People try to put

us down- talking
bout my
Generation

Youth Culture, Beatniks, Memphis

Music, and rock and roll
Jessie Steele

Whats Going on?

Social Studies 9-12, U.S history

TN Academic Standard US 86: Describe the
emergence of a youth culture, including beatniks
and the progression of popular music from swing
to Rhythm and blues to rock n roll, and the
signifigance of Tennessee, including Sun Studios,
Stax Records and Elvis Presley.
The Purpose of this powerpoint is to educate the
students on a turbulent time in music, culture and
ways of life between the 1940s and the 1970s

What is Youth
Culture?

Youth Culture is just that- its the

culture of youth! Its how adolescents
and teens, just like you, live. The
Youth culture changes with every
generation, and is commonly
characterized by disagreements
between the culture of the youths
and the culture of the old folks.

Counter-Culture

The first real counter-culture was that of the

beatniks. While America was living the postbaby boom All-American lifestyle, in coffee
shops, clad in all black, chilled the beatniks.
They wrote poetry, what we now would call
the Slam or Spoken word genre.
They often criticized the mainstream way of
living.

Lord Buckley- Marc Anthonys Funeral

Oration

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
S4lZTgbjFJo
Lord Buckley was a comedian in the 50s and
60s who spoke as a proper englishmen in the
Beatnik parlance

Counterculture
extended into the

1960s

Most of you are familiar with the 1960s

counter culture group- The Hippies! With their
long hair, laid-back attitude, and peaceseeking conquests, they were the polar
opposite of the older-WWII generation.

Hippie Music

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
cAmn4eMusZk
Come Together, The Beatles

Musical Interludes

Music was a big part of the changing

atmosphere of the 50s to the 60s.
Swing Music was the music of the forties,
played by big brass bands in dance halls.
Examples of swing tunes include Fly Me to
the Moon, Mack the Knife, and Just a
Gigolo

Swing Band in the

40s.

I got them Memphis

Blues

The blues is a melancholy type of African American

music, beginning in the late 19th century, post- Civil War.
It grew in popularity in the 1940s when bigger audience
for the blues could be found.
The blues is essentially the base for R&B, Rock and Roll,
and most modern music.
Memphis, TN is considered the birthplace of the blues,
and hosts several landmarks of Blues music history. On
Beale street, there is a statue of W.C Handy, who was
one of the fathers of the blues.
Famous Blues songs: The Memphis Blues, The St.
Louis Blues, and Stormy Weather

W.C Handy, Father of

the
Blues

Rhythm and Blues

Have any of you ever heard what you would consider

a R&B song? Talk to the person beside you and see if
youve heard a modern day R&B song
R&B is a form of popular music of African American origin that arose from the Blues, with the
addition of driving rhythms taken from jazz.
R&B has remained popular however, even to modern
day. Marvin Gaye, R. Kelly, and even Beyonce have
songs that could be considered the R&B genre.
R&B later evolved into a more funky form in the 60s,
called Soul.

Booker T and the MGS

were a Memphis R&B/Funk
band

ROCK AND ROLL

HEAVEN

Everyone in this room has heard a Rock song.

Talk to your neighbor and list some rock songs
you both know and like.
Rock and Roll is what occured when R&B
collided with White country music.
Elvis is considered in most circles to be the
King of Rock and Roll.
Rock and Roll was often considered evil, or the
Devils music, heightening its appeal to the
youth of the 50s, up through the 1970s

The King

Elvis Presley is Memphis international claim to

fame.
His Legendary Graceland home is one of
Memphis top tourist attractions.
Elvis sultry dance moves gave another level
of Raunch to Rock and Roll
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
sGZm7EOamWk

Memphis is very luckywe have been at the core of all

three musical movements

Memphis is a musical city. Between the music of

the streets, the rock roots of Sun Studio, and the
funky beat of Stax, Memphis has never NOT had
its finger on the pulse of the musical wavelength.
Virtual Tour of Stax Recordshttp://www.staxmuseum.com/videoimages/museum-tour/?start=6
http://a.images.blip.tv/Brianlippey-GSTVVisit
sTheLegendarySunStudioInMemphisGuitarShopTVco
m875.
jpg
Sun Studio

Lets Review

Partner up with the person next to you and

answer the next questions.
1. List, from First/Earliest to most recent:
Blues, R&B, Rock and Roll.
2. Who recorded music at Sun Studio
3. Name Two or more examples of a
youth/counter culture. (We discussed two. If
you are aware of more, say them!)
Can you list the 3 Memphis singers we
discussed in this powerpoint.