-
Korean War Starts
The first conflict involving two nuclear powers occurred during the Korean War. Furthermore, as the war dragged on, it became clear that neither side would be able to employ atomic bombs decisively in combat. Source -
Launch of the Fender Telecaster
Fender launched the first ever solid bodied guitar. This would introduce a new sound to music that would change. The full body allowed for a louder and clearer sound letting the guitar be a more significant part of music. Source -
Alan Freed Hosts Moondog House for the First Time
Moondog House was a radio show hosted by Alan Freed which helped break down color barriers and helped expose white people to "Race Music" for the first time. This allowed black artists to be in the spotlight for the first time allowing new sounds to take prominence. Alan is also attributed with using the term rock and roll for the first time. (History of Rock and Roll Vol.1) -
Atlantic Records Signs Ray Charles
Ray Charles contributed to the integration of gospel and blues music, which would eventually become Rock and Roll. He would also show the beginnings of the civil rights movement as he was a black artist, showing change in the public eye. (History of Rock and Roll Vol.1) -
Little Richard Releases His First Song "Taxi Blues"
Little Richard contributed greatly to the desegregation of music and to rock and roll as a whole. His flamboyant attitude and large stage presence brought a new music and performance that audiences had never seen before. He is credited with inspiring artists such as the Beatles and Elvis Presley. Although this song flopped his career and influence would skyrocket with his later music. [Source]https://www.rockhall.com/inductees/little-richard) -
Gibson Releases the Les Paul Guitar
As one of the first mass produced full body guitars it allowed a new sound to be achieved in music., Unlike the Stratocaster the rounded shape made it more like an acoustic guitar, giving it a different look and feel that may appeal to artists who didn't like the Stratocaster. Source -
Elvis Presley Releases His Debut Record "That's All Right"
Elvis Presley had a great effect on the music culture. He used aspects from black performers and music and exposed it to white culture for the first time. His suggestive performances would give him a name in Memphis which would soon spread worldwide. The success of this album would signal the change in music as a whole. Source -
Vietnam War Starts
South Vietnam and its main ally, the United States, faced off against the communist government of North Vietnam during the Vietnam War. The ongoing Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union exacerbated the issue. In the Vietnam War, approximately 3 million people died, with over half being civilians. Source -
Montgomery Bus Boycott Starts
The boycott, which ran from December 5, 1955 until December 20, 1956, is recognized as the country's first significant anti-segregation protest. Rosa Parks, an African American lady, was jailed and fined four days before to the boycott's start for refusing to give up her bus seat to a white man. In the end, the U.S. Supreme Court mandated that Montgomery integrate its bus system, showing the shift in society. Source -
Elvis Debuts "Hound Dog" on "The Milton Berle Show"
Elvis Presley gave what was one of the most controrversial television performances at the time on June 5, 1956. The controversial hip-swinging dancing routines sparked a national controversy as several groups disliked his sexual dancing and "Black" music. This performance helped boost his popularity and show a change in music culture -
Civil Rights Act of 1957
On September 9, 1957, President Eisenhower signed the Civil Rights Act of 1957 into law, the first major civil rights legislation since Reconstruction. It allowed federal prosecution of anyone who tried to prevent someone from voting. Southern states often prevented black people from voting. This law allowed broke down color barriers when it came to voting in the US. -
The Crickets Release Their First Hit "That'll Be the Day"
This hit, reaching number three on the billboard top 3 in September. They were among the earliest independent rock & roll bands, creating, performing, producing, and recording their own music. They were one of the first rock bands to use multi-track recording and overdubbing years before these techniques were used in studios. As Paul McCartney once said, “If it wasn’t for the Crickets, there wouldn’t be any Beatles.” showing their large influence. Source -
Sputnik is Successfully Launched
The Soviet Union commenced the Space Age with the launching of Sputnik 1, the world's first artificial Satellite. Source -
Buddy Holly Releases His First Solo Album "Buddy Holly"
The success of his solo album showed the potential influence of his music on rock and roll further than his impact with The Crickets. Although this would be cut short when he died in the coming months. Source -
Buddy Holly Dies in a Plane Crash
Pop music idols Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. Richardson, Jr. (“The Big Bopper”) were killed in a plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa. The group was on a tour together called the "Winter Dance Party" when bad weather struck and killed everyone on board. This caused a large disruption in the rock and roll genre as several large contributors to its development die on the same night. (History of Rock and Roll Vol.2) -
President Eisenhower Calls the Payola Scandal an Issue of Public Morality
-Disc Jockeys were being bribed by companies to play more of their music
-This ruined Alan Freeds reputation and affected rock music as he was said to be the first person to use the term Rock and Roll -
RCA Records announces that it will release all pop singles in mono and stereo simultaneously, the first record company to do so.
-This would not only change how the public listened to Rock music but all music in general -
"The Twist" is Performed on the "Dick Clark Show"
In the first part of the 1960s, a hip-swiveling dance known as the Twist gained popularity all over the world. After Chubby Checker performed the Twist and sang the song of the same name on the "Dick Clark Show". The Twist gained popularity. This showed the increased influence music had on the world, especially from black artists such as Chubby. Source -
Canadian Bill of Rights
The federal government of Canada, Prime Minister John Diefenbaker, created the Canadian Bill of Rights. This bill protects people from being discriminated against because of their race, creed, and/or beliefs Source -
The Beach Boys Release "Surfin Safari"
This began the Beach Boys career of "Surf Music".Their innovative harmonies, intricate vocal arrangements, and pioneering use of studio techniques have inspired countless artists across genres. They helped expose the world to a new sound that further influenced 1960s rock. -
Rolling Stones Debut
-The Rolling Stones first performed at the London Marquee Club
-They would later contribute to the definition of rock and create a new sound that would influence rock for years to come -
Beatles Release Their First Hit Song "Love Me Do"
Love Me Do, the Beatles' first single, was made available on October 5, 1962. The song's real success occurred when it was heard by an American audience, catapulting Love Me Do to the Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit. It peaked at an outstanding No. 17 in the UK charts. The Beatles' first successful song, Love Me Do, served as a sign of the Beatlemania spreading over the globe. Source -
Cuban Missile Crisis
Krushchev and Kennedy negociated their way out of a nuclear war and the crisis was the closest humanity has been to nuclear war. -
Bob Dylan Releases "Blowin' in the Wind"
This song is one of the first hit "Protest Songs". Blowin' in the wind talks about war and peace, a very large topic at the time as several wars were happening including the Cold and Vietnam War. This song was mostly applied to the Civil Rights movement of the time. This song would show that music could be used to spread messages. Source -
JFK Assassination
-On November 22, 1963, President Kennedy was assassinated while at a parade in Dallas, Texas.
-This created a sad atmosphere in the world and music helped fill it, allowing new sounds to be tried. -
The Beatles Land in New York
The Beatles landed at JFK Airport in New York, USA. Their arrival showed the beginning of a new era in American culture as the British Invasion began to influence American teens, and Beatlemania was born.(History of Rock and Roll Vol 2) -
The Beatles Perform "I Want to Hold Your Hand" On "The Ed Sullivan Show"
America experienced a cultural earthquake when The Beatles appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show. The performance was the most viewed television event of its time, drawing 73 million viewers to The Ed Sullivan Show. The Beatles' status as a worldwide musical sensation was cemented by Ed Sullivan's knack for spotting talent, which further paved the way for "Beatlemania" and "the British invasion," which changed popular music, culture, and history. (History of Rock and Roll: British Invasion) -
Martin Luther King Jr Assassination
-Martin Luther King was shot while standing on a balcony outside his second-floor room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee.
-This caused a large disruption in the civil rights movement but eventually gave the black community enough influence to cause further change
Source -
Apollo 11 Lands on the Moon
The US lands the first humans on the moon -
The First Woodstock Music Festival Starts
In a period of civil unrest Woodstock showed that peace and fun could be had and also showed that rock music has gained mainstream attention. Jimi Hendrix, Sly and the Family Stone, the Who, the Grateful Dead and Janis Joplin all performed. -
Black Sabbath Releases "Black Sabbath"
-Considered to be the first heavy metal album
-Introduced a darker heavier feel -
Paul McCartney Sues the Beatles
-Wanted legal dissolution of the band’s partnership in order to save the control of the bands catolog of music to stay in their hands.
-This officially broke up the beatles by law but kept their music safe -
Queen Performs for the First Time
-Queen heavily influenced the music industry by playing progressive rock and heavy metal to glam rock with operatic sounds. Source -
The Rolling Stones Aid Concert for the Nicaraguan Earthquake
-Raises over $350 000
-Shows rock and roll's influence on the world, including The Rolling Stones
Source -
Kiss Performs their First Concert
-One of the first "Glam Rock" bands
-Brought a new kind of performance due to their larger-than-life personas and new sounds
-They are among the best-selling bands in history, with 75 million records sold worldwide.
Source -
-
Nixon Resigns
-After two years of the Watergate scandal, Nixon
resigned to "the start of the process of healing which is so desperately needed in America." -
Three Led Zeppelin Concerts Sell Out in 4 Hours
-Breaks records for Ticket Sales
-Shows Rock and Roll's population as this record beat all other genres.
(History of Rock and Roll Vol.1) It was mentioned breifly -
Microsoft Founded
-Paved the way for computer technology -
Star Wars is Released in Theaters
-Star Wars would go on to become one of the most popular movie franchises and would become a pop culture icon -
NASA launches the Golden Record
-The inclusion of Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode" was controversial, with some claiming that rock music was "adolescent", to which Sagan replied, "There are a lot of adolescents on the planet."
-Showed that rock music was influential enough on society to be included on a record going to space
Source.) -
Elvis Presley Dies
-Commonly referred to as the king of rock and roll
-Brought Rock and Roll to the masses and exposed it to white people for the first time, including the way he performed Source -
Three Mile Island Nuclear Accident
-Partial nuclear meltdown in one of the two Three Mile Island nuclear reactors
-Due to the companies poor handling of the accident nuclear the general public began fearing the power source
(Source- Three Mile Island documentary on Netflix. I strongly suggest it) -
Kate Bush Becomes the First Artist to Use a Wireless Microphone
-This would allow artists to sing and dance easier than ever before allowing for more interactive concerts.
-This influences rock music and music in general -
Sony Walkman Release
-Release of the first personal stereo
-People can listen to music anywhere for the first time allowing music to take a larger role in peoples lives
Source
