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Rock music as a genre evolved from Rock 'n' roll, which in turn came from rythmn and blues (R'n'B), country, rockabilly, blues, a process of borrowings, influences that continues to develop rock music to this very day. Rock 'n' roll had runaway success in the U.S. and brought R'n'B-influenced music to an international audience. Its success led to a dilution of the meaning of the term "rock and roll", as promoters were quick to attach the label to other commercial pop.

Rock 'n' roll started off in the early-to-mid 1950s in the United States. African-American artists such as Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Bo Diddley, and Fats Domino played predominantly to African American crowds. While these key early rockers were indisposed to racism, local authorities and dance halls were very much divided upon racial lines.

Mainstream acceptance of rock and roll came in the mid-1950s when what Bo Diddley describes as 'ofay dudes' (or whites) signed to major labels and started covering the African American  material. Elvis Presley, Bill Haley and the Comets, Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash often toured and played together in dance halls and clubs across the US and Britain.

Towards the end of the 1950s "chessboard" crowds (both black and white patrons) would emerge at rock and roll concerts, as fans discovered the original artists of the songs they knew from television and the radio, such as Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti". The genre ignited British enthusiasm for rhythm and blues and the development of British rock.

In the United Kingdom the trad jazz movement brought visiting blues music artists to Britain. Lonnie Donegan's 1955 hit "Rock Island Line" was a major influence, and helped to develop the trend of skiffle music groups throughout the country, including John Lennon's the Quarry Men, the 1957 precursor to The Beatles. Britain developed a major rock and roll scene, without the race barriers which kept "race records" or rhythm and blues separate in the U.S.

Cliff Richard had the first British rock 'n' roll hit with "Move It", effectively ushering in the sound of British rock. At the start of the 1960s, his backing group The Shadows was one of a number of groups having success with surf music instrumentals. And while rock 'n' roll was fading into lightweight pop and schmaltzy ballads, at clubs and local dances British rock groups, heavily influenced by blues-rock pioneers like Alexis Korner, were starting to play with an intensity and drive seldom found in white American acts.

By the end of 1962, the British rock scene had started, with groups drawing on a wide range of American influences including soul music, rhythm and blues and surf music. Initially, they reinterpreted standard American tunes, eventually infusing their original rock compositions with increasingly complex musical ideas.

The Beatles brought together an appealing mix of image, songwriting and personality, and achieved an unprecedented level of worldwide popularity. In mid-1962 The Rolling Stones started as one of a number of groups increasingly showing blues influence, along with The Animals, The Pretty Things and The Yardbirds. In late 1964, The Kinks and The Who represented the new Mod style. Towards the end of the decade, British rock groups began to explore psychedelic musical styles that made reference to the drug subculture and hallucinogenic experiences.

Back in the USA, rock music went through phases of surf music via groups such as The Beach Boys and Jan and Dean, folk music using acoustic instruments, traditional songs, and blues music with a socially progressive message. The folk genre was pioneered by Woody Guthrie. Bob Dylan came to the fore in this movement, and his hits with Blowin' in the Wind and Masters of War brought "protest songs" to a wider public.

The Byrds, who playing Bob Dylan's Mr. Tambourine Man, helped to start the trend of folk rock, and helped to stimulate the development of psychedelic rock. Dylan continued, with his "Like a Rolling Stone" becoming a US hit single. Neil Young's lyrical inventiveness and wailing electric guitar attack created a variation of folk rock. Other folk rock artists include Simon & Garfunkel, Joan Baez, The Mamas & the Papas, Joni Mitchell, Bobby Darin and The Band, arguably the pioneers of Americana.

In Britain, Fairport Convention began applying rock techniques to traditional British folk songs, followed by groups such as Steeleye Span, Lindisfarne, and Pentangle.

Psychedelia began in the folk scene, with the Holy Modal Rounders introducing the term in 1964. With a background including folk and jug band music, the Grateful Dead effectively introduced an electric acid rock  sound, together with Big Brother & the Holding Company.

The Fillmore was a regular venue for groups like another former jug band, Country Joe and the Fish, and Jefferson Airplane. In England, Pink Floyd had been developing psychedelic rock since 1965 and in 1966 the band Soft Machine was formed, utilising jazz influences. Donovan had a folk music-influenced hit with Sunshine Superman, one of the early psychedelic pop records. In August 1966 The Beatles released their Revolver album, and in the USA The Beach Boys responded with Pet Sounds. From a blues rock background, the British supergroup Cream debuted in December, and Jimi Hendrix became popular in Britain before returning to the US. Led Zeppelin moulded blues rock, folk rock and heavy rock into a powerful mixture.

Since 1970, Rock Music has transformed into Progressive rock (Artists experimenting with different instruments, song types, and complex musical forms and full orchestras), Soft Rock (very simple "bubble gum pop"), Heavy Metal (highly amplified, guitar driven music, derived from blues rock), Country Rock (country music themes with rock rythmns), Arena Rock (Pop lyrics with highly amplified instruments, including synthesised keyboard sounds), Punk Rock (simplified, high energy music), New Wave (a literary, artistic approach), Glam Rock (use of make up to superimpose characters into the music presentation - David Bowie, Alice Cooper)

In the 1980's Rock Music diversified even more, as technology allowed fullblown productions (Queen, U2, Elton John), American Heartland Rock (Bruce Springsteen, Bob Seger and John Mellencamp), World Music (Peter Gabriel, Paul Simon), Thrash Metal, Alternative Rock (Artists not fitting into the known genres - REM, The Pixies).

1990's Grunge Rock (more simplified music often with cutting lyrics - Nirvana) became hugely popular as an alternative form of Rock Music with bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rage Against the Machine, P.O.D. and later Deftones and Korn bringing a fresh sound by combining rap and rock with much success.

After existing in the musical underground, garage rock saw a resurgence of popularity in the early 2000s, with the garage rock revival. Bands like the White Stripes, the Strokes, Jet, the Vines, and the Hives all released successful singles and albums. This wave is often referred to as back-to-basics rock because of its raw sound. Country Pop/Rock is still with us with Garth Brooks, Keith Urban and the like.

Rock Music is truly the evolving of ideas and sounds from many other musical genres...........the above blurb is merely the tip of the iceberg! Hopefully you the reader will now explore the ROOTS OF ROCK!

www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_music