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Bill Haley and his Comets
The first group to hit pop charts with songs that are true rock and roll style. -
"Rock Around The Clock"
The first rock song to hit #1 nationwide on charts by Bill Haley -
RCA Records
Scouts for the company were looking for a new rock and roll artist to sign, and bought out Elvis Presley from Memphis Records. -
R&B
R&B artists Chuck Berry and Little Richard score significant rock hits -
R&B
US Juke Box operators say R&B selections are up 60% -
Sincerely
The doo wop group The Moonglows hit #1 on R&B charts with this song, and later it was taken to pop charts by the McGuire Sisters -
Elvis Presley
Tops charts with his first single "Heartbreak Hotel"
By the end of the year he was the first artist to have nine singles in the top 100 at one time. -
Charts
By this time, rock and roll musicians are regularly topping charts -
Records
By this time, 43% of all records sold are rock and roll -
Tragedy
At the end of the decade when rock and roll became popular, a plane crash killed three singer who were big in the rock industry, Buddy Holly, The BIg Bopper, and Ritchie Valens