Music in the 1960s
Introduction
 The 1960's were a time of upheaval in society,
fashion, attitudes and especially music. Before
1963, the music of the sixties still reflected the
sound, style and beliefs of the previous decade and
many of the hit records were by artists who had
found mainstream success in the 1950s, like Elvis
Presley, Ray Charles and The Everly Brothers.
 In 1963 and the years to follow,
a number of social influences
changed what popular music
was and gave birth to the
diversity that we experience
with music today.
 The assassination of President Kennedy, the war in
Vietnam and the Civil Rights Movement all greatly
impacted North American culture and the music
began to reflect that change.
 The British Invasion also began around 1963 with
the arrival of The Beatles on the music scene and
the type of intense following that would change the
way people would view music and musicians forever.
In this unit we will cover the history of the British
Invasion, Motown and R&B, Folk and Protest music,
and the way Rock music throughout the sixties.
The British Invasion
 The "British Invasion" is the name given to the
period of time in the early to mid-1960's, during
which many British rock bands and pop artists
found mainstream success in North America and
worldwide. Many of these bands first started by
covering American songs and showcasing an
American Rock 'n' Roll and R&B influence in their
sounds. As these bands gained popularity, many of
them ventured into new music
territory and created their own
unique styles.
The Beatles
 The Beatles first broke into the North American
music scene in 1963, but really became popular in
1964 after appearing on the Ed Sullivan Show. The
Beatles dominated worldwide charts until they broke
up in 1970. The phenomenon that surrounded them
was known as Beatlemania.
Many music acts tried to
copy their sound. The
band holds many musical
records to this day for
album sales and number
one singles. Their music
remains some of the
most popular of all time.
 The Beatles can be easily described as the
most influential group of the 1960's. Some
other notable British Invasion acts include The
Rolling Stones, The Animals, The Who and
Tom Jones, some of whom reached
comparable success levels to the Beatles.
Review
 Can you name 3 bands or artists that were
part of the British Invasion?
Motown and R&B
 The "Motown Sound" and popular R&B music had a
major significance in the Civil Rights movement and
American society during the sixties. Motown started
as a Detroit-based record label in the late fifties and
early sixties, but it quickly turned into much more
as it gained popularity worldwide.
 Motown records consisted
mainly of African-American
groups, singers, songwriters
and management. Their
success proved in breaking
down the barriers of
segregation.
 Two of the most influential groups to come out of the
Motown sound were Smokey Robinson and the
Miracles and Diana Ross and the Supremes, both of
which had as much chart success as any of the rock
groups that dominated the airwaves during the 60’s.
 Some other popular Motown and 60's R&B artists
include The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, Marvin
Gaye, Aretha Franklin, and the Jackson 5.
Review
 Can you name 3 bands or artists that were
part of the Motown movement?
Rock and Its Subgenres
 While rock 'n' roll music became
popular in the 1950’s, rock music
really came into its own in the
1960’s. Rock music dominated
the popular music scene and as
the genre grew and changed,
many new subgenres emerged,
all tied to original rock but each
with their own unique style.
These specific subgenres also
had varying levels of popularity
throughout the decade and
many are still popular today.
Rock Subgenres
 Some of the rock subgenres that we will touch upon
are surf, psychedelic, roots, and hard rock. It is
important to remember that the specific artists we
discuss in these various sections often fall into more
than one category and it is up for debate amongst
their fans what genre they best represent.
Surf Rock
 Surf rock began in Southern California and became
quite popular in the early to mid 60’s. The subject
matter for surf rock was usually surfing but expanded
as the genre grew in popularity to songs about girls,
cars and other things related to teenagers. The most
popular group to come out of the genre were The
Beach Boys, whose vocal harmonies came to define
the genre. The Beach Boys were one of the only Surf
Rock bands sustain their success.
Psychedelic Rock
 Psychedelic rock was popular during the second half of
the 1960s. Psychedelic music was associated with hippie
culture. Bands would often use instruments that were
not usual, like the sitar, tabla, harpsichord and organ.
There was much experimentation in the sound and much
of it was influenced by Eastern and Indian music. Many
popular rock bands experimented with this genre,
including The Beatles, The Doors, The Jimi Hendrix
Experience and Pink Floyd.
Roots Rock
 Roots rock emerged in the mid to late 1960s as a
combination of several genres that were popular at the
time. Roots rock combined elements of folk music,
blues, country and rock 'n' roll. The genre was known
for its "back to basics" sound. Many of the most
popular bands of the time joined the "roots revival".
Some bands that created music in this style included
The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, The Doors, The Beatles,
The Band, and Creedence Clearwater Revival.
Hard Rock
 Hard rock took the elements of rock 'n' roll and made
them heavier as the genre formed in the middle of the
decade. The sound is characterized by more aggressive
tones. Hard rock vocalists are identified by their higher
range and distinct and
often raspy voices. The
music was influenced
heavily by blues rock,
garage rock, and rhythm
and blues. This style
became associated with
rebellion and antiauthority, with a few acts
even destroying their own
instruments on stage.
Hard Rock Continued
 Due to their hard-partying lifestyles, many musicians
that were a part of the hard rock scene developed drug
and alcohol problems. As a result of these problems,
quite a few musicians died at a young age from
substance abuse like Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix.
Notable hard rock bands form the 1960s include The
Who, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks and
Steppenwolf.
Folk Rock
 Folk rock came onto the scene as a popular genre in the
mid-sixties and much of it grew out of the protest
movements. Bob Dylan became one of the most
prominent songwriters of the decade with many popular
groups such as Peter, Paul and Mary covering his songs
successfully. Dylan even saw success as a solo
performer and was recognized by his unusual voice.
Lyrically a lot of the folk rock contained protest
messages.
Protest Music
 Protest music was different in that it always had a
message and was not confined to the sound and style
of folk rock. This music was often a reaction to social
injustice, cultural changes, and news events. In many
cases, it brought awareness to the younger generation
who would then join the protest, therefore growing the
movements. This genre was not necessarily specific to
certain artists either, as many mainstream musicians
decided to contribute. R&B and
Soul singer Same Cooke wrote
and recorded "A Change Is Gonna
Come" in 1963, a song that
became an anthem for the Civil
Rights movement in America,
along with others like Bob Dylan‘s
"Blowin' in the Wind“.
Review
 Can you name a band or artist from the…
1. Surf Rock movement?
2. Psychedelic Rock movement?
3. Roots Rock movement?
4. Hard Rock movement?
5. Folk Rock movement?
Just for Fun…
 Bob Dylan Interactive Music Video
The Vietnam War
 Another issue that protest music addressed was the war
in Vietnam. As more troops were being sent to Vietnam
with no progress being made, an anti-war movement
began to gain steam in the mid-sixties. Some examples
of anti-Vietnam songs were Pete Seeger's "Waist Deep in
the Big Muddy, The Door's "The Unknown Soldier", and
Bob Dylan's "Masters of War”. Both folk music and
protest music were connected to the "hippie" movement
at the time and were influenced by the feelings of
freedom, love and peace.
Some examples of folk
rock and protest musicians
include Peter, Paul and Mary,
Cat Stevens, Simon and
Garfunkel, and Pete Seeger.
Music Festivals
 The sixties was a decade in which music festivals
flourished. Many of the most popular acts of the decade
had their first major American appearance at this festival
like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and The Who. The
Woodstock Music and Art Fair of 1969 represents one of
the most iconic events of the sixties. It was a free concert
that lasted for three days and showcased some of the
most iconic musicians of the time. It is estimated 500,000
people attended to celebrate love, peace and rock music.
Clip 1
Clip 2
Top Songs of the 1960’s
1960:
 The Twist- Chubby Checker
 It's Now or Never - Elvis Presley
 Georgia On My Mind - Ray Charles
 Teen Angel - Mark Dinning
 Save the Last Dance For Me - The Drifters
 Cathy's Clown - The Everly Brothers
 Walk, Don't Run - The Ventures
1961
 Stand By Me - Ben E. King
 Blue Moon - The Marcels
 Please Mr. Postman - The Marvelettes
 The Wanderer - Dion
 Calendar Girl - Neil Sedaka
 At Last - Etta James
 The Lion Sleeps Tonight - The Tokens
1962
 Surfin' Safari - The Beach Boys
 Sherry - The Four Seasons
 Return to Sender - Elvis Presley
 You've Really Got a Hold On Me - The Miracles
 Love Me Do - The Beatles
 Green Onions - Booker T. & the M.G.s
 I Can't Stop Loving You - Ray Charles
1963
 She Loves You - The Beatles
 Louie Louie - The Kingsmen
 Surfin' USA - The Beach Boys
 It's My Party - Lesley Gore
 Be My Baby - The Ronettes
 Hey Paula - Paul & Paula
 Ring of Fire - Johnny Cash
1964
 Twist and Shout - The Beatles
 House of the Rising Sun - The Animals
 I Want to Hold Your Hand - The Beatles
 Oh, Pretty Woman - Roy Orbison
 Where Did Our Love Go? - The Supremes
 The Way You Do the Things You Do - The
Temptations
 You Really Got Me - The Kinks
1965
 Like A Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan
 (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction –
The Rolling Stones
 My Generation - The Who
 My Girl - The Temptations
 The Sound of Silence - Simon & Garfunkel
 Mr. Tambourine Man - The Byrds
 Help! - The Beatles
1966
 Good Vibrations - The Beach Boys
 Yellow Submarine/Eleanor Rigby - The Beatles
 When A Man Loves A Woman - Percy Sledge
 Wild Thing - The Troggs
 Uptight (Everything's Alright) - Stevie Wonder
 Monday, Monday - The Mamas and the Papas
 These Boots Are Made for Walkin' - Nancy
Sinatra
1967
 A Whiter Shade of Pale - Procol Harum
 For What It's Worth - Buffalo Springfield
 I'm A Believer - The Monkees
 Light My Fire - The Doors
 All You Need Is Love - The Beatles
 Happy Together - The Turtles
 Somebody to Love - Jefferson Airplane
1968
 All Along the Watchtower –
The Jimi Hendrix Experience
 (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay –
Otis Redding
 Chain of Fools - Aretha Franklin
 What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
 Piece of My Heart - Big Brother & The Holding
Company (Janis Joplin)
 Hey Jude - The Beatles
 White Room - Cream
1969
 Sugar, Sugar - The Archies
 In The Year 2525 - Zager and Evans
 Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In - The Fifth
Dimension
 My Way - Frank Sinatra
 Whole Lotta Love - Led Zeppelin
 Space Oddity - David Bowie
 Bad Moon Rising - Creedence Clearwater
Revival
Unit Review
 Now let’s review by playing a game! Each
team will be given 100 points for each
question they can correctly answer. If one
team cannot answer the question within a
minute the other team can steal the
question. Remember to raise your hand
if you think you know the answer!
1. Name three social issues that took place in the 1960’s.
2. Name at least one artist that was popular in the 1950’s
who stayed on the charts into the 1960’s.
3. Describe what the term “British Invasion” means.
4. Name at least 3 British Invasion bands.
5. What technique did British Invasion bands use to find
their way onto North American charts?
6. What happened once these Bands had a presence in
North America?
7. What band is considered to be the biggest in British
Invasion history?
8. What was the obsession with this band known as?
9. What show helped to give this band their big break?
10. What year did they perform on this show?
1. What year did the Beatles break up?
2. Which member of the Beatles was assassinated?
3. What year was he killed?
4. Describe at least 3 qualities associated with Motown
music.
5. Where did Motown originate?
6. Name at least 2 Motown stars.
7. What group of people made up the Motown movement?
8. What cause was closely associated with Motown?
9. What did Motown music help accomplish in society?
10. What is meant by the term “Rock Subgenre”?
1. Name at least 2 qualities of Surf Rock.
2. What band is considered the most popular Surf Rock
band of all time?
3. What topics did Surf music usually cover?
4. What is Psychedelic Rock?
5. What group of people are usually associated with
Psychedelic Rock?
6. What type of instruments were used in Psychedelic
Rock?
7. Name at least 2 Psychedelic Rock artists or bands.
8. Name at least one famous Psychedelic artist that died in
the 1960’s.
9. What is Roots Rock? Name at least 2 qualities.
10. Name at least on Roots Rock band or artist.
1. Name at least 3 qualities of Hard Rock music.
2. Name at least 2 Hard Rock bands or artists.
3. What did some Hard Rock bands sometimes do with their
instruments?
4. What was one theme of Hard Rock Music? (What they
usually discussed.)
5. Due to their partying lifestyle, what happened to some
Hard Rock artists?
6. Name at least one Hard Rock artist who died during the
1960s.
7. Name at least one Folk artist from the 1960’s.
8. What was protest music?
9. What music festival (1969) drew in about 500,000
people and had many top artists performing?
10. Name at least one 1960’s artist or band that played at
this music festival.
Tie Breaker:
Name at least one song that
was a hit during the 1960’s.
Video Clip
The British Invasion: How the Brits
Rocks America