how was music played in the 1950s

What was the music style of the 1950s?

Various genre in the First World, rock and roll, doo-wop, pop, swing, rhythm and blues, blues, Country music, rockabilly, and jazz music dominated and defined the decade's music.

What happened to music in the 1950s?

The 1950's saw the emergence and rise of Rock 'n' Roll and Rockabilly. Carl Perkins was one of the pioneers in the creation of rock music and his style is often referred to as "Rockabilly" because it sounds like a combination of country and R&B music with rock influences.

What instruments were used in the 1950s?

Initially in the 50's the saxophone and the piano were the leading instruments used. In the late 50's, the instruments transitioned into guitar, bass, and drums.

What influenced 1950s music?

Rhythm and blues also had a huge impact on 1950's music. Emerging from the jazz and blues of the 1940's, artists like Ray Charles helped inspire genres such as soul, Motown and funk. The upbeat bluesy nature of the music brought the New Orleans scene to the mainstream and inspired a new wave of jazz and blues fans.

What were the 50s known for?

The 1950s were a decade marked by the post-World War II boom, the dawn of the Cold War and the civil rights movement in the United States.

What was the 50's era called?

Golden Age eraGolden Age era in America In the 1950's right after world war 2 the golden age arose. People were finding jobs, with ease and different types of customs came about. People started watching T.V. as well as listening to music on the regular.

Why were songs in the 50s so short?

A flat record made between 1858 and the late 1950s is called a "78" by vinyl enthusiasts and collectors. It's called that because the record spins at 78 revolutions per minute. The 78 disc severely limits the length that a song can be, because only so much music can fit onto the disc.

What was popular in 1950s?

1950s Fads: 1954–1956The Red Scare and Civil Defense Drills. ... Goiter Pills. ... Holy Hours. ... Polio Epidemics. ... The Mickey Mouse Club and Mouseketeers. ... Davy Crockett and Coonskin Cap. ... Elvis Presley and Rockabilly. ... American Bandstand And The Jitterbug Dance.More items...•

Why were songs in the 50s so short?

A flat record made between 1858 and the late 1950s is called a "78" by vinyl enthusiasts and collectors. It's called that because the record spins at 78 revolutions per minute. The 78 disc severely limits the length that a song can be, because only so much music can fit onto the disc.

Why was rock and roll controversial in the 1950s?

One of the moral panics associated with the first wave of rock 'n' roll was the fear of race mixing – that young black and white kids would get together over this music that had a rhythmic, primitive, sensuous beat.

How did rock and roll impact society in the 1950's?

In the 1950's a specific style of music known as Rock 'n' Roll affected american society by influencing family lives, teenage behavior, and the civil rights movement. This decade helped to influence everything that we listen to on the radio today. Rock 'n' Roll, influenced the culture and reflected its changes.

Why was rock and roll so popular in the 1950s?

Rock and roll music celebrated themes such as young love and freedom from the oppression of middle-class society. It quickly grew in favor among American teens during the 1950s, thanks largely to the efforts of disc jockey Alan Freed.

What was popular music in the 1940s?

1940s style Crooners vied with a new generation of big-voiced singers, many drawing on Italian Canto Bella traditions. Mitch Miller, A&R man at the era's most successful label, Columbia Records, set the tone for the development of popular music well into the middle of the decade. Miller integrated country, Western, rhythm & blues, and folk music into the musical mainstream, by having many of his label's biggest artists record them in a style that corresponded to Pop traditions. Miller often employed novel and ear-catching arrangements featuring classical instruments (whooping french horns, harpsichord ), or sound effects (whip cracks). He approached each record as a miniature story, often "casting" the vocalist according to type.

What was the song that Johnnie Ray wrote in the 1950s?

By the early 1950s, emotional delivery had reached its apex in the miniature psycho-drama songs of writer-singer Johnnie Ray. Known as "The Cry Guy" and "The Prince of Wails", Ray's on-stage emotion wrought "breakdowns" provided a release for the pent-up angst of his predominantly teenage fans. As Ray described it, "I make them feel, I exhaust them, I destroy them." It was during this period that the fan hysteria, which began with Frank Sinatra during the Second World War, really began to take hold.

What was Elvis Presley famous for?

The Champs most famous for their Latin-tinged instrumental "Tequila". Elvis Presley, who began his career in the mid-1950s, was the most successful artist of the popular sound of rock and roll with a series of network television appearances, motion pictures, and chart-topping records.

What genres were popular in the first world?

Various genre in the First World, rock and roll, doo-wop, pop, swing, rhythm and blues, blues, Country music, rockabilly, and jazz music dominated and defined the decade's music.

When was rockabilly first played?

Rockabilly is generally considered to have begun in the early 1950s, when musicians like Bill Haley began mixing jump blues and electric country.

When did rock and roll start?

Rock and roll dominated popular music in the mid 1950s and late 1950s, and quickly spread to much of the rest of the world. Its immediate origins lay in a mixing together of various black musical genres of the time, including rhythm and blues and gospel music; with country and western and Pop. In 1951, Cleveland, Ohio disc jockey Alan Freed began playing rhythm and blues music for a multi-racial audience, and is credited with first using the phrase "rock and roll" to describe the music.

Who was the first rock and roll singer to record a blues song?

In 1951, Little Richard Penniman began recording for RCA Records in the late-1940s jump blues style of Joe Brown and Billy Wright. However, it wasn't until he prepared a demo in 1954, that caught the attention of Specialty Records, that the world would start to hear his new, uptempo, funky rhythm and blues that would catapult him to fame in 1955 and help define the sound of rock and roll. A rapid succession of rhythm-and-blues hits followed, beginning with " Tutti Frutti " and " Long Tall Sally ", which would influence performers such as James Brown, Elvis Presley, and Otis Redding.

Why did record players increase in the 1950s?

In the 1950s, because of these improvements, consumption of record players and records had sharply increased. The Depression limited sales of early record players and the original records, which were much thicker and called Edison Diamond Discs or shellac discs. A combination of the renewed economy, new thinner LPs and new console radio systems ...

When was the turntable invented?

The turntable, also called a record player, was invented in 1877 by Thomas Edison, who called it a phonograph. Later versions were called gramophones and Victrolas. By the late 1940s, high-fidelity and stereophonic sound were introduced, along with the vinyl LP.

What artists recorded their albums for consumers?

Hundreds of artists, such as Elvis Presley, Nat King Cole and Patsy Cline, recorded their albums for consumers on vinyl LPs. Televisions had just been introduced to households in the same time period, so music programs were popular on TV too. Shows such as "The Ed Sullivan Show," "American Bandstand" and "The Lawrence Welk Show" were another way ...

What was the music of the 1950s?

Traditional Pop and Standards. Traditional Pop music of the 1950's refers to the music that was popular before rock music came into the mainstream in the middle of the fifties, it also refers to music that was popular at the same time as the beginning of rock music during the rest of the decade but remained largely free of rock influences.

What was the most popular music in the 50s?

Styles of Music Popular in the Fifties. Rock 'n' Roll. The 1950's saw the emergence and rise of Rock 'n' Roll and Rockabilly. Carl Perkins was one of the pioneers in the creation of rock music and his style is often referred to as "Rockabilly" because it sounds like a combination of country and R&B music with rock influences.

What was the rockabilly style of the 1950s?

The 1950's saw the emergence and rise of Rock 'n' Roll and Rockabilly. Carl Perkins was one of the pioneers in the creation of rock music and his style is often referred to as "Rockabilly" because it sounds like a combination of country and R&B music with rock influences. Some other artists that were popular in the rockabilly genre were Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis and Gene Vincent. Perkins wrote and recorded his chart-topping hit "Blue Suede Shoes" in 1955 and the song was then covered by Elvis Presley and enjoyed even more success. Elvis Presley is thought to be the "King of Rock 'n' Roll" by many and rose to fame after beginning a professional relationship with Sam Phillips - a studio owner who wanted to market "black music" to white audiences. Elvis was more successful in this endeavor than any other artist of the time and he epitomized the Rock 'n' Roll style and teenage rebellion of the 1950's. One incident that best exemplifies these qualities in Elvis was his controversial performance with hip gyrations on the Milton Berle Show in 1956, a performance that shocked the conservative sensibilities of adults during the time but drew in the youth as his performance on the Ed Sullivan Show only a few weeks later drew in nearly eighty-percent of the television viewing audience. While Elvis is largely responsible for the popularization of rock music, it is important to remember the original African-American artists who created the genre and were pushed out of the rock scene like Little Richard, Chuck Berry, The Coasters, Chubby Checker, Fats Domino and the many others who were not afforded the opportunity to even record their music.

What genre of music was popular in the 1940s?

Rhythm and Blues emerged from the jazz music of the 1940's and it came to be a term for blues music that was slightly more upbeat. Rhythm and Blues of the fifties combined jazz, doo-wop, blues, and gospel to create a unique sound during the decade. It also spurred the creation of such genres as Rock 'n' Roll, soul, Motown, and funk music. Many R&B artists of the decade were originators of rock music and a lot of the songs that came out of the fifties in the rhythm and blues genre are one in the same with the rock 'n' roll genre. A lot of the most popular songs of rock music enjoyed time on the R&B charts during the decade. Many African-American musicians who pioneered rock music were somewhat pushed into the category of R&B artists by music producers who were trying to make way for white rock 'n' rollers to capitalize on the new genre. This genre is largely populated by African-American musicians with many white artists and musical groups covering the original material and turning R&B songs into traditional pop songs with a more mainstream sound (like the Chordettes and the Crew-Cuts). Some of the most notable R&B artists of the decade include Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, Sam Cooke, The Drifters, The Platters, Ray Charles and Lloyd Price.

What is the country style of Johnny Cash?

Johnny Cash and Hank Williams defined the Country and Western style of music during this decade. Cash’s music was more of a country sound with a rockabilly influence and his songs often centered around a certain theme, including life, sorrow, and relationships. He also strived to integrate humor into his lyrics to make his collection well-rounded and respected by a variety of audiences. Because of his compassion for his fellow human being, he performed many times for inmates in several prisons across the country and his most famous performances resulted from Folsom Prison. In similar musical style, Hank Williams was a prominent singer and songwriter of the decade. He continues to be a country music icon and helped to popularize the Honky Tonk style of country music, characterized by the piano and ragtime sound combined with country and rockabilly harmonies. His most popular songs, including “Hey Good Lookin’” and “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” have come to define the country style of the 1950s. He also helped to create the Outlaw Country genre – a style which included songs about spirituality and rowdy times. Other country artists also began their careers in the 1950s but did not reach the height of their success until the next decade, like Patsy Cline and Conway Twitty. Country music also served as catch-all genre where many artists, like Connie Francis, Frankie Laine, and Pat Boone, might record one or two singles with a country influence but would remain largely producers of traditional pop music during the decade.

What is Johnny Cash's style of music?

Country. Johnny Cash and Hank Williams defined the Country and Western style of music during this decade. Cash’s music was more of a country sound with a rockabilly influence and his songs often centered around a certain theme, including life, sorrow, and relationships.

What is the music of Les Paul and Mary Ford?

Les Paul & Mary Ford. Rhythm and Blues. Rhythm and Blues emerged from the jazz music of the 1940's and it came to be a term for blues music that was slightly more upbeat. Rhythm and Blues of the fifties combined jazz, doo-wop, blues, and gospel to create a unique sound during the decade.

What was the world audience for music in the 1950s?

The world audience for music in the 1950s was the largest in history and showed every sign of growing even larger. Musicians of reputation were in such demand that they could have been performing every day of the year. Traditional seasonal patterns had disappeared.

What guitars were popular in the 1950s?

There was a musical revolution going on in the 1950s, much of it carried on the back of the electric guitar. Fender, Gibson & Gretsch led the way.

What song was overtaken by Purple People Eater in 1958?

Some quick notes: It’s kinda hard to believe All I Have To Do Is Dream gets overtaken by Purple People Eater in 1958. Mr. Blue by The Fleetwoods is a great song. Unchained Melody (1955) and Sleep Walk (1959) are also two of my personal favorites in this list.

Who were the audience for Rock and Roll?

There was an audience for everything. From Elvis Presley and Pablo Casals, Andre Kostelanetz and Otto Klemperer, folk singer and the Saint Matthew Passion. There was a noticeable broadening of the taste of concertgoers. Rock and Roll was just in its infancy, but LOTS of it was created.

Was rock and roll in its infancy?

Rock and Roll was just in its infancy, but LOTS of it was created. I’m always amazed at how many great songs were made in the 50s that I’ve never heard before.

What was the music genre of the 1950s?

Classic pop. Popular music, or " classic pop ," dominated the charts for the first half of the 1950s. Vocal-driven classic pop replaced Big Band / Swing at the end of World War II, although it often used orchestras to back the vocalists. 1940s style Crooners vied with a new generation of big voiced singers, many drawing on Italian bel canto ...

What was the first group to play folk music in the 1950s?

Folk music. The late 1940s and the early 1950s saw the beginning of popular folk music with groups like The Weavers. The Kingston Trio, Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, Odetta, and several other performers were instrumental in launching the folk music revival of the 1950s and 1960s.

What was the decline of classic pop?

Classic pop declined in popularity as rock and roll entered the mainstream and became a major force in American record sales. Crooners such as Eddie Fisher, Perry Como, and Patti Page, who had dominated the first half of the decade, found their access to the pop charts significantly curtailed by the decade's end.

What was the song that Johnnie Ray wrote in the 1950s?

Known as 'The Cry Guy' and 'The Prince of Wails,' Ray's on-stage emotion wrought 'breakdowns' provided a release for the pent-up angst of his predominantly teenaged fans. As Ray described it, "I make them feel, I exhaust them, I destroy them.' It was during this period that the fan hysteria, which began with Frank Sinatra during the Second World War, really began to take hold.

What was the name of the music that was popular in the 1940s?

The 1940s saw a return to the roots of Cajun music, led by Iry LeJeune, Nathan Abshire and other artists, alongside musicians who incorporated rock and roll, including Laurence Walker and Aldus Roger. In the late 1940s, Clifton Chenier, a Creole, began playing an updated form of la la called zydeco. Zydeco was briefly popular among some mainstream listeners during the 1950s. Artists like Boozoo Chavis, Queen Ida, Rockin' Dopsie and Rockin' Sidney have continued to bring zydeco to national audiences in the following decades. Zydeco shows major influences from rock, and artists like Beau Jocque have combined other influences, including hip hop.

What is the name of the band that was formed in the 1930s?

Bluegrass. In the late 1930s, Bill Monroe formed the Blue Grass Boys (named after his native state of Kentucky, the blue grass state) and combined diverse influences into Appalachian folk music. These include Scottish, Poland and Southeastern Europe and folk, as well as doo wop, country and gospel.

What was the name of the music that helped establish a viable Latin American music industry?

Cuban mambo, cha-cha-chá and charanga bands enjoyed brief periods of popularity, and helped establish a viable Latin-American music industry, which led the way to the invention of salsa music among Cubans and Puerto Ricans in New York City in the 1970s. The 1950s also saw success for Mexican ranchera divas, while a Mexican-American mariachi scene was developing on the West Coast, and Puerto Rican plena, Brazilian bossa nova and other Latin genres became popular.

What was the new style of music in the 1950s?

In the 1950s and 1960s, young Americans had more disposable income and enjoyed greater material comfort than their forebears, which allowed them to devote more time and money to leisure activities and the consumption of popular culture. Rock and roll, a new style of music which drew inspiration from African American blues music, ...

What was popular culture in the 1950s?

Popular culture and mass media in the 1950s. In the 1950s, financial prosperity allowed young Americans to participate in a shared culture of rock and roll music, movies, and television.

What was the name of the music that black people played in the 1940s?

This experimentation led to the creation of a new musical form known as rockabilly; by the 1950s, rockabilly had developed into rock and roll.

What is the theme of rock and roll?

Rock and roll, a new style of music which drew inspiration from African American blues music, embraced themes popular among teenagers, such as young love and rebellion against authority. In the 1950s, the relatively new technology of television began to compete with motion pictures as a major form of popular entertainment.

When did the studio system end?

Although domestic audiences reached a record high in 1946 and the war’s end meant expanding international markets too, the groundwork for the eventual dismantling of the traditional "studio system" was laid in 1948 in a landmark decision by the US Supreme Court.

Overview

United States

Genres

Europe

Latin America

Oceania

See also