Cullen - 1950s Rock Performance

An act I found interesting was Elvis Presley’s first appearance on the Ed Sullivan show on September 9, 1965. Presley’s debut on the show caused much controversy across the nation due to rock and roll not being fully accepted into society. I found this act interesting due to how much controversy this show caused, as well as Elvis Presley as an artist in general. Presley was a new type of musician that shocked much of the nation with his style of singing, dancing, and attire. He was around during a huge generation gap throughout the nation and caused mix reviews among the people. You can even see in the video that Presley was filmed waist up to ensure nothing provocative would be shown. I also picked this act because it also included the Ed Sullivan Show. It is always interesting for me to read about the Ed Sullivan Show and how much influence it had on the nation, especially young teens. 

After learning much about Presley, my favorite thing about him was how much of an impact he made on the music world. He stood out from other artists and I think that is why so many people liked him. 

Webers - 1950s Performance

While searching around for a 1950's rock and roll performance I came across a song that we have probably all heard at one point or another but I knew actually very little about. The song is "Rock Around the Clock" (1955) which was performed by Bill Halsey and his Comets. I found this selection to be very interesting and one thing that really caught my eye was the way in which Bill Halsey and the other band members were dressed. Very formally! Also the people dancing in the video were very well dressed. It seemed to be a very accurate representation of American culture during this time period. For example, a family gathered around a black and white television watching the performance as well as a drive-in theatre with a classic car. We also see a wide variety of interments a cello, a guitar, drums, and even a saxophone.

Naramore Introduction

Hello everybody, my Name is Maya Naramore and I am from Wolfeboro, NH, I will be a Junior at Saint Mikes and  I am studying psychology! I chose this class because I thought it would be interesting and I need to earn some credits. I have always found music fascinating and this class is awesome because it will give me some background! In this class I hope to learn more about Rock because I feel as though I do not know very much. I also hope to learn why music is how it is today and how it has changed. My favorite song right now is by Eden and coincidentally it is called "Rock+Roll."

Bertoni Introduction

Hi! My name is Isabella and I am from Colchester, Vermont but I currently study musical theatre in Rochester, New York. As a music student it is a requirement for me to take this course but I also think that Rock is a very important part of history. In my free time I like to listen to artists like Allen Stone and Lake Street Dive, these are more jazz and soul combined with a rock sound. Through this course I hope to learn about the progression of Rock and how it was an artistic response to what was going on in the world at the time.

Benway Introduction

Hello Everyone! My name is Aaron (AJ) Benway.  I am from Bristol, Vermont, a town tucked between Middlebury, Vermont and Burlington.  I graduated from Saint Michael's College in 2018 with a double major in business and accounting.  This summer I have to take five courses in order to reach the 150 credit hours of schooling to sit for the Certified Public Accountant exam.  History has always been an interest of mine.  I got tired of having to take classes that discussed war and political problems so this was the class for me.  As for my favorite song, I would say it is "The Other Side" from The Greatest Showman. However, my favorite singer is George Strait.

Lemay Introduction

Hi everyone! My name is Elise Lemay. I'm from Longmeadow, Massachusetts (in the Western part of the state). I'm going to be a junior this fall and am a media studies major & political science minor. I took this course because I took a music history course in high school and really enjoyed it, and am interested to learn more. I'm looking forward to learning how different periods of history and the cultures surrounding them effected the rock genre. I like a broad variety of music, but one of my favorite bands is The Head and The Heart, and I grew up listening to Bruce Springsteen with my family.

Edelman Introduction

Hello everyone! My name is Clea Edelman I will be a rising sophomore, and I am from Concord, MA! I chose to take this course because it sounded like a fun way to meet a requirement while learning about new and exciting material. I grew up close to Liverpool (hometown of The Beatles) so I would always find myself listening to some classic rock. I am a fan of all genres, some of my current favourites are Khalid and Clairo! What I hope to gain out of this class is a better understanding of rock, how it has shaped the music industry today, and overall to learn more about this genre! 

Raleigh Introduction

Hi there! My name is Veronica Raleigh I am going to be graduating in the Fall! I am from New Canaan, CT. I took this course because it seems like something I would find a great deal of interest in.  I love music and have always been a fan of rock. I really like the band The Pixies. Growing up my Dad would always play Elvis. I definitely am looking forward to learning the history behind Rock and roll.

Henderson Introduction

My names Lauren Henderson, I’m going to be a sophomore at St. Mikes this fall majoring in business. I’m from Westchester NY which is pretty close to NYC. I chose this course because I’ve always been huge into classic rock which started at a young age. To name just one of my favorite would be tough but I especially love Tom Petty ( super upset about his loss :(   ) , Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, CCR, Doobie brothers, Yardbirds, and Grateful Dead. I am definitely super excited to learn more about the history of Rock and expand my knowledge even more! 

Bonadies Blog - Post 1

Hi.  My name is Lily Bonadies but everybody call me Lil.  I live in Deerfield, Illinois which is a suburb outside of Chicago.  I am going to be a senior at St. Mike's this coming year.  I am very excited!  My favorite bands are Imagine Dragons and Queen.  I am taking this course to gain more of a historical perspective on rock and roll.  I am a Media Studies major!

Kallem Introduction

Hi everyone! My name is Kristen Kallem. I am from Garden City, New York,  a small town on Long Island. I live right next to NYC.  This fall I will be a junior at St. Mikes. I am an environmental studies major, with a minor in philosophy. I picked this class because it fulfills a requirement, and I have grown up to love and appreciate all things music, especially rock! Some of my favorite artists are Green Day, The Clash, Vampire Weekend, The Velvet Underground, Mac Demarco, and so many more! I hope to learn more about the evolution of rock, and to see how its progressed and changed over the years.

Shelzi Intro

My name is Alaina Shelzi and I am a senior, double major in theater and media journalism.
My hometown is Orange, New Hampshire, population 331. I chose to take History of Rock
over the summer because I had a requirement the class filled and I thought it would be the
most useful and interesting way to fill that slot. I have always loved music and wanted to fill
the credit with a class that would allow me to learn something useful. I think history of rock
will give me the background information to a genre that inspired many of the artists I love today.
To me having to pick my favorite artist is like telling a mom to pick a favorite child, impossible.
To name a few, Brendon Urie, Harry Styles, Adam Lambert, Troye Sivan and anything in the
musical theater genre. Right now, my summer jams are Medicine by Harry Styles and
Panic at the Disco’s new album, Pray For The Wicked. I hope to learn about the artists my
parents grew up on and consider the foundation of rock music. I believe rock has evolved
so much over the past few decades and I am curious to see where it originated and how the
genre was defined in the past in comparison to modern day rock artists. One idea that is often
discussed in photography, as well as theater, is the idea of “icons” and how one image
(or show) could change a culture's views. I wonder how/if we could trace the icons of rock
history that gave the base work for the modern rock/alt/punk genres.  Overall, I am looking to
just learn more about a great type of music.
I’ve included two links below of songs I’ve really been enjoying this summer.

Webers- Introduction

My name is Frank Webers I am a senior at St Michaels college and a History major. I live in Larchmont New York which is in very close proximity to New York City, and provides great access to many concerts and venues. One of the main reasons I chose to take this course was to expand my knowledge of rock and roll. Also being that I am a history major taking a history of something more unique and exciting than other courses I have taken really caught my eye. Although I have never played an instrument proffieciently and really didn't start getting into music until middle school I have really come to enjoy Bruce Springsteen as an artist.

Mello Introduction

Hi everyone! My name is Lily Mello. I am a rising junior studying biology.  I am from Stoneham, MA which is right outside of Boston. And I love all types of music, but I honestly am not good with names. I just want to be more cultured and am interested in learning new things. Rock is such a big part of of music, and it has influenced so many artists that to study it sounded cool. I love science, but music is awesome and I am excited to hear new songs and listen to music this summer. Because of my parents, I know The Who and Led Zeppelin (and I like them too), but I am excited to find some new favorite rock artists.

Jennings Introduction

Hi everyone! My name is Ashley Jennings. I'm from Granby, Connecticut, a small town right next to Hartford. I am an environmental studies major, finishing up some final credits. I played electric guitar for a handful of years, and during lessons I mostly stuck to learning rock songs. Although I no longer play, it had a big impact on the kind of music I continue to listen to. So I know a handful guitar parts in a variety of rock songs, but am very interested to learn what is behind the music that I used to play. One of my all time favorite bands is Led Zeppelin, and "Over the Hills and Far Away" is one of my favorite songs.

Ross Introduction

Hi Everyone,
My name is Michael Ross and I'm from Marshfield Massachusetts, which is a small town near Plymouth. I chose this course due to my love of all rock from past to present. One of my all time favorite rock n roll songs would have to be Simple Man by Lynyrd Skynyrd. In conclusion I really hope to just learn more about the roots of rock and some of the more obscure contributors that not everyone thinks of when talking about the early days of rock n roll.

Croce Introduction

My name is Allison Croce and this fall I will be a Junior here at St. Mike's. I am a Religious Studies major and Classics minor. I love my areas of study, but spend a lot of time learning about history of the ancient world and think history of rock will be a great course to add variety to the way I think about culture by offering a modern twist. It is my hope to learn more about the genre and industry. I am spending my summer with family in Rising Sun, Maryland. My puppies Lily and Daisy say hi too! Growing up there was a lot of trop-rock in the house and cross over music, but an alternative rock group I have always liked is REM, my favorite song is "Shiny Happy People."

If you have never heard the song, it is linked here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kLUaFeWiHA

Joyce Introduction

Hi everyone!  My name is Morgan Joyce, and I will be a junior this fall. I'm from Bedford, NH. I chose this course based on the great things I've heard from friends who have taken this class and the unique subject matter. I love listening to music of all genres, but I don't know too much about the music industry, so I am really curious to learn more about that! My favorite artist is probably Coldplay!

Cioffi Introduction

Hey Everyone,

My name is Owen Cioffi I am from St. Albans Vermont. It is a small town in Northern Vermont about 25 minutes away from St. Mikes. I am a rising sophomore and a business major. I was interested in this course because of my love for music of all genres. I grew up listening to Rock because my dad was a huge fan. I always am listening to music and am really curious to learn the history behind this genre. I would like to learn more about the music popularity shift in preferred genres through this course. One of my favorite rock bands is The Rolling Stones. Looking forward to this course.

Shepard Introduction

Hello, my name is Rachael Shepard I am from Watertown Connecticut. It is a small town located 45 minutes away from Hartford. I am a rising sophomore and a Psychology major. I am interested in taking this class because I want to learn more about how rock music influences in current pop music. Rock music was also created due to events happening during the time. For example, the song Fortunate Son was created to protest the Vietnam War. My favorite rock song is Layla by Eric Clapton, and he happens to be my favorite rock artist as well.

Moriarty Introduction

Hi everyone, my name is Will Moriarty and I am rising junior on the lacrosse team at Saint Mike's. I am from Ashland Mass which is a small town 30 minutes west of Boston. I chose this course because I have never taken a music class and I listen to a lot of music throughout the day so learning about the history behind it all sounds very interesting. My favorite rock song is Carry on Wayward Son hands down and my favorite band is Queen. I hope to learn a lot of intriguing things about rock history and have a better knowledge of the music's history in general. Can't wait to get started!!

Prof. Ellis Introduction

Hello, everyone. I’m the professor for your History of Rock course. Before Vermont, I hailed from Memphis, Tennessee, where I was the music writer for the daily paper, the Commercial Appeal, back when music legends such as Sam Phillips, Rufus Thomas, and Isaac Hayes were alive and a phone call away. Much of my take on the history of rock, in fact, comes from the hundreds of interviews I conducted with Memphis-loving rock stars (Robert Plant, Billy Joel, the Edge, etc.) as well as the oral histories, stories, and experiences of the folks who for generations have continued to define the musical scope of the city: its blues, soul, gospel, rock, hip hop.

I grew up in a traditional music household (my dad played banjo for Bill Monroe, my godfather) before pursuing my MM in classical guitar and PhD in ethnomusicology. In 2011 I came to Saint Michael’s – during Dead Elvis Week, no less! – and am an Associate Professor of Music in our Fine Arts Department. I also record and compose blues and gospel music under my full name, William Lee Ellis; you’ll find a few of my albums on Spotify – be kind!

I'm happy to have you all for this class and can’t wait to hear your thoughts – and discoveries – on this wonderful topic of rock and roll! Below I’ve posted a video by two of my many favorite acts, both now sadly gone, Tom Petty and Prince, who shared the stage in 2004 for an all-star tribute to Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee George Harrison. It’s no overstatement to say Prince stole the show when he enters at the 3:28-minute mark for an absolutely stunning guitar solo.

Cullen Introduction

Hi everyone, 
My name is Kelly Cullen and I am a rising sophomore at St. Mikes. I am an education and art major. I live in Stamford, Connecticut. I chose this class because I think it is going to be very interesting to learn more about rock and roll, and how much of an impact it made on the music world. My favorite rock band is Queen and I am hoping to learn more about the lives of the many famous rock artists throughout history.
Looking forward to the class!

Beck Introduction

Hi,

My name is Brandon Beck. I live in Apex, North Carolina. I am a religious studies major, and I chose this class because I have always liked classic rock music and the story behind the songs. I am eager to learn more about artists I don't know as well. My favorite artist is Billy Joel. (The Piano Man) 

Roque Introduction

Roque Introduction-

Hello everyone!

My name is Hannah Roque and I am from Middlebury, Vermont, which is a small college town about 45 minutes south of Saint Mike's. I am a rising sophomore as an english and secondary education double major with a chemistry minor. I am interested in taking this class because I'm a musician and I am also extremely interested in the evolution of rock music/musicians and how it influences our world today. I don't have much experience listening to the rock genre, but I listen to a lot of Broadway Musicals which offer a variety of genres. Some of my favorite rock musicals are Hairspray, Beautiful: the Carole King Musical, and Bye Bye Birdie. I look forward to getting exposed to the rock genre, and I can't wait to start the class! 

Hannah