Expert: Skeeter - 4/29/2008

Question
I am a sixth grade student doing some research on Rock N' Roll for my "PX project" and need to interview an expert so any general info on rock in addition to these questions would be great.
THANK YOU
who started rock?
when was rock at its high point?
when was rock at its worst rime?
who are the greatest guitarist ever in your opinion?
who is the greatest lead vocals person ever?
and the greatest drumest ever?
who perfected rock?
who were the bands thatslowly decreased over the years?
would you say that rock has soared or lowered since the 60's?

Answer
  Nobody in particular started rock music.  Rock music  was for the most part a conglomeration of the Blues, Country music, and folk music.  
  Artists such as Robert Johnson, Hank Williams, and Woody Guthrie all influenced the artists of the rock era.   The artists who were really the first rock  n roll artists were Elvis,  Little Richard, Bill Hailey, Chuck Berry,  and Jerry Lee Lewis.   
  The term "rock n roll"  is rumoured to have originated with a disc jockey named Mr Freed who  strongly promoted rock n roll.  
  
  I think it was at it's highest point in the early seventies,  when various styles of music all were active in rock music.  Rock bands were incorporating Jazz and Classical music into the already existing elements (blues, country, and folk).  
 I think rock music was at it's low point in the late seventies, at which point it ceased to exist as a style of music and simply became a word that is used as a marketing tool.  

  The greatest guitarists are not neccesarily rock musicians.  For example two of the greatest guitarists are Chet Atkins and Les Paul.
 Les Paul effected rock music greatly by exploring recording techniques that were later used by rock era musicians,  and by designing the Les Paul guitar which was preferred by many rock musicians.
 Leo Fender was of great influence on rock music as well as blues and all other styles played on guitars, with his designs of the Stratocaster and Telecaster guitars.   
   My personal opinion of who are the greatest guitarists are : Chet Atkins,  Les Paul ,  Eric Clapton,  Danny Gatton,   Albert Lee,   Alvin Lee,  Lindsey Buckingham,  and Steve Morse.   They are just a few among many,  there are many impressive guitarists out there in all styles of music.  

 My favorite lead vocalists are Steve Marriott and Harry Nilsson.  
My favorite drummers are Jonny Barbeta, Garry Peterson,  and Jerry Shirley,  but technically probably the best are Carl Palmer and Neil Pert.  

  Rock was not perfected by any single guy.   Rock was never really perfected, it was a constant experiment.    The appeal of it was not in the striving for perfection, the appeal was the constant exploring of possibilities to find "the sound".   
 I think all rock bands have decreased,  through member changes and the fact that the members are either dead or aging.   The youngest rock era musicians are now well into middle age.  
  I think rock music continued to soar from the mid fifties into the mid seventies, when it started to decline.  I believe it ended about 1980.   

  I think it is important to note that rock n roll and rock music were parallel events to the beatnic culture and the hippie cultures.    Rock music was about the music,  but there was also an element of the culture of the 50s, 60s, and 70s involved.   Rock music seemed to be a partner to the changing social climate of the times,  as well as a reflection of growing technology.  

  I hope this helps, if you have any more questions feel free to ask.  I enjoyed answering your questions.