Final answer:
Southern Rock is the genre that blends elements of blues, soul, and country with an independent outlaw image, represented by bands like the Allman Brothers Band and Lynyrd Skynyrd. It emerged from the combination of electric instruments and various American musical styles such as gospel, blues, and R&B, forming a unique sound characteristic of the American South.
Step-by-step explanation:
The genre of music that combines elements of blues, soul, and country with a very macho, stubbornly independent outlaw image, as exemplified by bands such as the Allman Brothers Band and Lynyrd Skynyrd, is known as Southern Rock. The combination of electric instruments with the sounds of gospel, blues, country, jazz, and R&B gave birth to the new sound of rock and roll, but Southern Rock specifically embodies the integration of the earthy elements found in these genres with a particular focus on the narratives and aesthetics from the American South.
Artists like Elvis Presley, who blended gospel, blues, country, western, and R&B, are instrumental in the development of rock 'n' roll, which laid the foundation for what would become the Southern Rock sound. His use of a combination of electric instruments and his presence in Memphis, which was a melting pot for various regional musical styles, contributed significantly to the unique sound that Southern Rock would later showcase.
Overall, Southern Rock represents an era where music was rife with cultural exchange, with the most notable acts delivering songs infused with the signature independent spirit of the South. The independent nature of these musicians along with their music's broad appeal across various genres, including those favored in white and black communities alike, marked a notable chapter in American music history.