Rockabilly

This article is about the genre of music. For wrestler formerly known as Rockabilly, see Monty Sopp. For the 1957 popular song, see Rock-a-Billy (song). For the 1961 novel, see Rockabilly (novel).

Rockabilly
Classic instruments associated with rockabilly are a hollow-body electric guitar, an upright bass, and a pared-down drum kit
Stylistic origins
Cultural originsEarly to mid-1950s, Southern United States
Derivative formsGarage rock
Fusion genres
Other topics

Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music. It dates back to the early 1950s in the United States, especially the South. As a genre, it blends the sound of Western musical styles such as country with that of rhythm and blues,[1][2] leading to what is considered "classic" rock and roll.[3] Some have also described it as a blend of bluegrass with rock and roll.[4] The term "rockabilly" itself is a portmanteau of "rock" (from "rock 'n' roll") and "hillbilly", the latter a reference to the country music (often called "hillbilly music" in the 1940s and 1950s) that contributed strongly to the style. Other important influences on rockabilly include western swing, boogie-woogie, jump blues, and electric blues.[5]

Defining features of the rockabilly sound included strong rhythms, boogie woogie piano riffs, vocal twangs, doo-wop acapella singing, and common use of the tape echo;[6] and eventually came to incorporate different instruments and vocal harmonies.[2] Initially popularized by artists such as Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, Johnny Burnette, Jerry Lee Lewis and others, the rockabilly style waned in the late 1950s; nonetheless, during the late 1970s and early 1980s, rockabilly enjoyed a revival. An interest in the genre endures even in the 21st century, often within musical subcultures. Rockabilly has spawned a variety of sub-styles and has influenced the development of other genres such as punk rock.[6]

  1. ^ "ROCKABILLY Definition". Shsu.edu. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  2. ^ a b Craig Morrison (November 21, 2013). "rockabilly (music) - Encyclopædia Britannica". Britannica.com. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  3. ^ "ROCKABILLY Definition". Shsu.edu. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  4. ^ The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference country was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b "Fundamentals of Rockabilly". Guitar.com. Archived from the original on July 6, 2014. Retrieved May 22, 2014.