Rock and Roll

By rmarren

  • Origin of the Blues

    The first Blues song is documented in Southern Texas and the Deep South at the turn of the century.

  • Barbershop Quartets

    A sharp increase in the popularity of barbershop quartets occurs in America.
  • Period: to

    History of Rock and Roll

  • 1st Doo Wop hit

    Rodgers and Hart’s "Blue Moon" gets on the Billboard List, becoming the 1st Doo-Wop style hit on the American Billboard List.

  • Electric Guitar

    Les Paul invents the 1st solid body electric guitar, the Gibson Les Paul. This would change music, and especially rock and roll.

  • Muddy Waters

    Muddy Waters' "I Can't Be Satisfied" becomes his first hit. Later that year, his signature song, "Rolling Stone" is released. He starts to become quite famous.

  • Elvis Presley begins

    Elvis Presley records a new version of Arthur Crudup's "That's Allright", which would start his musical career.

  • Bo Diddley

    Bo Diddley releases his song "Bo Diddley". It showcased the Bo Diddley Beat, where he banged the side of his guitar to geta beat.

  • Chuck Berry meets Muddy Waters

    When he traveled to Chicago, Chuck Berry, the soon-to-be father of Rock and Roll, met Muddy Waters. Waters encouraged him to join Chess Records, where he would make his music career.

  • Maybelline

    Chuck Berry releases "Maybelline", one of his first hits. The song reached number 5 on the Billboard List, and is now considered the first true Rock and Roll song.

  • Heartbreak Hotel

    In 1956, Elvis Presley released his first single with RCA Victor- "Heartbreak Hotel". This song would reach number one on the Billboard Chart, and would become certified as double platinum.

  • Origin of the Beatles

    John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and John Lennon form the Beatles in Liverpool.

  • British Invasion of the '60's

    In the 1960's, the Rock and Roll scene in the US seemed to be populated by British rock bands, like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.

  • The Rolling Stones

    Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ian Stewart, Brian Jones, Bill Wyman, and Charlie Watts found the Rolling Stones in London.

  • Beatles go International

    The Beatles become international music stars.

  • Beatles Break Up

    Paul McCartney officially announces to the world that the Beatles were breaking up, about four months after John Lennon informed the band he was leaving.