Rock musicBroad genre of popular musicRock music is a genre of popular music that originated in the United States as "rock and roll" in the late 1940s and early 1950s, developing into a range of styles from the late 50s to mid-1960s, primarily in the United States and United Kingdom. It has its roots beginning as classic rock and roll, a style that drew from the African-American musical genres of blues and rhythm and blues, as well as from country music.
Sly and the Family StoneSly and the Family Stone was an American band formed in San Francisco, California, in 1966 and active until 1983. Their work, which blended elements of funk, soul, psychedelic rock, gospel, and R&B, became a pivotal influence on subsequent American popular music.
David BowieDavid Robert Jones (8 January 1947 – 10 January 2016), known as David Bowie, was an English singer, songwriter and actor. Regarded as among the most influential musicians of the 20th century, he was known for his frequent reinvention and visual presentation, and is often referred to as the "chameleon of rock". His music, stagecraft and fashion have had a significant impact on popular culture. Bowie studied art, music and design before embarking on a music career in 1962.
Parliament-FunkadelicParliament-Funkadelic (abbreviated as P-Funk) is an American music collective of rotating musicians headed by George Clinton, primarily consisting of the funk bands Parliament and Funkadelic, both active since the 1960s. With an eclectic style drawing on psychedelia, outlandish fashion, and surreal humor, they have released albums such as Maggot Brain (1971), Mothership Connection (1975), and One Nation Under a Groove (1978) to critical praise, and scored charting hits with singles such as "Tear the Roof Off the Sucker" (1975) and "Flash Light" (1978).
James BrownJames Joseph Brown (May 3, 1933 – December 25, 2006) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, musician, and record producer. The central progenitor of funk music and a major figure of 20th-century music, he is referred to by various nicknames, among them "Mr. Dynamite", "the Hardest-Working Man in Show Business", "Minister of New Super Heavy Funk", "Godfather of Soul", "King of Soul", and "Soul Brother No. 1".
The Isley BrothersThe Isley Brothers ( ) are an American soul group originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, that began in 1954 as a vocal trio consisting of the brothers O'Kelly Isley Jr., Rudolph Isley and Ronald Isley. Together with a fourth brother, Vernon, the group performed gospel music until Vernon's death in 1954.
FunkFunk is a music genre that originated in African-American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African-Americans in the mid-20th century. It deemphasizes melody and chord progressions and focuses on a strong rhythmic groove of a bassline played by an electric bassist and a drum part played by a percussionist, often at slower tempos than other popular music.
Little RichardAmerican musician (1932–2020)Richard Wayne Penniman (December 5, 1932 – May 9, 2020), better known by his stage name Little Richard, was an American singer, pianist and songwriter. He was an influential figure in popular music and culture for seven decades.
Music genreA music genre is a conventional category that identifies some pieces of music as belonging to a shared tradition or set of conventions. Genre is to be distinguished from musical form and musical style, although in practice these terms are sometimes used interchangeably. Music can be divided into genres in numerous ways, sometimes broadly and with polarity, e.g., popular music as opposed to art music or folk music, or, as another example, religious music and secular music.
Rick DerringerRichard Dean Zehringer (August 5, 1947 – May 26, 2025), known professionally as Rick Derringer, was an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He gained success in the 1960s with his band, the McCoys. Their debut single, "Hang On Sloopy", became a number-one hit in 1965 and is regarded as a classic track from the garage rock era. The McCoys had seven songs chart in the top 100, including covers of "Fever" and "Come On, Let's Go".Redbone (band)Redbone is an American rock band that was originally formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1969 by brothers Pat and Lolly Vegas. All members during their commercial peak were of Chicano or Native American heritage, something heavily reflected in their songs, stage regalia, and album art.The Upsetters (American band)The Upsetters were an American band that played with American musician and poet Little Richard from 1953 to the early 1960s. They would continue to tour and record through the late 1960s as a backing band with Otis Redding and as a solo group as well. They have been credited by James Brown and others with first putting the funk in the rock and roll beat.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.