Blues and country music contributed to a style called rhythm and blues. This was an early form of what we now call rock and roll. It appealed to a younger audience that liked to dance to the sounds of music created by African American artists like Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Fats Domino. Parents and older Americans in the 1950s didn’t think rock and roll music would last but white performers like Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley helped to spread early rock music to a wider audience.
By the 1960s, rock and roll was more than just music. It was a youth movement around the world. Black rhythm and blues artists influenced British rock and roll groups like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Today, rock and roll musicians are influenced by many different musical styles including blues, country, jazz, gospel and rap. One of South Carolina's most famous rock and roll groups today is Hootie and the Blowfish.
