1950sReputable sourceWell documented
Rock and Roll
On the timeline · around 1950s · The Rock & Pop Era
What happened
In the mid-1950s, rhythm and blues, country, and gospel collided into rock and roll — loud, rebellious, electric-guitar-driven dance music. Artists like Chuck Berry and Elvis Presley brought it to a huge, racially mixed teenage audience, and it exploded into a cultural phenomenon.
Why it matters
Rock and roll gave the postwar young their own music and identity, broke down some racial barriers in popular culture, and became the dominant force in Western popular music for the rest of the century.
Sources
- Smithsonian Music. Rock and Roll · Reputable source