We’re all familiar with many outstanding songs from the early days of Rock and Roll such as Elvis Presley’s “Love Me Tender”, Jackie Wilson’s “Night”, and “Where or When” by Dion and the Belmonts. What is less known and often little appreciated is that the melodies for those songs as well as many others recorded during the ’50s and ‘60s were written decades or in some cases centuries earlier and have their roots in classical music, grand opera, or Broadway shows.
During this presentation we will relive a dozen or so examples of songs in this category, compare them to the original version, and examine how the adaption from classical themes to Rock and Roll standards was accomplished so successfully.