the industry with innovations like the Select-o-Matic mechanism, which enlarged song capacity to 100 selections. Seeburg was the first company to switch to 45 rpm records and “hi-fi” sound.
Joe Bennett, who in the 1950s led a teen group called the Sparkletones, said “These were the first jukeboxes I ever saw in my life. I was like a hillbilly! I had never seen music boxes so big with such a loud, great sound.”
Transistor Radios
Pocket sized transistor radios came around in 1954. This small device put rock ‘n’ roll in the pockets of teens all across the country. The Regency TR-1 was the world’s first transistor radio, which was put together by Texas Instruments and Industrial Development and Engineering Associates.
Around the same time in Japan, Sony licensed Bell’s transistor and made a fortune from radio sales.
Roger McGuinn, leader of The Byrds, said “I think it was why rock ‘n’ roll got so big. The transistor radio was the invention of personal entertainment.”
Vacuum Tube Amplifiers
Bryan Sours of Portland’s Soursound Audio Works said “In the late 50’s you had people turning amps up really loud and slicing little holes into speakers to make them distort.” Bands drove their amps until they broke but the crowds loved it.
Vacuum Tube Amplifiers were built to only amplify sound but musicians like Jimmy Hendrix and Led Zeppelin distorted the sounds and created a new era of music.
The Shure 55s Microphone
Rock ‘n’ roll needed better microphone technology. Shure’s 55s, also known as the Elvis mic, set the standard for 1950s rockers.
The small size of this microphone along with its great sound and classic style made it an instant hit. By the 1950s, it was so recognisable that a company advertisement used a picture of the mic with the words – the microphone that needs no name.
This model is one of the best looking mics ever made and also introduced a breakthrough in technology.
The Fender Telecaster
The Telecaster guitar rode out a difficult start to conquer blues and rock and become the most important electric guitar.
In the 1940s Fender made the first successful solid body electric guitar, the Fender Esquire. This was followed by a number of models, including the Fender Telecaster.
The technological developments in the sound of this guitar changed its role. With more volume and its ability to rip through ensembles, this guitar became more prominent.
The electric guitar was regularly used within existing styles of popular music but gradually styles like rock ‘n’ roll developed, where the music was centred around the guitar.
Quincy jones said, “Without the fender bass, there’d be no rock ‘n’ roll or Motown. The electric guitar had been waiting around since 1939 for a nice partner to come along. It became an electric rhythm section, and that changed everything.”
Fender Precision Bass
This bass guitar started it all. The Precision is and always will be the industry’s go to for any application. This bass was so popular that advertisements were put out on behalf of bands looking for Fender Bass Players.
This guitar had one pickup and one sound, but the sound rocked. Artists such as James Jamerson and Joe Cocker created Precision bass signature sounds that can be heard on some of their songs.
Don Randall, who was general manager of Radio and Television Equipment CO, said, “The guitar players picked it up, of course. Many of them played bass and guitar, but most of the guys in the travelling bands were playing the big bass. They had to have a moving-van to take everything where they were going. The Fender was a godsend to them.”
Sam Phillips, Sun Records
Sam Phillips was an American record producer who played a key role in the development of rock ‘n’ roll in the 1950s.
On January 3, 1950, Sam opened the Memphis Recording Service at 706 Union Avenue. The studios there were used for Sam’s own label, Sun Records, through the 1950s.
Phillips recorded the first rock ‘n’ roll track: “Rocket 88” by Jackie Brenston and His Delta Cats. This band was led by 19 year old Ike Turner, who also wrote the song.
Sam said, “Everyone knew that I was just a struggling cat down here trying to develop new and different artists, and get some freedom in music, and tap some resources and people that weren’t being tapped.”
Elvis Presley recorded his song “That’s All Right (Mama)” at Phillips studio and became highly successful. Presley’s singles and local success boosted business for Sun Records. Singers such as Sonny Burgess, Charlie Rich and Billy Lee Riley recorded with some success while BB King, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash would become superstars.
Sam’s key role in the early days of rock ‘n’ roll was manifested by a jam session on December 4, 1956. Jerry Lee Lewis was playing piano for Carl Perkins at Sam’s studio when Elvis Presley unexpectedly walked in. Johnny Cash was called into the studio by Sam, leading to a session featuring the four musicians.
In 1986 Phillips was part of the first group initiated into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Les Paul
An outstanding guitarist, entertainer and innovator whose ambition to produce the sounds he wanted from his recordings and instruments helped pave the way for rock ‘n’ roll.
Terry Stewart, president and CEO of the Rock Hall, said, “Without Les Paul, we would not have rock and roll as we know it. His inventions created the infrastructure for the music and his playing style will ripple through generations.”
Les was widely known for a string of hit songs recorded in the 1950’s, including “How High the Moon” and “Vaya Con Dios” with his wife Mary Ford.
One of the best pickers on the American music scene, Les was often seen as a major influence on other guitarists, including Chet Atkins.
Paul’s innovations include:
An early electric guitar
New ways to create multiple tracks and echo effects for recordings
He used multiple tracks and echo effects in his recordings, which were later adopted by other musicians.
“When most people think of the electric guitar, they think of Les Paul” said Dan Del Fiorentino, Historian for the National Association of Music Merchants. “He wasn’t the inventor of the solid-body electric guitar, but he certainly made it famous.”
After Les met up with singer-guitarist Ford, he found a way to get an echo and overdub Ford’s voice and their two guitars, laying multiple layers on a recording.
The “new sound,” as Les called it, allowed new renderings of songs like “The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise”, “Bye, Bye, Blues” and “Tiger Rag,” as well as their biggest hits “How High The Moon” and “Vaya Con Dios”.
The famous guitar company Gibson designed a solid-body guitar and, in 1952, released an instrument that was endorsed by Paul.
Bibliography:
https://www.asme.org/engineering-topics/articles/history-of-mechanical-engineering/top-10-technology-innovations-got-rock-rolling – Seeburg Select-o-Matic Jukebox / Transistor Radios / Shure 55s Microphone
https://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/so-amped-using-broken-equipment-to-make-music-history/ – Vacuum Tube Amplifiers
https://www.prosoundweb.com/channels/live-sound/microfiles_shure_model_55_-_the_history_of_a_true_classic/ – Shure 55s Microphone
https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-guitars-that-built-rock-the-fender-telecaster – The Fender Telecaster
http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/wml/exhibitions/thebeatgoeson/thebeatgoesonline/technology/instruments/electricguitar.aspx – The Fender Telecaster
http://www.myrareguitars.com/10-most-important-electric-basses – Fender Precision Bass
http://blog.discmakers.com/2016/11/early-days-of-the-fender-precision-bass/ – Fender Precision Bass
https://www.sunrecords.com/artists/sam-phillips – Sam Phillips, Sun Records
https://www.cleveland.com/nation/index.ssf/2009/08/associated_press_file_les_paul.html – Les Paul
References:
MacRae, M. (2013). Top 10 technology innovations that got rock rolling. (online). Asme. Available at: https://www.asme.org/engineering-topics/articles/history-of-mechanical-engineering/top-10-technology-innovations-got-rock-rolling (Accessed 27 October 2018)
Regencytr1. 60+ years of pocket portable electronics. (online). Available at: http://www.regencytr1.com/Regency_TR-1_60th_anniversary_essay.htm (Accessed 27 October 2018)
Wallace, K. (2014). Using broken equipment to make music history. (online). OPB. Available at: https://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/so-amped-using-broken-equipment-to-make-music-history/ (Accessed 28 October 2018)
Brainyquote. Fender quotes. (online). Available at: (Accessed 29 October 2018)
Bacon, T. (2016). The early days of the Precision Fender bass. (online). Blog. Available at: http://blog.discmakers.com/2016/11/early-days-of-the-fender-precision-bass/ (Accessed 29 October 2018)
Sunrecords. Sam Phillips. (online). Available at: https://www.sunrecords.com/artists/sam-phillips (Accessed 31 October 2018)
Kramer, D. (2009). Les Paul called ‘an architect of rock ‘n’ roll’. (online). Cleveland. Available at: https://www.cleveland.com/nation/index.ssf/2009/08/associated_press_file_les_paul.html (Accessed 17 November 2018)