| Oh, Boy! Did Roy Orbison get it wrong? Buddy | | | | quality of the music, since those of us who |
| Holly would have rolled over in his grave | | | | were teenagers back then have forgotten so |
| while Beethoven, contrary to the lyrics of | | | | many excellent recordings from when we were |
| Chuck Berry's classic song, rests peacefully | | | | young.Simply put, the dance preserved the |
| in his, secure in the knowledge that his | | | | music rather than vice versa. Without the |
| music has withstood the test of time. Rock | | | | lasting popularity of the energetic, |
| 'n' Roll die? That'll be the day!In the late | | | | versatile and easily learned dance style, the |
| nineteen sixties Roy Orbison, on a concert | | | | music would probably have died long ago. |
| tour of Australia, arrived in Adelaide on the | | | | Perhaps not all of it, at least initially. |
| same flight as the Walker Brothers. I recall | | | | Elvis fans will no doubt testify to the |
| watching on television the airport interview | | | | immortality of The King's music, but reality |
| in which Roy, always the nice guy, explained | | | | will triumph. Elvis fans are no more immortal |
| how much he loved the music of Scott Walker | | | | in the flesh than he was. They too will |
| and his fellow band members. He went on to | | | | eventually die out.Most young people who |
| explain that he believed Rock 'n' Roll was a | | | | learn Rock 'n' Roll dance nowadays have no |
| passing craze which would soon die out, but | | | | more preference for the music of Elvis or The |
| that the wonderful music of the Walker | | | | Beatles than they have for any of the obscure |
| Brothers would live on forever.Sadly, it was | | | | one-hit-wonders who contributed so many of |
| the loveable Roy himself who would soon die | | | | the old hit records. They find Smashmouth |
| after such a tragic life, leaving behind a | | | | more appealing as artists, but if an old song |
| rich legacy of music that remains very | | | | is good to dance to they like it no matter |
| popular so many years later. As for the music | | | | who recorded it. Its reasonable to assume |
| of the Walker Brothers, they certainly left | | | | they will preserve much of the music after we |
| the world with some memorable hits. "The Sun | | | | are gone, but mainly for dance purposes |
| Ain't Gonna Shine Any More", "My Ship Is | | | | rather than for entertainment.That is what |
| Coming In" and "Make It Easy On Yourself" | | | | has happened to other music styles. For |
| were all Walker Brothers originals that come | | | | example, the folk music that was so popular |
| instantly to mind, but you can't dance Rock | | | | in the late 'fifties and early 'sixties has |
| 'n' Roll to them.Roy's gaff can be forgiven. | | | | died out because you can't dance to it. On |
| Its true that the production of music in the | | | | the other hand many old time tunes such as |
| original Rock 'n' Roll style didn't continue, | | | | waltzes and marches remain popular today |
| although artists like Shakin' Stevens did | | | | because ballroom dancing preserves them.So, |
| release some pretty good tracks in the old | | | | how long will Rock 'n' Roll last? No-one can |
| style during the 'seventies and when Jackie | | | | tell, but the waltz dates back to 1780 and is |
| Wilson's Reet Petite was re-released after | | | | still practiced, so our favourite dance and |
| his death it soared up the charts. In | | | | music style might have a couple of hundred |
| Australia, even Gene Chandler's Duke of Earl | | | | years to live yet. Perhaps then a songwriter |
| enjoyed a revival in the 'eighties after it | | | | will compose a song in the popular style of |
| was featured in a television commercial. The | | | | the day entitled "Roll Over, Roy |
| expected death of Rock 'n' Roll wasn't | | | | Orbison."Gareth Eastwood is a Rock 'n' Roll |
| happening.This also brings to mind a song | | | | dance instructor and enthusiast in Adelaide, |
| released by one of the most successful | | | | South Australia. He maintains a recently |
| Australian groups of the 'sixties, The | | | | created website, in which he repeatedly |
| Master's Apprentices. The lyrics say | | | | stresses the need for dancers to be gentle |
| "Rockin', Rollin' we're still doing it now, | | | | with each other rather than dancing roughly. |
| 15 years today and we remember how." When | | | | When fully developed the site will feature |
| that song was released in 1970 it was | | | | articles by numerous authors detailing dance |
| apparently remarkable that we "remembered | | | | styles and reporting on events.He also |
| how" after an eon of 15 years. Its now 50 | | | | created and manages Going Places With Gareth, |
| years since Rock 'n' Roll first appeared and | | | | a gigantic singles social network revolving |
| we still remember how.Its a fair bet that Roy | | | | around a long-established website The |
| Orbison's early songs are played a lot more | | | | network has been operating since May, 2000. |
| often around the world nowadays than the | | | | Since then over three and a half thousand |
| Walker Brothers records are. The main reason | | | | people have become involved in it to some |
| for that is simply that you can Rock 'n' Roll | | | | degree. |
| to them. It can have little to do with the | | | | |