Haleigh’s Musical Journey 2023

 Music WIth My Grandmother      I spoke with my grandmother for this blog. She is 87 years old and has been listening to Elvis Presley and Ray Charles as she did when she was younger. She's always loved music, but she was really into it back then. Her favorite singer was Elvis Presley. "Why did you adore Elvis so much?" I questioned. “The women adored the way he moved his hips”, she said. https://youtu.be/FHhhkRvBmrM      Although she repeated the same story to me a few times, my grandmother, who is in the early stages of dementia, never failed to mention Elvis and how endearing he was both on and off the stage. She enjoys listening to Elvis Presley's gospel music these days. Don't get me wrong, when Elvis was younger, she liked the joy and excitement he brought to the stage, but as she's gotten older, she's grown to love his gospel music. Elvis Gospel Song- How Great Thou Art https://youtu.be/9tg-dcj9w4k      My grandmother explained to...

    Rock & roll had everything that the 1950s suburbia needed. While their parents were listening to big bands, Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, and other artists of the era, the younger generation was dancing to a new beat. To the shock of the older generation, their kids were actually twisting, thrusting, banging, and grinding to rock and roll music.  Black American Blues and Gospel were the origins of rock and roll. The strains of rhythm and Blues drew suburban youths as the Great Migration brought many Black Americans to the northern cities. Yet, none of the top performers in the genre were able to receive significant airtime because of segregation and racial beliefs.      America was shocked by rock & roll. A group of young adolescents protested against the music their parents listened to. Older people generally detested rock and roll. Churches declared the movement to be Satan's music after being horrified by the new dance movements it inspired...