Westport Public Library MOVIE & MUSIC Blog

According to the Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, rock and roll not only refers to the popular music of the second half of the twentiethth century but may also mean the musical style of the 1950s. In 1953, Bill Haley and the Comets' song "Crazy Man Crazy" became the first rock associated work listed on the Billboard charts. Their mammoth 1955 hit "Rock Around the Clock" led to the realization that rock and roll was here to stay. Rock and roll freely borrowed from the blues, boogie-woogie, gospel, and Tin Pan Alley. With the passage of time, it encompassed other genres and techniques, thus creating new forms of musical expression and sound.

On Monday night, March 12, 2007, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame held their twenty-second annual induction ceremony at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. The 2007 inductees included Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, R.E.M., the Ronettes, Patti Smith, and Van Halen. This award recognizes the cumulative oeuvre and contributions made by the artists, producers, and writers to music and popular culture.

One of the honorees, Patti Smith, appeared and read from her poetry at the Westport Public Library on April 29, 2001 as part of the Poet's Voice series. Those wishing to either read her words or listen to her music may seek Auguries of Innocence, Coral Sea, Dream of Life, Gone Again, and Patti Smith Complete: Lyrics, Notes and Reflections. The female singing group, the Ronettes, may be heard on the soundtrack of Dirty Dancing. Van Halen is represented by the Best of Van Halen. The music of R.E.M. is available on the compact discs Best of R.E.M., Murmur, Out of Time, and Reveal.