Academic News: January 2010

OCRS INTRODUCES EXCITING NEW MINI CLASS FOR 2010: THE HISTORY OF ROCK AND ROLL

When OCRS teacher, Mr. Noel Marquis was 11 years old he listened to his neighbors "rhythm and blues" records and immediately fell in love with this new style of music.  In the mid 1950’s’s when Rock and Roll started to became popular, he resorted to smuggling 45’s into his house so he could listen to favorite artists day and night.  Elvis, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holley and just about all the hits of "DooWop" era were at the top of his list.

In college his taste in music expanded to include folk music and soon, Mr. Marquis became a fan of the “Hootenanny’ (a gathering of folk musicians where each musician is allotted time to share an original song with the group. ..most popular during the folk music revival of the 1960s)  

About the same time, the ‘British Invasion,’  led by the Beatles, was becoming the era’s most significant force in music,  leading Mr. Marquis s back to his roots --  roots that were firmly grounded in Rock and Roll.  He kept adding to his already burgeoning album collection, attended concerts and eventually launched a ‘History of Rock and Roll’ class at Franklin College during the early 1970s . Then, In 1976,  Mr. Marquis’  wife opened a record store in Franklin, Indiana that the family ran for nearly two decades.  During this time, Mr. and Mrs. Marquis met popular musicians  through their district’s ‘ Meet & Greets’ that were put on by record distributors, Eddie Money (whose daughter attended OCRS a few years ago) and band “Foreigner.’

From 1978 to 1999, Noel worked at the Market Arena in Indianapolis where he saw more than 30 rock and roll concerts.

For Mr. Marquis, Rock and Roll is much more than just a hobby…it’s a passion!  With a record collection that spans over 5,000 LPs, students will not only learn about this style of music, they’ll experience it.

This year’s class is sure to be one of OCRS’s ‘Greatest Hits.’

For more information about this mini class or the many other electives offered at OCRS in 2010, please contact  Mrs. Nadine O’Brien, Principal  or David Wick, Jr. Headmaster.