-Divided We Stand! Segmentation of Rock into Sub-Genres-

Since the 1950’s, rock & roll has risen to be among one of the most popular music genres.  People love to debate its origins, but the fact of the matter is that rock was a hybrid of various music genres, which then blended to take on the identity of this new, hip genre of the 50’s called rock.  Blended genres included blues (evident in the original version of “Hound Dog” by Big Mama Thornton), jump-blues and western swing (Bill Haley and The Comets’ “Rock Around the Clock”), and R & B (especially white artist covers of songs, such as by Elvis Presley). 

By the 1960’s though, there was even further converting of blues songs into rock songs, particularly by rockers from England.  During these times, radio stations and new recording labels began creating new music genres and developing new artists, respectively.  Through all of this, it led to the rise of not only new sub-genres, but more importantly the rise of new audiences whom have never been served by any record label or radio network.  Ultimately by the late 60’s-early 70’s, rock would become segmented into its more or less current various and distinct sub-genres.  The addition of punk (The Sex Pistols) and glam rock (David Bowie), fusions of rock with R & B, soul, and Jamaican rhythms added ska (The Specials) and reggae (Bob Marley) along with various additions to rock in the 80’s and 90’s has further led to the segmentation of rock into sub-genres, which still stand today and are backed by distinct recording companies, radio stations, and their loyal fans.