1950’s
This decade marked the creation of the rock’n’roll genre that is still popular today. One of the most popular, if not the most popular musician of the 1950’s was Elvis Presley.
During 1950’s – there were four main styles of music that were mostly popular during that time.
- Rock ‘n’ Roll Musicians – Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Chubby Checker, Billy Haley & the Comets
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. Elvis Presley is thought to be the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll” by many. 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.
2. Pop Music Musicians – Nat King Cole, dean Martin, Tony Bennett and The Four Aces.
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. Some examples of traditional pop artists who were popular during the decade were Perry Como, Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole, Patti Page and Dean Martin. Often the most popular musicians in this genre translated well onto television as they would sometimes have their own television variety shows or music specials. They sang a lot of original material, but a lot of their most popular hits were American standards, or songs that had been released many years previously but were already well known by the public. Most songs in this genre could be classified as being simple and melodic with catchy lyrics. Many of the traditional pop artists of the 1950’s were interpreters of pop standards who would take the old well-known songs and put their own individual style into it. Some of the most popular interpreters were Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, and Doris Day. This genre was greatly influenced by jazz, swing and big band.
- Popular Songs Each Year in the 50′
1960’s
The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Both of these bands influenced and continued to influence the music world today. They will forever be recognised as some of the greatest artists and most legendary bands of all time.
1970’s
The 70’s were probably the most famous for the leap into the rock era. Two of the most famous rock bands of the time were Aerosmith, officially formed in 1971 and KISS, officially formed in 1973.
KISS is most well known for taking the rock sub-genre to a whole new level with overly creative wardrobes, face-paintings, and acts like blood spitting and fire breathing.
The younger generation took a liking to this genre and related to the angst and aggression displayed in the band’s song lyrics and performances.
Moreover, artists like Elton John and Freddie Mercury also entered the world of music at the end of 1970s.
GLAM ROCK – 1980
Glam rock is a style of rock music that developed in the United Kingdom in the early 1970s performed by musicians who wore outrageous costumes, make up, and hairstyles, particularly platform shoes and glitter.
Glam artists drew on diverse sources across music and throwaway pop culture, ranging from 1950s rock and roll to cabaret. The flamboyant clothing and visual styles of performers were often camp or androgynous, and have been described as playing with nontraditional gender roll.
The UK charts were inundated with glam rock acts from 1971 to 1975. British glam rock artists include David Bowie, Sweet, Slade, Mud and Gary Glitter. Those not central to the genre, such as Elton John, Rod Stewart and Freddie Mercury of Queen also adopted glam styles. In the US the scene was much less prevalent, with Alice Cooper and Lou Reed the only American artists to score a hit. It declined after the mid-1970s, but influenced other musical genres including punk rock and glam metal. Glam rock has sporadically revived since the 1990s.
The glam rock genre was inspired by the flower pop of the 60s and by bubblegum pop in particular. Bubblegum pop was essentially a one-hit wonder genre, which churned out hits marketed at teenagers and preteens. The music included all the classic elements of pop, such as catchy melodies, sing-along choruses, simple compositions, and repetitive hooks. The music also tended to have an air of innocence while hinting at a hidden sexuality.
In 1973, Elton John appeared on Top of the Pops with sparkly orange sunglasses while performing Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, prompting people to label him glam rock (though not for long). In the same year, Queen released their debut, self-titled album, demonstrating a hard rock sound easily distinguished from Elton John’s softer sound, yet Freddie Mercury’s outrageous style and the bands commitment to stage theatrics places them firmly within the bounds of glam rock.
Despite the differences, the glam rock bands of the 70s continued to draw on psychedelic rock and bubblegum pop – albeit to varying degrees – and to achieve commercial success with the results. Mott the Hoople, who earned their glam rock badge by playing a song written by David Bowie called All The Young Dudes in 1972, also feature a heavy sound but also include the classic harmonies of bubblegum pop. The song was a big hit, reaching number 3 in the UK singles charts.
Elton John Best hits 