50s And 60s Music Each generation likes to have its own heroes and a wide generation gap appeared following World War II. 50s and 60s music brought on a cultural revolution, not seen before or since. After the austerity of the war, people wanted to have fun. Dances were popular and record shops did good business. The early part of the 50s had its share of crooners and balladeers. Perry Como's relaxed style appealed to the older generation and country music fans enjoyed Frankie Lane's cowboy songs. Johnnie Ray however, was the opposite of relaxed and liked to belt out a song to the back of the hall. Mainstream popular music went on unchallenged until Rock and Roll burst onto the scene. When Elvis first wiggled his hips, he paved the way for a very different kind of 50s and 60s music. Teenagers were jumping around to Hound Dog and Heartbreak Hotel and nothing would ever be the same. In addition to Elvis, the airwaves were full of Bill Haley, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Fats Domino. Rock and Roll spawned new dance crazes and radio DJs spread the message. Elvis fans cried for days when he was enlisted into the army. During the late 50s, many young English men sat in their bedrooms, trying to copy the songs they heard coming from America. Amongst them were John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison. Hundreds of groups were formed and would re-interpret the music of the 50s and 60s. The Beatles and others burst on the scene in the 1960s and led what was known as The British Invasion to America. They had absorbed the American sounds and sold it back to them! Groups such as the Rolling Stones, The Kinks, The Small Faces, and the Who dominated the charts. Music from the 50s and 60s evolved into experiments with different instruments, influenced by many genres, and hair got longer and longer! From the mid-60s, lyrics became more poetic and guitar solos more expressive. Popular groups included the Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Grateful Dead, The Doors and Jefferson Airplane. There was also a big folk revival during the 1960s, fuelled by protest songs from Bob Dylan. Many folk artists came from small clubs into the large theatres, including Joan Baez, Tim Hardin, Tom Paxton, and Tim Rose. Dylan shocked the folk purists when he used an electric guitar. The combination of electric guitars and folk songs was dubbed folk rock and one of the leading exponents was The Byrds. Much of 50s and 60s music was revolutionary but it took from past traditions and gave them a new twist. Jazz too was to undergo its own revolution with the introduction of Be-Bop in the 1950s, as exemplified by Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie. This kind of free jazz was a shock to a lot of people but it thrilled many others. Even classical music, the last bastion of tradition, went through changes with music from the 50s and 60s. Contemporary composers, such as John Cage, were controversial in their experimental avant-garde pieces. Summary 50s and 60s music included the phenomenon of the Beatles, Elvis, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, The Kinks, and Bill Haley. It also had changes in the areas of jazz with classic hits from Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis. Folk rock appeared from Dylan and others who took music and gave it a new twist for the times. Related Articles Related Sites