60 YEARS OF THE ROCK ERA. This update: 1974.

60 YEARS OF

ROCK

(1955-2015)

1974

 

    

 

-Casablanca Records signs Kiss.

-The American Music Awards, staged by Dick Clark, are launched.

-The Jefferson Airplane changes its name to Jefferson Starship. 

-ABBA wins the Eurovision Song Contest with "Waterloo".

-Rolling Stone declares: "I have seen rock 'n roll's future & his name is Bruce Springsteen." 

-Hysteria at a David Cassidy concert in London results in 1 death and 1,000 others are treated. 

-Rick Wakeman quits Yes.

-"Rock The Boat" goes gold. It will become the 1st disco #1 single. 

-The 1st disco #1 song is replaced by the 2nd, "Rock Your Baby".  

-Mama Cass Elliot dies. 

-The Ramones debut at CBGB in New York. 

-The New York Dolls split up.

-Dionne Warwick returns to the charts with The Spinners on her 1st #1: "Then Came You". 

-John Lennon joins Elton John live on stage. 

-John Lennon & Yoko Ono reunite after a separation period.

-Mick Taylor quits the Rolling Stones.  

 

 

 

The music landscape had become sluggish; with stadium rock and corporate rock acts dominating the charts and airwaves. Detroit's Motown Sound and the lush Philly Soul from Philadelphia International Records begat a new genre. Isaac Hayes and Barry White added essential ingredients to the funk of acts such as James Brown. This mix spawned disco. It was in 1974 that the music that had previously belonged to gays and African Americans started reaching mainstream audiences. At the same time, punk music was brewing too. The New York Dolls had paved the way and The Ramones emerged to help usher in the new music.