Rock or Rock and Roll music was first made in the United States, during the late 1940s and early 1950s.
Rock and Roll developed from a blend of African-American genres such as rhythm and blues (R&B) and gospel, mixed with country, jazz and even folk music.
Many historians cite "Rocket 88" by Jackie Brenston and His Delta Cats (recorded by Sam Phillips at Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennessee) as the first rock and roll record.
Others point to earlier rhythm and blues tracks, such as Wynonie Harris's "Good Rockin' Tonight" (1948), as the true starting point.
The foundational blend of spiritual lyrics, heavy rhythm, and electrified guitar was heavily pioneered by Sister Rosetta Tharpe, a gospel singer born in Cotton Plant, Arkansas.
The term "rock and roll" was first popularized on the radio by DJ Alan Freed in Cleveland, Ohio, who hosted the genre's first major concert in 1952.
The pioneers of Rock and Roll include Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry.