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 Expression tends to reflect the social and cultural concerns of the society in which it is produced. Therefore, the emergence, development, and spread of rock music can only be fully understood in its social context. "The cultural appeal of rock depends not only on its intrinsic musical qualities but also on an energy that it derives from rock's aura of rebellion" (Robertson, 1987).

In the award-winning novel Fallen Angels, Walter Dean Myers presents the myriad of experiences of a group of young men who "come of age" during their tour in Vietnam. During this turbulent time, many were concerned with the uncertainly of their future. These emotions and fears surfaced in the music written and sung by artists who used music as a vehicle to share their messages. Musicians and musical groups mentioned in Fallen Angels include: Ramsey Lewis, Wilson Pickett, Jimi Hendrix, Mary Wells, the Shirelles, the Temptations, Diana Ross and the Supremes, and Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. These artists and others during this era portrayed a social climate that caused many to question the beliefs and direction of a nation.