Since the 1950s, rock and roll has exerted a major influence on American – and, more recently, global – culture. Impacting everything from fashion to politics, the history of the contemporary U.S. cannot be easily separated from the history of its popular music. This modest but interesting site traces the history of rock music by decade, from its roots in the African American Rhythm and Blues to the grunge craze of the 1990s. Along the way, readers can glean interesting tidbits (did you know that the term “rock and roll” was coined by Cleveland disc jockey Alan Freed?) from well-constructed essays, and view classic photos of rockers across the generations. The site is structured by decade for easy browsing.