The History of Rock & Roll: Volume 1: 1920-1963

· Tantor Media Inc · Narrated by David Colacci
Audiobook
15 hr 32 min
Unabridged
Eligible
Want a free 1 hr 33 min sample? Listen anytime, even offline. 
Add

About this audiobook

Ed Ward covers the first half of the history of rock & roll in this sweeping and definitive narrative—from the 1920s, when the music of rambling medicine shows mingled with the songs of vaudeville and minstrel acts to create the very early sounds of country and rhythm and blues, to the rise of the first independent record labels post–World War II, and concluding in December 1963, just as an immense change in the airwaves took hold and the Beatles prepared for their first American tour.



In this first volume of a two-part series, Ward shares his endless depth of knowledge and through engrossing storytelling hops seamlessly from Memphis to Chicago, Detroit, England, New York, and everywhere in between. He covers the trajectories of the big name acts like Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, and Ray Charles, while also filling in gaps of knowledge and celebrating forgotten heroes such as the Burnette brothers, the "5" Royales, and Marion Keisker, Sam Phillips's assistant, who played an integral part in launching Elvis's career.
Ed Ward covers the first half of the history of rock & roll in this sweeping and definitive narrative—from the 1920s, when the music of rambling medicine shows mingled with the songs of vaudeville and minstrel acts to create the very early sounds of country and rhythm and blues, to the rise of th...

Discover more

About the author

Ed Ward is the rock and roll historian on NPR's Fresh Air. His writing has appeared in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and countless other music magazines. He is also coauthor of Rock of Ages: The Rolling Stone History of Rock & Roll.

David Colacci has been an actor and a director for over thirty years, and has worked as a narrator for over fifteen years. He has won AudioFile Earphones Awards, earned Audie nominations, and been included in Best of the Year lists by such publications as Publishers Weekly, AudioFile magazine, and Library Journal.

Ed Ward is the rock and roll historian on NPR's Fresh Air. His writing has appeared in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and countless other music magazines. He is also coauthor of Rock of Ages: The Rolling Stone History of Rock & Roll. David Colacci has been an actor and a director fo...

Rate this audiobook

Tell us what you think.

Listening information

Smartphones and tablets
Install the Google Play Books app for Android and iPad/iPhone. It syncs automatically with your account and allows you to read online or offline wherever you are.
Laptops and computers
You can read books purchased on Google Play using your computer's web browser.