12. British rock and roll acts had little influence in either Britain or America
In London by the beginning of the 1960s, fans of the American genre of rhythm and blues began studying the sources which had influenced current American artists. Even Chuck Berry, considered by many in Great Britain (and America) to be the consummate rock and roller, was examined for the influence of American blues on his music. In London and Manchester, interest in rhythm and blues music led to many young musicians seeking its roots, including in the Mississippi blues and in Chicago’s famous bluesmen. But it was in the north where the next great musical wave formed, along the Mersey in Liverpool.
In Liverpool, John Lennon and Paul McCartney continued to perform primarily American songs in their expanding repertoire, including those of Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Carl Perkins, Buddy Holly, and others. So did other area bands, as they developed. New releases from America were avidly awaited by the aspiring musicians, as they were in London. Lennon also was heavily influenced by Elvis Presley and Roy Orbison, as well as Smoky Robinson. McCartney added Eddie Cochran, Fats Domino, and Jerry Lee Lewis to the list of American rock and roll performers who influenced and shaped the early Beatles, including during their stints in Hamburg, where they honed their craft as performers.
