Library, LearningQUEST track the beat with ‘Hollywood Rock ‘n’ Roll’

The series, “Hollywood Rock ‘n’ Roll: Popular Music and the Movies, 1954-1973,” at the downtown library will include a session on Elvis Presley, shown here promoting “Jailhouse Rock.” (CONTRIBUTED)

HUNTSVILLE – Huntsville-Madison County Public Library’s downtown branch and LearningQUEST are collaborating to present “Hollywood Rock ‘n’ Roll: Popular Music and the Movies, 1954-1973.”

The film and lecture series about rock ‘n’ roll music in movies will open on Sept. 8 at 6 p.m. at the downtown library, 915 Monroe St. in Huntsville.

“When rock was young, Hollywood studios embraced the music and its makers. The Huntsville-Madison County Public Library and LearningQUEST revisit those days with this event,” library communications director Ann Marie Martin said.

This film and lecture series examines how the movies of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s used the music genre and its musicians. “Each program screens a feature film, accompanied by a variety of clips from television shows and movies of the time,” Martin said.

Beginning in the mid-1950s, the series chronicles the birth of rock ‘n’ roll and ends in the early 1970s with this music entrenched in movie soundtracks.

The series opens on Sept. 8 with “The Beginnings of Rock ‘n’ Roll on Film.” Remaining sessions will be “Elvis and the Movies”, Sept. 15; “The British Invasion Changes Everything,” Sept. 22; and “Rock ‘n’ Roll Triumphant,” Sept. 29.

All sessions start at 6 p.m. in the events room, second floor.

Series present Jim Cavender is a local musician, performer and teacher with a wide knowledge of rock ‘n’ roll history. Another presenter is reference librarian David Lilly, who has taught several LearningQUEST classes and hosted numerous library film series. For more information, call 256-532-5975.

For more information about Huntsville-Madison County Public Library events, call Martin at 256-532-2361 or email to amartin@hmcpl.org.