Let the Music Play- Part 5

The 1950s were a transformative decade in music, setting the stage for many modern genres. The dominant musical styles of the era included: 

1. Rock and Roll

• • Key Artists: Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis
  • Characteristics: Upbeat rhythms, electric guitar-driven sound, rebellious themes
  • Impact: Rock and roll emerged from a fusion of blues, rhythm and blues (R&B), country, and gospel, becoming the defining sound of the decade. It was particularly popular among teenagers and helped break racial barriers in music.

2. Rhythm and Blues (R&B)

• • Key Artists: Ray Charles, Fats Domino, The Drifters, Ruth Brown
  • Characteristics: Strong rhythms, emotional vocals, blues influences
  • Impact: R&B evolved from traditional blues and gospel, laying the groundwork for rock and soul music.

3. Doo-Wop

• • Key Artists: The Platters, The Coasters, The Five Satins, The Drifters
  • Characteristics: Smooth vocal harmonies, simple beats, romantic themes
  • Impact: Doo-wop was one of the most popular vocal-based styles of the 1950s, influencing future pop and R&B acts.

4. Country and Rockabilly

• • Key Artists: Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Carl Perkins
  • Characteristics: A blend of country and early rock influences, twangy guitars, storytelling lyrics
  • Impact: Rockabilly, a subgenre of country influenced by rock and roll (e.g., Elvis Presley’s early songs), helped country music reach new audiences.

5. Jazz and Bebop

• • Key Artists: Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, John Coltrane
  • Characteristics: Complex improvisation, fast tempos, sophisticated harmonies
  • Impact: While bebop was more underground, cool jazz (a more relaxed style) gained wider appeal in the late ’50s.

6. Traditional Pop and Crooners

• • Key Artists: Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Dean Martin, Perry Como
  • Characteristics: Smooth vocals, orchestral arrangements, romantic themes
  • Impact: Crooners were dominant in the early 1950s but gradually gave way to rock and roll’s rising popularity.

7. Gospel and Early Soul

• • Key Artists: Mahalia Jackson, Sam Cooke, The Soul Stirrers
  • Characteristics: Deeply emotional, spiritual lyrics, powerful vocal delivery
  • Impact: Gospel had a significant influence on R&B and the emerging soul music of the 1960s.

8. Blues and Electric Blues

• • Key Artists: B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf
  • Characteristics: Gritty guitar riffs, soulful singing, themes of struggle and love
  • Impact: Electric blues, particularly from Chicago, directly influenced rock and roll and R&B.

Music for TV & Movies- The 50’s vs Today

One big way in which we were all expose to music was through the Movies and of course, television. The use of music in these mediums was much different then today.

Movies

• Orchestral Scores: Most films relied heavily on orchestral scores, often composed specifically for the film. Studios had in-house composers who crafted sweeping, dramatic music to accompany scenes.
• Theme Songs: Some movies had original theme songs, but they weren’t as dominant as they became in later decades (e.g., the 1960s onward with James Bond films and Elvis movies).
• Diegetic Music (Music within the scene): Characters in movies often played instruments or sang, but background pop music was rare.
• Fewer Popular Songs: Unlike today, where licensed popular songs are commonly used to set mood and time-period, films in the ’50s primarily relied on original scores.

TV Shows

Theme Songs and Opening Scores: TV shows in the 1950s had theme songs, but they were usually short instrumental pieces (e.g., I Love Lucy, The Twilight Zone). These themes became iconic but were not as elaborate as modern TV theme songs. With one exception of course: “” Mr. Trouble never hangs around, when he hears this mighty sound. Here I come to save the day, that means that Mighty mouse is on his way.”

• Theme Songs and Opening Scores: TV shows in the 1950s had theme songs, but they were usually short instrumental pieces (e.g., I Love Lucy, The Twilight Zone). These themes became iconic but were not as elaborate as modern TV theme songs.
• Live Music: Some variety shows and sitcoms included live performances, especially shows like The Ed Sullivan Show.
• Less Background Music in Episodes: TV shows in the ’50s often had minimal background music compared to today’s continuous scoring. Sitcoms, in particular, had more silence between dialogue.

Comparison to Today

• More Pop Music Now: Today’s movies and TV shows frequently use popular songs to establish mood, time-period, and character emotions.
• More Constant Background Music: Modern productions often have nearly continuous music, even in dialogue scenes, while ’50s productions allowed for more silence.
• More Personalized Music Choices: Streaming shows and movies often curate music to fit specific demographics, whereas ’50s productions used more general, orchestrated scoring.

Summary

The 1950s were a pivotal decade that saw the birth of rock and roll, the rise of R&B, the popularity of crooners, and the evolution of jazz and country. By the end of the decade, youth culture and rock and roll were reshaping the music industry, setting the stage for the explosive changes of the 1960s.

1960’s Musical Era

One if by Land, two if by sea, three if by air? How would Paul Revere alert us to the “British Invasion” in the 1960’s?

The British Invasion in music began in the early 1960s, when British rock and pop bands gained massive popularity in the United States and influenced American music and culture. The movement was sparked by a combination of musical innovation, changing social trends, and the rise of television.

Here’s How:

1. Post-War Cultural Exchange – After World War II, British youth were heavily influenced by American rock and roll, rhythm and blues, and skiffle music (a mix of folk, jazz, and blues). Artists like Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, and Little Richard inspired many young British musicians.
2. The Beatles’ Breakthrough (1964) – The Beatles were the catalyst for the British Invasion. Their single I Want to Hold Your Hand became a #1 hit in the U.S. in early 1964, and their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964, drew an audience of 73 million Americans, launching Beatlemania. My entire family gathered around our black and white tv for what felt like a historical moment. “I Want to Hold Your Hand” and screaming girls.
3. Media and Marketing – American media quickly picked up on the British music craze, fueling demand. Record companies promoted British acts aggressively, and TV shows like The Ed Sullivan Show and radio stations played a major role in their exposure.
4. The Rolling Stones and Other Bands Followed – After The Beatles’ success, other British bands like The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Kinks, The Animals, and The Yardbirds followed, each bringing their own style of rock, blues, and mod culture.
5. Impact on American Music – The British Invasion shifted American music trends. It temporarily displaced some early rock and roll and doo-wop styles, influencing folk rock, psychedelic rock, and later punk and heavy metal. Many American bands, like The Byrds and The Beach Boys, adapted their sound in response.

By the late 1960s, the dominance of British bands waned as American artists like Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, and Creedence Clearwater Revival emerged. However, the British Invasion permanently shaped rock and pop music, influencing generations of musicians worldwide.

Here is a chart containing some of the key players in popular music during and after the British Invasion. America accepted the challenge, rose to the opportunity, then just kept on going.