This isn’t a “go back in time and assassinate” someone question. It’s just their musical career never takes off and thus any music they ever would have made is no longer in this timeline.

  • sangriaferret@sh.itjust.works
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    10 months ago

    A lot more piano probably.

    Jerry Lee Lewis was poised to be one of the first white rock and roll superstars until his career was rocked with scandal. Had that happened it is very possible that the piano would become the predominant instrument in white rock.

    The genre already has its roots in jump blues and boogie woogie, both piano driven styles. Little Richard and Fats Domino were at the top of the charts.

    Had a piano player been the king of white rock then you would have likely seen a lot more artists picking up that instrument rather than the guitar.

    • BottleOfAlkahest@lemmy.world
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      10 months ago

      Jerry Lee Lewis became fairly successful in Country after his Rock career faltered. Most country musicians still play the guitar rather than the piano though.

      • sangriaferret@sh.itjust.works
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        10 months ago

        True, but many of country’s conventions were well established when he got into it. When he got into rock it was new, especially white rock. I think he would have a more significant influence there.

    • Tippon@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      10 months ago

      Nah, guitar is the musical equivalent to football (soccer). It’s cheap, easy to learn, you can take it with you, and you can play with your friends.

      The trope of a kid turning up with their guitar couldn’t happen with a piano.

      • sangriaferret@sh.itjust.works
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        10 months ago

        You’re right. I shouldn’t have suggested that the piano would be more popular than guitar, only that you might have heard a lot more piano if Jerry Lee had been the face of white rock instead of Elvis.

        People are going to play whatever they can get their hands on. I remember reading in a Muddy Waters biography about someone who started off writing songs using an old piano wire attached to a shack because that’s all he had available.

        • Tippon@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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          10 months ago

          Nothing wrong with suggesting a different idea :)

          It would have been cool to watch 90’s kids humping pianos to band practice with their friends though :D