ROCKDOCS Episode #1:
World War II left Europe in tatters but out of the ashes rose a new sound in music and a youth culture that had never been seen before. American servicemen stationed in Europe had brought blues and rock n roll with them and they shared it via late night radio. UK youngsters were listening and the evolution of music from Big Band to Dixieland, Skiffle and Rock n Roll began. Setting the Stage explores how the war and growing up in post war London fuelled the talent and creativity explosion of the 60’s. (To LISTEN click the Play button in the banner image above)
Side Trax
Britain’s First R n R Song
Britain’s first real RnR song took 37 years to complete. Check out SideTrax to find out why.
Rock Music Started Here
Without this song, rock music as we now know it probably would not exist. Check out SideTrax to find out why.
Britain’s First Rock n Roller
Tommy Steele sort of reminds me of Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters. Check out SideTrax to learn why.
American Big Band leader Glenn Miller was the most popular artist from 1939 – 1943 and his music represents the WWII sound. It was the mash-up “In the Mood” that catapulted his popularity, while his untimely death added to his iconic status.
“Lili Marlene” was originally a poem written by a 22 year old soldier during the WWI. It was put to music and recorded before the outbreak of WWII but banned by the Nazis for lacking military qualities. Despite that ban, in 1941 it began being broadcast to German troops in North Africa. It became equally loved by both Axis and Allied troops. Here is Marlene Dietrich’s German version of the song.
Lead Belly’s Rock Island Line played a pivotal role in the evolution of music in the UK and it has an interesting history.