Rock Music in the Fifties
In the early 1950's new recording technologies such as the long playing album,
jukeboxes, electric guitars and electric bass guitars are created. These new technologies
change the way people create and listen to music. A huge change also occurs in what
people are listening to and what records they are buying. White teenagers begin
listening to traditionally African American music such as Rhythm & Blues.
Blues, boogie, jazz, gospel, R&B vocal groups, and country begins to influence the music
created by both African American and white musicians. The new music style is eventually
given a name - Rock and Roll.
By 1953 and 1954 hit songs from the R&B Charts begin to cross over to the Top 40 Pop
Charts. In 1955 Rock and Roll has its first nationwide #1 hit when Bill Haley's "Rock
Around The Clock" tops the charts. At first, it is considered a fad by most. In 1955
African American R&B artists Little Richard and Chuck Berry score big Pop hits.
In January 1956 Elvis Presley tops the Pop Charts with his first single release “Heartbreak
Hotel”. By the end of the year he would be the first artist ever to have nine singles in the
Hot 100 at one time. By 1957 rock and roll artists dominate the popular music charts
and in 1959 rock and roll records account for 43% of all records sold.
The end of the decade is marked by tragedy as a February 1959 plane crash takes the
lives of rock and roll stars Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens.
Fifties Genres and Artists:
Rhythm & Blues: Little Richard, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Ray Charles, BB King
Pre-Rock / Pop: Doris Day, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin
Folk Revival: Pete Seeger, The Weavers, The Kingston Trio
Rock & Roll / Rockabilly: Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis , Johnny Cash
Rock Music in the Sixties
In the sixties rock music owns the popular music charts. Elvis Presley continues to score
hits in the early part of the decade. Music continues to diversify with the folk revival, girl
groups and surf music. Labels bring more African-American artists to the pop charts.
By 1964 American artists are sharing the charts with U.K. bands such as The Beatles and
The Rolling Stones. In the U.S. garage bands emerge, inspired by the British Invasion.
Sixties song writing moves beyond pop love songs and begins to include social and
political issues. Later in the sixties psychedelic music reflects hippie culture. Bubblegum
music is created to generate radio friendly music.
In the sixties, television becomes a major force in rock music as networks try to attract a
younger audience. American Bandstand contributes afternoon teen idol format, while
the Ed Sullivan Show and other variety shows begin showcasing rock bands.
In the late sixties outdoor rock music festivals begin. In the summer of 1969 the
Woodstock Music & Art Fair draws 500,000 people to a three day concert in New York.
The Beatles dominate the sixties record charts with 6 of the top 10 albums of the decade
and 21 of the decades' top 100 singles. Their nearest competitor is Elvis Presley with 9 of
the decades' top 100 singles and 4 of the decades' top 100 albums.
Sixties Genres and Artists:
60's Soul: Otis Redding, Issaac Hayes, Aretha Franklin
British Invasion: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks
Psychedelic Rock: Grateful Dead, Pink Floyd, Jefferson Airplane
Hard Rock: Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Doors
Folk Revival: Bob Dylan, Peter Paul & Mary, Gordon Lightfoot
Motown: The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, The Jackson Five
Rock Music in the Seventies
The Beatles break up in 1970, but all four members continue to have successful solo
careers. The early seventies are marked by the deaths of Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and
Jim Morrison who all die at the age of 27. Psychedelic music declines, but changes into
hard rock and heavy metal. Touring bands move from playing clubs to playing sports
arenas. Big time bands, such as the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, The Who and Led
Zeppelin travel in private jets and play to thousands in arenas and stadiums.
A clear distinction emerges between Top 40 radio and rock radio stations. Car stereos
become common, first with FM radios, then 8-Track tapes, followed by cassette tapes.
The early seventies are dominated by singer songwriters and soft rock. Reggae moves
out of Jamaica to become a world-wide genre. Disco dominates the radio and dance
floors in the late seventies. Punk rock emerges in the late seventies and bands
begin incorporating synthesizers instead of just drums and guitars.
The hugely popular Elvis Presley dies in 1977 at age 42. Huge crowds flock to his
Memphis home, Graceland.
Seventies Genres and Artists:
Heavy Metal: Led Zeppelin, The Who, The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, AC/DC
Country Rock: The Eagles, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Emmylou Harris, Neil Young
Punk Rock: The Ramones, The Clash, Patti Smith
Blues Rock: Eric Clapton, Steve Miller Band, Bad Company
Reggae: Bob Marley and the Wailers, Peter Tosh
Singer Songwriters: James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon, John Denver, Carly Simon
Soft Rock: Elton John, The Carpenters, Billy Joel, Fleetwood Mac
Pop: ABBA, Jackson Five, Cher, Rod Stewart, Barbara Streisand, Dianna Ross
R&B / Urban: Stevie Wonder, Bill Withers, Al Green, Marvin Gaye, Issaac Hayes
Rock Music in the Eighties
John Lennon, one of the former members of The Beatles is assassinated by a fan in 1980
just as he was coming back into the public eye with a new album.
MTV (Music Television) is launched on 300 cable TV systems in 1981. By 1983 MTV is
available on 2,000 cable systems and is extremely popular. MTV is dedicated to playing
music of all genres and is watched across the world.
VH1 (another American cable network) is launched in 1984 with a more classic rock
format. The prevalence of music videos as a 24/7 marketing tool is influential in bringing
numerous new bands and music styles into the mainstream, including heavy metal,
synthpop and new wave. Rap and Hip-Hop music also begins to gain popularity with
successful artists such as the Beastie Boys, Run DMC and LL Cool J.
The number of successful female artists across many different genres, such as Whitney
Houston, Madonna and Paula Abdul is reflected in singles and album sales.
Records and concerts to benefit charity are supported by many rock music artists. These
include Band Aid, We Are The World, plus the Live Aid and Farm Aid concerts.
Eighties Genres and Artists:
Rap/Hip-Hop: Run DMC, LL Cool J, Salt n Peppa, Public Enemy, Beastie Boys
R&B / Urban: Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Prince, Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson
Pop: Madonna, Bryan Adams, Paula Abdul, Billy Joel, Phil Collins, Kylie Minogue
Mainstream Rock: Tom Petty, Aerosmith, Journey, Bon Jovi
Heavy Metal: Iron Maiden, AC/DC, Ozzy Osbourne
Hair/Glam Metal: Motley Crue, Poison, Guns & Roses
Thrash/Speed Metal: Slayer, Metallica, Megadeth
Alternative: R.E.M., Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Jane's Addiction, Nine Inch Nails
Rock Music in the Nineties
Alternative Rock becomes popular and explodes into the mainstream during the 1990's.
Many alternative bands, including REM, The Smashing Pumpkins, Red Hot Chilli Peppers,
and grunge bands like Nirvana, and Pearl Jam become mainstream. Electronic music
becomes more mainstream as well.
In the 90's Hip-Hop continues to expand in influence and grow in diversity. With huge
growth in sales, radio airplay and overall success for artists like Public Enemy, Queen
Latifah, Salt n' Pepa, Ice T, Dr. Dre, Eminem, Tupac Shakur, Cypress Hill and many others.
Pop and teen-pop becomes popular with the Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, Hanson and The
Spice Girls having major success. Late in the decade female teen pop artists such as
Jennifer Lopez, Destiny's Child, Christina Aguilera, and Britney Spears become popular.
R&B also scores big with Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and TLC. Female songwriters
such as Sarah McLachlan, Alanis Morissette, Jewel, and Sheryl Crow become popular.
The internet becomes a factor in how music is listened to, taking away the need for
artists to have a major label album release.
Nineties Genres and Artists:
Alternative: REM, Smashing Pumpkins, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Pearl Jam, Radiohead
Pop Punk: Green Day, The Offspring, Blink 182
Pop: Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, Hanson, The Spice Girls, Jennifer Lopez, Christina
Aguilera, Britney Spears
Songwriters: Sarah McLachlan, Alanis Morissette, Tori Amos, Jewel, Sheryl Crow
R&B: Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, TLC, Celine Dion, Boys II Men
Metal: Kid Rock, Rage Against the Machine, Metallica
Hip Hop: Dr. Dre, Tupac Shakur, Snoop Dogg, Jay-Z, Eminem,
Country: Garth Brooks, Faith Hill, Shania Twain