English

American rock musician and actor Chris Isaak performing at The Cannery in San Francisco, California, USA, in August 1988. Isaak is regarded as part of the roots-rock trend.

Alternative forms

• roots rock

Noun

roots-rock ‎(uncountable)

1. (music) A genre of popular rock music influenced by Americana and roots music.
   • 1977, Marxism Today, volume 21–23, London: Communist Party of Great Britain, ISSN 0025-4118, OCLC 2378832, page 13:

     […] door finds him or herself a millionaire superstar and gradually tax avoidance seems more important than roots rock.

   • 1980, Will Schmid, Hal Leonard Guitar Method, complete edition, Winona, Minn.: Hal Leonard Pub. Corp., OCLC 11193136, page 140:

     They are favored by most blues, jazz, country, and roots-rock guitarists.

   • 2006, Bob Cianci, Great Rock Drummers of the Sixties Revised, 2nd edition, Milwaukee, Wis.: Hal Leonard Pub. Corp., ISBN 978-0-634-09925-0, page 192:

     Doug [Clifford] was the well-known drummer in Creedence Clearwater Revival throughout their phenomenally fruitful existence as one of America's first genuine roots-rock bands.