History

Some reflections and some prognostications on ARRAS and The Big Beat of the 50s

(This article is a slightly revised version of "One Hundred Not Out!", by Chris Haymes, that appeared in Big Beat of the 50s edition #100, March 2006)

In March 2006 we celebrated one hundred published editions of Big Beat of the 50's. That is some achievement indeed! The first edition of the magazine was published early in 1974. The concept was very much part of the second rock'n'roll revival which had started in 1969. As the first revival, or "re-awakening", of '50's rock'n'roll, that had commenced in 1959, died down as the mid sixties approached, to be subsumed first by Soul then by Surf music, Mersybeat, The Monkees and the like; a void of knowledge grew amongst the new generation. When the "Sixties Sound" reached its peak with Woodstock in August 1969, understanding and appreciation of '50's rock'n'roll had reached its nadir. However, at the same time a series of events occurred in the US, which resulted in a rebirth of interest in, Group Harmony R&B (also known as Doo Wop), Rockabilly and solo R&B, that is the three major umbrella genres that encompass the threads that make up rock'n'roll, the "Big Beat" of the 50's.

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