The Story of Rock and Roll

By: Max Ridgway

Narrated by: David Wright

The Story of Rock and Roll an epic tale with a cast of thousands (if you count the crowd at Woodstock), spanning more than a century. It’s also an American story (at least until the Beatles arrived) about music created by individuals clinging to the lowest rung of the social ladder who, nevertheless, invented a musical idea that engulfed the entire world, influencing all aspects of culture, and drawing every other kind of music into its orbit. It’s a story that has everything: scandal, betrayal, big money, murder, tragedy and triumph, long successful careers, and lives unexpectedly cut short. It’s the story of rock and roll.

©2022 Max Ridgway (P)2025 Max Ridgway

The definitive history of rock and roll

Ridgway creates a fascinating timeline of recorded music, leading to the birth of rock and roll. The book probes the question, what is rock and roll? After all, it largely depends on how you define it. The song "Rocket '88" (1951) is considered the first recorded song in the genre, but it doesn't sound like a song today that you would equate with rock and roll. The author traces the roots to the music we call rock and roll, and enjoy today.

I found "The Story of Rock and Roll" captivating, and strongly recommend this work to those that appreciates the history of rock and roll music.