THE 1950S

ROCK & ROLL

 

During the later half of the 1950s, rock & roll emerged as the most popular style of music in America, with pioneers such as Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly

 

 

 

Elvis Presley

Born on January 8, 1935, in Tupelo, Mississippi, Elvis Presley came from very humble beginnings and grew up to become one of the biggest names in rock 'n' roll. By the mid-1950s, he appeared on the radio, television and the silver screen. On August 16, 1977, at age 42, he died of heart failure, which was related to his drug addiction. Since his death, Presley has remained one of the world's most popular music icons. Elvis Presley: considered a "rockabilly" artist. Essentially made rock music more geared towards audiences, was the first very large white rock and roll artist. Songs like "that's all right" and "heartbreak hotel" were large hits of his, causing rock music to spread fast among white audiences. Many of his early hits were covers of rhythm and blues songs, merging the two audiences with rock and roll. His most famous song, Jailhouse Rock can be heard at the right.

 

 

Buddy Holly

Buddy Holly was greatly influenced by Presley in 1955 and began to add rock and roll elements to his style. Started making rockabilly records in 1956 with Decca records. In 1957 his single "That'll be the day" with his band The Crickets topped all charts in the US and the UK. He appeared on the Ed Sullivan show later that year, launching the band into stardom. He also had the ability to appeal to both with and black audiences, which was very influential at the time. He set the template for the rock and roll band. He was the first to have the solid basis of the drums, bass and two guitars. He was also the first to write, produce and preform his own songs in the rock and roll industry. After he died in 1959 and other artists such as Presley went to serve in the military or got arrested, rock was said to have died, inspiring the song "American Pie" by Don McLean, calling it "the day that music died". His most iconic song was written in 1957 called Everyday. (to the right)